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IRVING – On the surface, Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens appear to be opposites.

The 5-11 Glenn, born and raised in the Midwest, rarely talks publicly. The 6-3 Owens, reared in the Deep South, often speaks his mind.

But deep down, the Cowboys receivers are similar, private, moody and playful. Challenges faced in their childhood and NFL development have become a common bond and the root of a close relationship.

"They may look like opposites," said reserve receiver Sam Hurd, who is close to Owens. "T.O. likes the limelight. T.G. gets the limelight but doesn't want it to get misconstrued by the media in any way. They are the same. They both state their opinion and state their minds. They have been working together to make our team better."

Their relationship was forged in training camp when Glenn's son, 10-year-old Terry Jr., told his dad he was a big fan of Owens. In the parking lot outside their hotel rooms in Oxnard, Calif., Owens played catch with Terry Jr.

Soon after, Glenn began helping Owens understand the inner workings of the Cowboys' coaching staff.

"He knows them and I don't," Owens said. "I say whatever I want to say, and they laugh. It's not mean. It may come off like I'm popping off at the mouth, but it's not controversial. I'll say some stuff and they will look at me."

When Owens was rehabilitating from a hamstring injury in training camp, he ran routes to get his legs loose during offensive drills. Owens ran past coach Bill Parcells and said, "Think I can get a couple of balls today when I'm out here?" Parcells turned red in the face.

The comment bothered passing game coordinator Todd Haley who said to Owens, "You've been out here one day, and I can't believe you just said something like that."

"I was messing around, and Bill got ticked off," Owens said. "But that's because he didn't know me. I was being tongue-and-cheek with it."

Glenn pulled Owens aside and told him, "Man, you can't do that here. They don't know you like we do."

So just who is Terrell Owens?

"He's like a big kid sometimes," Glenn said. "He's like everybody else. People have fault with him because they see him on TV and you assume he's one way. But you get around him here with his teammates, and he's a good guy who laughs and wants to have fun."

And who is Terry Glenn?

"He's like my brother," Owens said. "Almost like me, very private, a good dude. He tells you how he feels."

When Owens suffered an accidental overdose of pain medication and dietary supplements in late September, he received a text message from Glenn: "Hey kid, you OK?"

Owens said it meant a lot to receive that from Glenn.

It turns out that the two can relate to each other.

Glenn didn't know his father while growing up in Columbus, Ohio, and his mother was killed when he was 13. Glenn grew up in a foster home before attending Ohio State. He said he's proud to tell his story because it could inspire others.

Owens grew up in Alexander City, Ala., with a strict grandmother who wanted him inside before dark. He didn't know his father until he was 11.

Both know their pasts helped shape them.

Both also have had well-chronicled speed bumps in their NFL careers.

Glenn left New England after six seasons after being suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy in 2001. Once he returned, the Patriots questioned the seriousness of a hamstring injury, and he was later suspended for the postseason. Glenn missed Super Bowl XXXVI because of the suspension and was traded to Green Bay.

He had no such problems with the Packers before he was traded to Dallas in 2003 and has encountered no incidents here.

Owens had problems in San Francisco and Philadelphia, clashing with his quarterbacks and coaches. He was suspended by the Eagles after playing in only seven games in the 2005 season. After his release, the Cowboys signed him to a three-year, $25 million contract this spring.

Some thought Glenn and Owens would clash in Dallas.

"When he first got here, he was caught up in everything," Glenn said. "His back was against the wall, and he came in here swinging, showing everybody what he could do. He didn't reach out. He was waiting for people to reach out to him, and I feel like he felt like he was an outsider."

Owner/general manger Jerry Jones said the team did its research into how Owens got along with other players, especially receivers. Jones said he had no problems in bringing Owens to Dallas with Glenn.

As a sign of commitment, Jones gave Glenn a five-year, $20 million contract extension soon after the team signed Owens.

It eased Glenn's fears of not being wanted by the Cowboys and allowed his relationship with Owens to grow.

"We've talked to each other about things, and he's like, 'Just trust me,' " Owens said of Glenn. "I'm like, 'Dude, you don't have to worry about me going outside my lines of trust.' That's how I am. If you tell me something in total confidence, it's between us. He's been burned before with that trust issue and I have, too, so we kind of look out for each other."

Owens' ride in Dallas hasn't been as smooth as Glenn's. Owens was fined twice for various transgressions, and he's clashed with Haley numerous times. Haley has since reached out to Owens to develop a relationship that Owens said he does not want. Owens has consulted Glenn on how to approach the situation.

It's also worked in reverse. Owens encouraged Glenn when his production dipped and he missed the Arizona game with a knee injury.

"We're pleased and we're benefiting from their relationship," Jones said. "We hope it will continue and create inspiration for others. It's a big plus for their relationship."Owens and Glenn have brought the other receivers together. The two set up dinners with the other receivers and have become mentors to wideouts Jamacia Rector, Patrick Crayton and Hurd.

"They look up to us, and what's hard for me and T.O. is we're not guys you really want to look up to," Glenn said. "We still feel like we're in the prime of our careers and we have guys we still look up to."

E-mail cwatkins@dallasnews.com

Note: Minimum of two consecutive seasons started with the same receivers