IRVING, Texas - Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens missed an OTA workout last Tuesday, the same day the club announced his new four-year contract.
But earlier in the day, Owens reportedly was in New York meeting with NFL officials after the league placed the Pro Bowl wide receiver in the "reasonable cause" testing program for performance-enhancing drugs.
Owens has not failed any test, recently or ever in his entire 12-year playing career.
But the receiver was placed in the program because he missed the league's telephone calls to set up random tests. According to reports, Owens was traveling when the NFL attempted to contact the receiver.
Missing the drug test can result in either a fine or a possible suspension.
But Owens reportedly will only be subject to an increased number of random tests, as many as 24 in a calendar year. He even passed yet another random test this week following the meeting with NFL officials.
"This was a procedural matter that was resolved last week," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. "We were aware of all of the facts prior to Terrell's meeting in New York, and we had no reservations about extending his contract. We make those decisions based upon our knowledge of a player over the course of his entire career. We signed
Terrell to the new contract, because there are no issues with Terrell."
Owens, who had one year remaining on his contract, received a three-year extension worth $27 million last Wednesday. Owens returned from New York to Irving for a late-afternoon press conference at Valley Ranch.
Owens and Jones munched on popcorn, which symbolized the receiver's quote from 2006 when he told the media "Get your popcorn ready . . . it's going to be a show."
Owens broke the Cowboys' single-season record last year of 15 touchdown catches in a season. His 28 touchdown grabs are the most by any NFL receiver in the past two years.
Other than missing last Wednesday's practice, Owens has been a regular at the Cowboys' OTA (organized team activity) practices the last three weeks. The club has three more OTA workouts beginning Tuesday, and Owens is expected to attend.
-Nick Eatman
LOL!!! Doubtful T.O. is on anything. The guys workout regimen is unbelievable. I think T.O.'s off season workout is up there with Walter Payton's. The dude works out just as hard in the off season as he does during the season.
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cf...629B5CC581DDD2