Owens practices, still hopes to play Sunday
IRVING, Texas (AP) - Stretching, running routes and catching passes, Terrell Owens was back at practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday - an indication he could play Sunday in Tennessee.
Owens wore receiving gloves with bandages under the right one to protect the broken bone leading to his ring finger. He broke it in a game a week ago Sunday and had a plate screwed in the following day. This was his first practice in pads since.
Pain pills he was prescribed following the surgery were at the root of what Owens called a big misunderstanding that unfolded between the time he was taken by ambulance to an emergency room Tuesday night until he was released Wednesday. Owens gave his side of the story at an afternoon news conference.
Much of the confusion stemmed from a police report that reached media outlets Wednesday morning, before sections about a possible suicide attempt, drug overdose and depression were blacked out. None of that was visible once it was officially released, prompting Owens' publicist - who was the person that called 911 - to lash out at authorities.
"I am just upset that I just feel they take advantage of Terrell," she said. "Had this been someone else, this may not have happened."
Authorities did not immediately respond, citing privacy laws, but on Thursday the president of the Dallas Police Association - which represents Dallas police officers - demanded an apology from T.O. and his publicist.
"The officers reacted because they were called to this location to do this job. Now they're being put under a microscope by some fancy little football person," Sr. Cpl. Glenn White said. "Give me a break. Those officers are 10 times better than this man."
Publicist Kim Etheredge could not immediately be reached for a response. The voice mail on her cell phone was full, and she did not respond to an e-mail from The Associated Press.
According to Owens, the problems began when he mistakenly mixed his prescription pills with some supplements he ordinarily takes.
The combination left him woozy, and Etheredge, who was with him at his Dallas condo, became worried when he couldn't respond to her questions. Having also discovered an empty bottle of pills, she called for help.
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