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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Mike the Brit said:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4867024.stm
This is the best one I've seen today by far -- and, yes, Surstromming (decomposing herring) really does exist and the Swedes really do eat it!
A Tuna in Winter T.O. signing is Parcells' idea of a last hurrah
[size=-1]Terrell Owens [/size][size=-1]Bill Parcells [/size]Bill Parcells was at his vacation home in Jupiter, Fla., and Terrell Owens was at the Cowboys facility in Dallas taking part in their offseason workout program.
Still, the buzz at the league meetings last week in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. was about Tuna and T.O., and how long this potentially volatile relationship can last. The consensus: One year and then Parcells retires again.
"I think it's going to be a bit of a struggle," one executive said. "It all depends on Owens. If he's been humbled at all by his experience in Philadelphia, it may be okay initially. Ultimately, they will be in for trouble. It may be a good indication that Bill only intends to stay for another year. Maybe he feels he can deal with him one year. No way long-term."
This is Parcells' fourth season in Dallas and sources say he's signed off on every personnel move, even if he skips the news conferences announcing the big ones. Parcells, who rarely surfaces in the offseason, has been unusually silent this year. He has not uttered a word publicly since the Cowboys signed Owens two weeks ago.
All signs indicate that signing Owens was a Jerry Jones decision. But Parcells signing off on it is quite different than it being his idea or even endorsing it. Several sources said at the meetings that Parcells was not in favor of bringing the T.O. circus to town, especially because it meant cutting Keyshawn Johnson, one of his favorites, and adding Owens, a locker-room destroyer. But with Parcells likely to coach only one more season and Johnson prepared to make a stink about his contract, the move was made. Owens can help Parcells finish up in the Super Bowl.
Parcells skipped the league meetings even though he was just 90 minutes away. He knew he would be inundated by the media wanting to know his feelings about T.O. at the NFC coaches media breakfast on Wednesday. Instead, Eagles coach Andy Reid was hit with a barrage of Owens questions. Reid didn't necessarily look like he was enjoying himself, other than the fact that Owens is no longer his problem.
Asked about life for Parcells with Owens, the Eagles coach said, "He'll have a good time. He'll do fine with him. He will make it work."
Reid was not surprised that Owens signed with the Cowboys since Jones made comments last season indicating he'd like to have him. "All along I thought that's where he was going," Reid said.
What about T.O. staying in the NFC East? Reid said it didn't matter. "He's part of their team. It's no different than when you play another team," Reid said. "It's a team sport. T.O. will be the first one to tell you that."
That elicited some chuckles from his audience. He was asked if the Owens experience was worth the aggravation.
"The first year was great," Reid said.
The second year? "No comment," he said.
Reid said he won't second-guess himself for trading for Owens two years ago. "I did what I did and you live with that part of it," he said.
Jones protected himself in the way he structured Owens' contract. Even though he bid against himself and is paying Owens $10 million this year (a $5 million signing bonus already paid and $5 million base salary), he has no further obligations until June 3, 2007. That's when a $3 million roster bonus is due. Usually, those are payable the first few days of the league year in March. But by waiting until June, the Cowboys can gauge Owens' behavior in the offseason before writing another check. His $3 million roster bonus in the third and last year of the $25,005,280 deal is due June 3, 2008. Owens will be on his best behavior this year, no doubt. That's the pattern he established in Philly. And that may be all Parcells cares about.