T.O. TAKES ON “SHESHAWN”, VOWS TO CONTINUE GRIPING

Obviously miffed at pointed criticism hurled in his direction by the ESPN pregame crew, receiver Terrell Owens fired back during a weekly radio show on Tuesday, referring to former Cowboys receiver Keyshawn Johnson as “Sheshawn.” Owens called Johnson “Sheshawn” on three occasions during the show. As to the reason for the Monday night bashing of Owens -- i.e., his postgame comments from Sunday during which he complained about not getting the ball enough times even though 20 of 58 plays went in his direction -- Owens says that his words were blown out of proportion. “It’s a matter of being frustrated with the loss,” Owens said. “It had nothing to do with the offense.” Owens also said that, despite the number of balls thrown his way, some weren’t catchable. On the surface, that sounds a lot like a slap at the guy who threw the passes. Owens insists otherwise. “That is not to say nothing about Tony Romo,” Owens said. “I am not going to be able to catch every ball thrown my way. Every pass was not a valid catchable pass.” And Owens made it clear that he doesn’t plan to hold his tongue in the future. “It’s me being confident in who I am,” he said. “It’s not going to be the last time you hear me say I need the ball.” Here’s the deal. Though “Sheshawn” and his colleagues suggested that someone in the Cowboys organization (possibly owner Jerry Jones) needs to have a heart-to-heart with Owens, the better approach is to let T.O. be T.O. -- and to persuade others who might be affected by his words and antics to ignore him. It might be easier said than done. Because if Romo is working through his progressions and if he allows himself to be influenced at all by the possibility of Owens whining on the sidelines, in the locker room, or into a microphone about not getting enough balls thrown his way, there’s a chance that Romo will force the throw into coverage -- and that a guy wearing the other-colored jersey will catch it.