A public affair: Owens has harsh words for Simpson

[Walter Cronkite]

Jessica Simpson was present for the worst game of boyfriend Tony Romo's career.

Terrell Owens has a message for Jessica Simpson: Stay away.

Simpson has become Public Enemy No. 1 among Dallas Cowboys fans because of a link being made between her appearance at Sunday's game and the poor performance of her new boyfriend, quarterback Tony Romo.

"Right now, Jessica Simpson is not a fan favorite -- in this locker room or in Texas Stadium," Owens said Wednesday.

The Cowboys lost 10-6 to the Philadelphia Eagles and Romo had what was statistically the worst game of his career, all while Simpson sat in a luxury box wearing a pink No. 9 jersey she proudly showed off for television cameras.

The problem for her is, Romo's previous worst game came last December at home to the Eagles when then-girlfriend Carrie Underwood was in attendance.

"With everything that has happened, obviously with the way Tony played and the comparison between her and Carrie Underwood, I think a lot of people feel she has taken his focus away," Owens said, echoing the chatter on sports-talk radio and blogs. "Other than that, she was high on my list until last week.

"Oh, I got a message for her when we make the playoffs. Just stay tuned," he added.

Source: AP

[Walter Cronkite]

Report: T.O. apologizes, says he was kidding about Simpson

Terrell Owens has another message for Jessica Simpson: I'm sorry.

The outspoken Dallas Cowboys wide receiver said Wednesday that he was kidding when he said Simpson was a distraction to Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and said he has apologized to Romo, the Dallas Morning News reported. He added that he also hopes to speak to Simpson.

"I tried to get [Romo] to call her so I can explain to her that she doesn't really know me and that I can be funny," Owens said, according to the newspaper. "And that everything I say, the media will take it and run with it. It's not a big deal. I will try to rectify the situation between her and I."

Owens made the comments at a Dallas Mavericks home game on Wednesday night, hours after he suggested Simpson's presence was affecting Romo's focus. The entertainer was seen sitting in the front row of a suite at Texas Stadium during the Cowboys' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, a game in which Romo threw three interceptions and no touchdowns.

"Right now, Jessica Simpson is not a fan favorite in this locker room or in Texas Stadium," Owens said before practice. "I think with everything that has happened, and obviously the way Tony played and the comparison between her and Carrie Underwood, I think a lot of people feel like she's kind of taken his focus away."

Later Wednesday, Owens struck a different tone.

"No, I'm not trying to be a distraction," he said, according to the report. "I understand how everybody is looking at Jessica Simpson as a distraction and that's definitely not how I saw it. That's how the media saw it. If anybody wants to look at it as a negative, they can do that. But for me, she was there to support Tony.

"He had a bad game. I don't think she had anything to do with it. We lost as a team."

The Morning News reported that Romo, who normally speaks to the media on Wednesdays, was unavailable for comment because he was getting treatment on his bruised right thumb.

Simpson has attended three recent Cowboys games this season, and the Cowboys have won two, with Romo playing well in both victories. He threw for 195 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against the New York Jets, and 309 yards, four touchdowns and an interception against the Packers.

Dallas and Green Bay, both 12-2, are battling for home field advantage in the NFC playoffs.

Source: AP