IRVING – As the soothing, cheerful voices of the Happy Hill Farm concert choir filled the Cowboys locker room with Christmas carols Wednesday afternoon, Terrell Owens stood – and later sat – at his locker, talking about the good and the bad that has surrounded him during his first season in Dallas.
It was a picture of contradiction as the Cowboys receiver reiterated some of the same points made to ESPN on Sunday, along with some new ones in an interview session that rambled for nearly 30 minutes.
On the one hand, Owens expressed displeasure at what he called "the snitching stuff going on," but said he would like to finish his career with the Cowboys. Owens said his frustration level has subsided in recent weeks and his "faking it" comment was related to earlier in the season.
"I just felt like I was out there, just out there," Owens said. "I didn't feel like I was a part of the team. One of the coaches came to me after one game, and I just felt alone in this locker room.
"That's how I felt at that time. It was weighing a lot on my mind during the course of the game. My mind really wasn't clear to play football. I'm tons better now. I have family that I can really rely on and a pastor I can really talk to. I'm human, dude. It was too much going on for me at that time."
Owens then said his relationship with coach Bill Parcells and passing game coordinator Todd Haley has improved, but admitted he has had a hard time getting used to Parcells' old-school style.
"We haven't had any problems like everybody anticipated at the beginning of the year," Owens said.
Owens said he is close to hitting his statistical goals for the season, but then said, "I feel like I could be a little more involved. But, you know, I don't call the plays. I just go with the plays that are called."
Owens is on pace for 87 catches, 1,195 yards and 11 touchdowns, which would rank among the best seasons in team history for a receiver. Owens' numbers could be even better if not for 11 dropped passes, according to Stats Inc.
"I've dropped balls, a lot of people have dropped balls," Owens said. "I'm not Superman. I'm human. Michael Jordan doesn't make every shot. Jerry [Rice] hasn't caught every pass. Tiger [Woods] doesn't make every putt. I understand the expectations of me. People want me to catch every ball. The likelihood of that happening is not going to be great. I understand that."
At 8-5 with three games to play, the Cowboys can clinch a playoff spot with a win Saturday against Atlanta and losses or ties by Minnesota and Carolina or a Minnesota loss or tie and a New Orleans win or tie.
VERNON BRYANT / DMN
Terrell Owens leads the Cowboys in receiving: 72 receptions, 971 yards, nine touchdowns.
"All we've got to do is take care of business, go out there and play ball," Owens said. "I definitely feel we will be in the playoffs. No doubt."
From owner and general manager Jerry Jones, Parcells and teammates, the season-long tribulations of Owens – he was fined for being late to a meeting, the hamstring injury, broken hand, accidental overdose, sleeping in meetings, sideline histrionics – have not been a distraction.
Jones and Parcells said the media has been sucked into the Owens' story. Owens often has said, "to whom much is given, much is required," but even he wonders why his actions and words have been so dissected.
"Some stuff, but enough is enough, you know what I mean?" Owens said. "It gets to a point where it's like, 'OK, when does it stop?' "
It's a question that has not been answered.
E-mail tarcher@dallasnews.com
