JERRY JONES: “I HAD TO LOOK AT ROY WILLIAMS”

Weighing in on cutting outspoken wide receiver Terrell Owens last week, Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones said the decision was dictated by a desire to get Roy Williams more involved as the featured receiver and to develop young wideout Miles Austin. During an interview with The Fan 105.3 FM in Dallas that broke Jones’ silence with the local media since releasing Owens, the Cowboys owner said the transaction should grant quarterback Tony Romo more opportunities to spread the football around to the tight ends and running backs. “I had to look at Roy Williams and the future that we have with Roy,” Jones said. “I’m excited about Roy, so I’d rather have him than the [three] picks we gave up for him in this draft.” Jones said he got a lot of feedback throughout the organization before making the final call to release Owens. Owens has since signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. “It would have been madness to make a decision like that without getting all kinds of input,” Jones said. “He certainly had a lot of support from his coaches, that’s very important. But by the same token ... you’re [always] looking to get younger players on the field. That was important to us.” Meanwhile, Owens defended himself in an interview with the NFL Network. “I was the fall guy for some of the things that happened during that season,” Owens said. “But those guys in that locker room, they know that whatever is being reported out there right now is very, very inaccurate. I have no problem with how people perceive me. I know myself. I know my heart, and I know what I am.” Owens’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was critical of the Cowboys for cutting ties with the controversial wide receiver during a radio interview with WQAM in Miami. “I believe that the organization is going to regret this decision,” Rosenhaus said. “I believe Terrell is not only going to have a Pro Bowl season with the Bills and cause a lot of sleepless nights for AFC defensive coordinators. ... I also believe the Cowboys are going to miss him and that they are going to regret making this move.” Owens clashed with Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett last season, but Rosenhaus declined to comment on whether Garrett had pushed for Owens’ departure. “I’ll let other people do that, that’s not for me,” Rosenhaus said. “But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that there was certainly a division of players and coaches and maybe even front office executives.”