Box Score Beat

T.O. Much Coverage — 10.27.09

Posted on 27. Oct, 2009 by Graham Kates in NFL, T.O. Much Coverage

While Terrell Owens contributed yet another lackluster performance in Buffalo, his name is quickly being tied to the rise of a new star in Dallas. Following Miles Austin’s second consecutive monster game for the Cowboys, the comparisons between the young wide receiver and his predecessor, Owens, were immediate.

The Associated Press declared Austin “the big play threat Dallas lost when it cut Terrell Owens.”

Cedric Golden of the Austin American-Statesmen says that Austin is like T.O., but with a smile.

Golden writes:

Of course it wouldn’t be fair to call Austin the second coming of Owens because he isn’t. What’s pretty obvious is that he has a similar skill set with the big frame (Austin is 6-3, 215 pounds), the big hands, and that natural ability to take a simple pass and turn it into something monstrous. Something about Austin suggests he won’t blast offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and quarterback Tony Romo if he doesn’t get enough balls thrown his way.

Thomas George of Fanhouse says Austin is the remedy for Dallas’ Terrell Owens hangover.

While Austin may be Dallas’ new T.O., offensively, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King says that the Cowboys may need to start treating Roy Williams like a T.O. personality:

If Terrell Owens were in Dallas now, the team would have to figure a way to tiptoe around him and keep him happy. Romo eventually may have to do a little of that with Roy Williams, The Invisible Man in the Dallas offense (more on this in Stat Of The Week). But all Romo cares about, from watching him, is set up, survey the field, find the open guy. That’s it. And as long as that continues, Dallas is going to play well on offense.

In Other T.O. News:

• Scott Stinson of the National Post says the failures of Owens and Bills head coach Dick Jauron have just added to the despondency of the Buffalo fan base.
• On Twitter, @LetsG0Buffalo asked Owens about a rumor that he doesn’t travel with the team. T.O. responded that he doesn’t improve of the fan’s sourcing.

Tags: Associated Press, Austin American-Statesman, Cedric Golden, Miles Austin, Peter King, sports illustrated, Terrell Owens, Thomas George