Terrell Owens was supposed to talk to the 49ers' media corps Wednesday, a much-anticipated event considering he hadn't held court with the Bay Area media since his 2004 departure.
Alas, Owens canceled at the last second. The Dallas Cowboys, who play host to the 49ers on Sunday, said the receiver caught some kind of bug.
"He's a little sick,"
quarterback Tony Romo said. "They called in the backup."
Romo filled in as the interview subject, but the topic stayed mostly the same. The talk was still about Owens, as it so often is, in sickness and in health.
It helps that Romo understands Owens. Previous quarterbacks, notably Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb, clashed with the tempestuous receiver.
But not Romo.
Why is that?
"I don't take what people say in the moments of emotional situations to heart,"
Romo said. "I understand that as human beings, we all make mistakes in some ways. I don't ever judge anybody or hold anybody to any standard higher than I'd hold myself to. I think it's allowed me to just accept people for who they are and what they are."
Romo added that he and Owens each recognize that their success hinges on the other's. By that measure, it's been a beautiful friendship. Since 2006, Romo and Owens have hooked up for 30 touchdown catches, making them the highest scoring quarterback-receiver duo in the NFL.
The Giants' Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress are second with 26 touchdown passes during that span, and Cincinnati's Carson Palmer and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are third with 24.
The Cowboys duo is so tight that when Romo went out with a pinkie injury, Owens essentially went down with him. In the three games Romo was sidelined, Owens didn't top 36 yards in a game. His longest catch was 19 yards. He had just one touchdown.
Romo returned last Sunday, at Washington, and completed 19 of 27 passes for 198 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
"Hmm, I wouldn't say I had (the velocity) all there,"
he said. "Different throws I was able to get different amounts of it on. ... I suspect this week it'll be back to my pretty full velocity."
Owens should be ready, too, although coach Wade Phillips held back on saying so for sure until he could check the medical report.
Owens has faced the 49ers only once since then, in 2005, when he torched an overmatched secondary for five catches, 143 yards and two touchdowns (including a 68-yarder) in a 42-3 victory in Philadelphia.
Those are his good days. On his bad days, when passes aren't coming his way, T.O. stands for ticked off. And that's fine with Romo.
"Every great receiver wants the football,"
the quarterback said. "Just because some players don't call it out in the media doesn't mean they don't act the same way on the sidelines and stuff."
In Dallas' high-powered offense, Romo has plenty of targets, including tight end Jason Witten and recently acquired receiver Roy Williams.
But Romo might personally deliver chicken soup to Owens this week. Owens has 137 career touchdowns (including two rushing), a total that trails only Jerry Rice (208), Emmitt Smith (175) and Marcus Allen (145) on the all-time list.
How much higher he goes on those lists depends on his buddy Romo.
Notes: 49ers coach Mike Singletary said rookie Chilo Rachal "might have a chance"
to replace Tony Wragge as the starting right guard. Wragge has started the first 10 games. Rachal, the 49ers' second-round pick, has shared time with Wragge over the past two games after not taking a single snap in the 49ers' first eight games. Rachal held back on celebrating Wednesday but acknowledged that he is enjoying his increased playing time. "Every game, I learn something different,"
he said. "I think I've done OK, but there are always things you can do better."
... Quarterback Shaun Hill was selected as the NFC offensive player of the week. Against the St. Louis Rams, he became the first quarterback in 49ers history to compile a perfect passer rating of 158.3 in the first half. Overall, Hill completed 15 of 20 passes for 213 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 142.3. ... Linebacker Patrick Willis made a surprise appearance on the 49ers injury report with a hip strain. A team official said Willis was held out of practice as a precaution and would be fine to play against Dallas. Nobody on the injury report has been ruled out of the game. Others held out of practice Wednesday were receiver Arnaz Battle (foot), safety Dashon Goldson (knee), receiver Josh Morgan (groin), cornerback Walt Harris (rest) and defensive end Justin Smith (rest). Tight end Delanie Walker (shoulder) returned to practice on a limited basis after missing the Rams game. Tackle Barry Sims (ankle) participated at full strength.
