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| Monday, September 25 Associated Press | |||
| IRVING, Texas -- In retrospect, Dallas safety George Teague
said it was probably the wrong thing to do. Then again, he'd do it
again and sees the chance for something positive to come of it.
Teague said Monday that his revenge hit on Terrell Owens in a
41-24 loss a day earlier wasn't only about the San Francisco
receiver's second touchdown celebration at midfield, but was also a
culmination of what has been a frustrating season for the Cowboys
(1-3).
"No matter how negative this is, the game and the action that
happened, it all comes from having pride and getting our butts
kicked over and over," Teague said. "I think it will help us in
the long run to be able to not feel that way and not want to feel
that way anymore."
Owens was suspended for one game and fined a week's salary by
coach 49ers coach Steve Mariucci on Monday. Teague had not faced
any disciplinary action as of Monday, although he assumed a fine
would be forthcoming from the NFL.
After both of his TD catches Sunday, Owens celebrated on the
Cowboys' star logo in the middle of Texas Stadium.
Emmitt Smith responded to Owens' first outburst with his own
midfield celebration, running to the logo with his helmet off and
slamming the ball down in the middle of the star after his 1-yard
TD run just before halftime that trimmed the Cowboys' deficit to
17-10.
After Owens' second TD catch, with 4:05 left, he again sprinted
to midfield. This time, Teague followed Owens and leveled him as he
reached the logo.
Teague, who said the move was instinctive and not premeditated,
was immediately ejected from the game.
Cowboys coach Dave Campo stopped short of publicly approving
what Teague did.
"I like people that are willing to fight for their territory.
Unfortunately, there is no place for that in the game. It shouldn't
happen," Campo said Monday. "I just look at it from the
standpoint that frustration is something that we've got to avoid.
"We have got to look at the things that are going to make us
better, not frustration that tears things down sometimes."
The response Teague has gotten from his teammates has been
positive. It is certainly something many of his teammates probably
also wanted to do.
"I've gotten a lot of good things said about it, that it was
cool and stuff like that," Teague said.
"I think it could help. Sometimes if you are not playing this
game with some kind of emotion, this is what is going to happen.
You are going to be out there and be blocking dummies for somebody
else."
The loss to San Francisco came just six days after Dallas won an
emotionally charged 27-21 game at Washington. Linebacker Darren
Hambrick's pregame trash talk with the Redskins led to a scuffle
that seemed to ignite the Cowboys.
"It's a little different than the Washington game," Teague
said. "We started that early. This here was just so much a lot of
frustration at the end of the game, not playing the way we expected
to play."
Dallas cornerback Darren Woodson also was ejected, minutes
before Teague was thrown out of the game. Woodson, upset that
referees didn't call a penalty when 49ers center Jeremy Newberry
stepped on his chest after the whistle blew, kicked the ball and
then threw his helmet.
Campo has been telling his players that losing should hurt.
Teague and Woodson, both veteran cornerbacks, were obviously
hurt and frustrated. | ALSO SEE
Niners tell taunting Terrell to sit down for a weekRice, 49ers turn back clock against Cowboys VIDEO
  Terrell Owens is asked what coach Steve Mariucci said to him about celebrating on the field.wav: 132 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Terrell Owens explains his celebration tactics on the Dallas star.wav: 198 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Emmitt Smith responds to Terrell Owens celebrating at mid-field.wav: 138 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Dave Campo says apologies were in order after the game.wav: 54 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 | ||