T.O. Falls Asleep in Team Meetings---- Jerry Jones calls it a "personal health issue"

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Terrell Owens may not be catching a lot of footballs, but he seems to be catching plenty of Z's -- in team meetings, most recently on Thursday.


Owens

"I don't know what it is," Owens told the Dallas Morning News after Thursday's practice. "I've never been diagnosed with it. It's nothing new for me to fall asleep in a meeting. It goes back to my rookie year in San Francisco. My receivers coach [George Stewart] knew I would fall asleep. He thought I was staying up late, and sometimes I did. When I did get to bed early, I would still get to meetings and fall asleep, and it's the same thing here."


Owens said he'd told the Cowboys before he signed with the team that he had a sleeping problem.

The reason? The standout wide receiver said he's not staying up late. But Owens added that once he processes the game plan, the meetings and film work become redundant. And in a dimly lit room, Owens can doze off in a hurry.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said takes the news in stride.

"Those are personal health issues, and we all have them in varying ways. I don't say that as though it's something that's irritating at all," Jones said.

Passing game coordinator Todd Haley isn't so sympathetic, Owens said.

"Todd is a big stickler, and he kind of got offended," Owens told the paper. "That's one of his pet peeves about not sleeping in a meeting. I talked to him one-on-one and said, 'I'm not trying to fall asleep. I've always been like that.' "

Owens said he once had Stewart, who now coaches in Atlanta, call Eagles receivers coach Davud Culley in Philadelphia to tell him about the sleep problems.

"At some point, give me a little vet credit," Owens said. "But I understand [Haley] wants me to be a professional and be a stand-up guy for the younger guys on the team."

In seven games this season, Owens has 37 catches for 482 yards and five touchdowns.

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