It's unknown whether the tense relationship between Terrell Owens and Bill Parcells could have survived another season.
It won't be an issue after Parcells announced his retirement Monday after four seasons as head coach of the Cowboys. Before Parcells retired, Owens said he received assurances from owner/general manager Jerry Jones that Owens would be back next season.
"Everybody can speculate it would be him or me," Owens said of Parcells. "At this point, I don't know, other than that it's a decision he made and I'm looking forward to the next coach."
Sources said Parcells did not want the receiver to return for 2007, and when rumors circulated that an Owens exit could become a reality, Owens reached out to Jones days before the NFC wild-card game against Seattle.
Owens said Jones assured the receiver he would play with the Cowboys in 2007. Jones repeated his desire to keep Owens to the media after the Cowboys' loss to Seattle and on his weekly radio show.
"I said yes, OK," Jones said then about Owens' return. "I don't know how I can answer you any clearer."
Owens is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, and Jones said he expects to pay it.
While Owens and Parcells had a poor relationship, Owens took the high road when reached Monday.
"He was a great coach," Owens said. "A coach of his stature will be greatly missed. Jerry [Jones] gave him the option when things settled down in his head to do what he wanted to do. It was very admirable of Jerry, especially of a coach of his stature."
Owens could get a fresh start with a new coach. He said he would prefer the West Coast offense, something he thrived in during his seasons in San Francisco and Philadelphia.
In Parcells' two-tight end offensive set, which at times appeared conservative, Owens complained about not getting the ball enough and having to run meaningless routes.
Owens was also upset that the coach didn't reach out to him when he suffered an accidental overdose last September. Owens said they didn't have a relationship.
Parcells didn't refer to Owens by name in news conferences early in the season, calling him "the player."
And according to multiple sources, in coaching meetings, Parcells called Owens "Your Highness."
Owens acknowledged he didn't have his best season. He led the team in catches (85), receiving yards (1,180) and touchdown receptions (13), yet struggled at times. He finished with a career-high 18 drops.
He also underwent surgery to repair a broken right hand, and two weeks ago had another surgery to repair a tendon at the tip of his right ring finger. Another surgery is due in seven weeks on the same finger.
"I feel like this year, I was underutilized," Owens said. "Even though I didn't play up to my standards, I admit that for obvious reasons. But I feel like if I can be put in a better situation, I can help the team win."
E-mail cwatkins@dallasnews.com
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