Given Owens' history, Dallas has more issues to face

	Terrell Owens has had issues at nearly every turn of his NFL career. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
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The news reports out of Dallas on Wednesday morning, conflicting as they were, had considerable shock value, even if by now we've been conditioned to expect the unexpected -- and the bizarre -- from Terrell Owens.

But this story, even by previous T.O. standards, was in a league by itself. An allergic reaction to pain medication, or a suicidal act? For most of the day, we were largely in the dark about what exactly played out Tuesday night in Owens' Dallas home. To some degree, we still are.

About the only thing that seemed clear about the drama was the Cowboys' headline-making receiver had again detonated a bombshell in the middle of his team's season.

That much, I guess, we shouldn't have been surprised about. The Cowboys signed on for that kind of ride when they gave Owens a three-year, $25 million deal in March, and this was that first precipitous drop on the rollercoaster that is life with T.O.

Owens' lingering hamstring injury and broken finger now look like meaningless blips on the screen in light of Wednesday's developments, with the accompanying day-long wall-to-wall coverage of T.O's accidental or intentional overdose. The issue this time was whether or not Owens tried to take his own life, and if so, was it the first indication that Owens is struggling with personal demons that extend to a level previously unknown?

Amateur psychologists were everywhere in the media on Wednesday, dissecting Owens' background, his possible mental state, and his will to live. Topics none of us were all that informed about. Not that that slows down the thirst for instant analysis in today's Internet-driven news cycle. Talk first and backtrack later is the mantra that prevails.

Still, if indeed Owens tried to harm himself -- which was an elusive determination to make on Wednesday -- that particular turn of events did not take those in the Philadelphia Eagles organization by complete surprise. There were those in Philly who feared that Owens' well-known reputation for volatile mood swings could result in something far more serious than his penchant for tirades, outrageous stunts and creating distractions.

Last spring I talked to members of the organization who admitted that during last year's long and arduous T.O. saga, the club came to view Owens' behavior as consistent with one who was in need of mental treatment and evaluation. The Eagles believed his issues went far beyond being an egocentric athlete and inveterate attention seeker, and was an indication of serious mental and emotional issues at play. Issues they suggested could be addressed in counseling. To no avail, however, because Owens dismissed such suggestions out of hand.