In a great interview with Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram, Witten says he was a better player with Owens on the team, but everyone now has to look to the future and improve upon the 9-7 record. He speaks more as a leader than a follower.

You can read the entire interview here. Here is a snippet:

Are you better without T.O.?

“I don’t know about that. Terrell was a great player. I think I was a better player because of him and what he brought to the team. His track record speaks for itself. He has been good wherever he has been. He is going to help Buffalo a lot. But we have to move on from that. I have benefitted tremendously from having him outside. I will be the first to say that I was a better player because of him. But decisions were made and we have to move on.”

But I must say that Hill let’s Witten off the hook a bit, and he certainly doesn’t pressure him into talking about what, if any, culpability he had in the locker room chemistry fiasco in December. That’s the very next question I would have asked him, and I would have asked him what part, if any, did he have in the media reports. I’d be able to tell if he was being honest or not, and then I could call him out on it.

I don’t care if he was the snitch. I think Owens was dividing the locker room a little bit, and there was no one person who seemed to have control over the 2008 Dallas Cowboys. Hopefully, it’s different come January 2010.

Trade Jason Witten because he allegedly ratted out Terrell Owens’ antics? Wow.

If there is any one game that shows how ridiculous such an idea is, it would be this past game against the New York Giants.

First off, the numbers for Owens and Witten were not that much different. Owens had three catches to Witten’s five.

But four of Witten’s fives catches were huge.

Like this one:

The photo is of the key 3rd and 9 conversion Witten made that led to the Tashard Choice game-ending touchdown score. Notice how he dives forward for the first down.

Also in the fourth quarter Witten made a play on 2nd and 9 that led to the Cowboys second touchdown of the game.

What about Terrell Owens? Well, he moved the chains once in the game. In the first quarter on the Cowboys first drive, there was this play:

It sure does like a ball that should have been caught, doesn’t it?

And who can forget the play in the 3rd Quarter? It was 2nd and 8 on the Cowboys 46 yard line. Romo was in shotgun and he threw a short pass over the middle to Owens who ran for a few yards before slipping backwards one yard short of a first down. Why not dive? Surely a Hall of Fame star caliber receiver knows that first downs are valuable enough to dive for, right? Apparently Owens wasn’t paying attention to the marker.

What’s the point? Jason Witten is invaluable. Terrell Owens is getting old.

Both teams may be without their star running backs, but the Giants are also without their top receiver, Plaxico Burress. His replacement, Domenik Hixon, isn’t healthy either. 

Certainly, the drama that ensued this week in Dallas will be among the topics discussed by analysts during the game, and if the Cowboys lose it surely will be the reason given for the collapse. But that’s why they play football games and if the Cowboys can pull this one out, and get a Buccaneers loss, they’re right in the thick of the hunt. 

Hopefully, something positive happened with the private meeting Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams had with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. None of those receivers have been heavily involved in the offense, other than one record-breaking game from Owens earlier in the Cowboys winning streak. 

You certainly don’t want a tight end, no matter how good he is, to lead the team in receptions when you have the likes of Owens and Williams on each side of the ball. They are both game-changing receivers.  Jason Witten ought to be used as a third-down receiver, who makes clutch catches, because the last time the Cowboys had success that is how they used the position. Jay Novacek was one of the best third-down receivers the Cowboys have ever had.

The rumor that Jason Witten was the source of the media’s exposes was troubling, but not exactly shocking. 

Tony Romo had to make some changes. He must make better decisions on the field. 

But the worst fear has hit Big D.

Terrell Owens is about to explode. There is a tense, thick cloud in the locker room. Players are arguing and fighting. So, what happens if the Cowboys win and Owens has another game with weak stats? Will it matter to him? Does he need to have big games for the rest of the year in order to keep him at bay? Will Romo force passes to Owens just to throw the ball his way, and cost the Cowboys any chances of making the playoffs? 

It is difficult to fathon that this kind of drama can lift a team to the playoffs, but if the Cowboys look around them in the NFC, they have a perfect opportunity to prey on other teams who aren’t exactly looking too hot. Other than the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFC is riddled with injuries. The Giants have lost their two best players. The Redskins haven’t had an offense in five weeks. The only NFC team that has looked strong is the Carolina Panthers. 

Owens can divide the locker room and cause all the hoopla he wants, but the season is near its end, and the Cowboys are still in the thick of the playoff race. Drama and infighting won’t be the deathwish of this team, but a loss will be.