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Right from “da git go” here, let me clarify that although I’m an African-American, I very seldom play the race card…and I’m not playing it here, just asking a question that I’m seeing posed coming out of Dallas. And since we’re approaching Dr. Martin Luther King Day as well as the inauguration of this country’s first Black President, the question, on the surface at least, seems to be worthy of assessing for potential credibility or as sheer baloney.

There are a “gazebozillion” articles coming out alleging that there are serious discussions inside Valley Ranch about dumping T.O. Many of the authors (White, Black & otherwise) of those articles are not shy about their belief that T.O. is a team cancer, has diminishing skills, hence “MUST” be shown the door. Now, I’m not going to go off on one my rants about media conspiracies and/or how we should believe little that the media says. For the purposes of this discussion, I don’t even care whether what they’re reporting is true or not.

There is a small but growing sentiment in Dallas (and elsewhere) that either (mainly) the Southern media and/or (less so) factions of Cowboys’ brass (ie Stephen Jones and Jason Garret) want T.O. out mainly because he’s a Black man that speaks his mind and “doesn’t know his place”. Some of the stated justification for this sentiment lies in T.O.s criticism (alleged, perceived, imagined, & real) of Jason Garrett’s offense. There are those that are at least puzzled (and I am one) why T.O. is accused of being disruptive for THAT specific criticism when even much of the media itself and more significantly…OPPONENT DEFENSES make the same criticism; specifically that the Cowboys offense is too simplistic, too predictable, and fails to properly utilize its talent. There are no racial implications to my personal puzzlement, I am, however, “fascinated” that someone can be called disruptive for speaking what is APPARENTLY the truth….on the Garrett Offense issue anyway.

The race-bias question is also being fueled by some noting that certain writers sling unfounded, unprofessional personal insults at T.O., ie Jennifer Engles’ constant reference to T.O. as a “fool” and an “idiot”. It was on “Jen Jen’s” blog that I first got wind of the racial accusations. But again…I am making NO accusations…just asking yalls the question of whether the accusations COULD be justified or is it all a crock of bull-hockey. And to demonstrate my (current, until proven otherwise) objectivity and to help jump-start the discussion, following are two comments from readers of Mrs. Engles’ blog…one on each side of the issue…

cboy1fan wrote on 1/15/2009 7:24:57 AM:
Jenn, I keep reading that releasing T.O. is some kind of racist plot to get rid of Mr. Owens because he is black and just speaks his mind for the good of the team. If anyone is drinking Kool-Aid it is the folks who write divisive and ignorant trash such as this. Please don’t listen to this tripe! The reason to get rid of Mr. Owens is because he is a cancer and a divisive force in the locker room period and yes by getting rid of him we can keep up with the racists in Philadelphia and San Francisco. Actually I think T.O. breeds racism, yea that’s the ticket, please get a bucket of ice cold water and throw it on the next race baiting bonehead who claims that Mr. Owens is be singled out because he is black. You are correct in your articles content and I know it is not race biased.

dallas1966 wrote on 1/15/2009 12:23:33 AM:
jennifer there you go again, continuing the witch hunt and you call yourself a professional, you call TO out of his name a fool; you may want to look in the mirror jenifer before you call someone out of character. you must be in bed with ed of espn, spewing all this bull, it appears when an black player speak out his mind, he is no longer a team-builder but a distraction, in order to be excepted the black player must be a robot, speak unless spoken to or keep smiling and stay in your place. the 1995 cowboys team won the superbowl and team chemistry went out the window, where was you then jennifer, not a peep. it appears that you are so hooked on the RHG’s kool aid that you can not imagine the RHG leaving and TO staying, therefore the witch hunt is own; now the media is trying to persuade jerry’ son stephen to turn against his father regarding TO. what a shame!!! jennifer you are a joke.

What say YOU???