Erickson will not tolerate any more of Owens' temper tantrums
Cam Inman
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
SANTA CLARA - Wide receiver Terrell Owens' sideline tantrums and critical postgame comments to the media "will not be tolerated any longer," 49ers coach Dennis Erickson said Monday.
That's the clear-cut message Erickson said he delivered to Owens in a private meeting Monday, a day after Owens' controversial acts during and after Sunday's 35-7 loss to the host Minnesota Vikings.
"We talked and he understands where I am coming from," Erickson said. "Obviously I didn't like what happened. ... What happened with (offensive coordinator Greg) Knapp is something I don't care for."
Owens confronted Knapp on the 49ers bench late in the third quarter Sunday, after the 49ers failed to convert on a fourth-and-one run by Kevan Barlow. Owens threw his helmet at the bench, stomped over to where Knapp was sitting, flailed his arms and screamed for several seconds at Knapp -- a scene that television cameras caught and replayed during the game.
Erickson would not reveal whether he or the team disciplined Owens, who was unavailable for comment. A team official requesting anonymity said Owens will not face a one-game suspension, as he did in 2000 after his controversial touchdown celebrations in Dallas.
Owens' agent, David Joseph, said he wasn't aware of any possible fine. "They haven't called me as such, but that's nothing new," Joseph said. "They've stopped calling me."
Joseph, whose attempts to land Owens a contract extension were rebuffed by the 49ers before training camp, said he called general manager Terry Donahue on Monday and encouraged a meeting between Owens and Erickson to discuss Owens' concerns.
"Right now the focus and function of everybody in the organization is to concentrate on getting the team better and to not get sidetracked and distracted by these other events," Donahue said.
Erickson said he also met Monday with secondary coach Brett Maxie, who had a sideline blowup directed at cornerback Mike Rumph after a Vikings touchdown catch.
"He knows he made a mistake and that it won't happen again," Erickson said of Maxie.
As for whether his similar message got across to Owens, Erickson admitted that "we'll see as time goes on."
Owens has voiced criticism after each of the team's past three losses, starting with an "I'm not griping, but ... " session when the 49ers lost at St. Louis on Sept. 14. He criticized the 49ers' patchwork offensive line and Knapp's play-calling after a Sept. 21 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He followed with another rant-filled press conference Sunday.
Not only did he claim that the 49ers "have no heart," but Owens didn't endorse struggling quarterback Jeff Garcia. Asked if Garcia should be demoted in favor of unproven backup Tim Rattay, Owens said: "Who knows? ... It's not my position to say we need a quarterback change, but Rat did a good job when he was in there."
Erickson squashed any possible quarterback controversy, stating Monday: "Jeff is our quarterback, and I plan on him playing well. He's played in the Pro Bowl and he's played well most of the year."
Garcia refused to directly respond to Owens' comments. Although the quarterbacks and receivers reviewed game film together for the third straight week to help their communication process, Garcia said he and Owens didn't speak to each other Monday.
"I don't care if they talk to each other," Erickson said, "as long as they're on the same page when they throw it and catch it."
Said Garcia: "Either we're all in this together or some changes have to be made. ... We win as a team and lose as a team. There's not any one individual that is above the team."
Garcia said the 49ers (1-3) have "more than enough heart." But he added that they hit "rock bottom" against the Vikings and are in a "do-or-die situation" going into Sunday's game against the Steve Mariucci-coached Detroit Lions.
Erickson said he wasn't too aware of the Mariucci-Owens saga that played out the previous few years. But Erickson has dealt with outspoken wide receivers before in his career, such as Joey Galloway with the Seattle Seahawks and Lamar Thomas at the University of Miami.
"Every coach has been through it one time or another," said tight ends coach Gregg Smith, who's been an assistant under Erickson since 1982. "It's just the nature of the profession."
Erickson said he's getting more involved in the play calling and that he, not Knapp, called for the Barlow run on the fourth-and-one play that incited Owens' outburst. Owens said Sunday that Garcia should have audibled and thrown to him because Owens was in single coverage. Erickson said he wouldn't allow Garcia to audible "in that situation at all, not in that stadium."
NOTES: Garcia said his strained left groin hampered him in Sunday's game but that his back has recovered from a July 14 injury. ... Left tackle Derrick Deese (right ankle) is slated to practice Wednesday and play Sunday for the first time since the season opener, Erickson said. ... Defensive tackle Josh Shaw returned from his four-game drug suspension and from what he called "an eye opening" stay at a Fort Lauderdale rehabilitation center. Donahue said the 49ers have a week to decide whether to keep Shaw on the roster. ... Jimmy Williams, the No. 4 cornerback Sunday, could be promoted, Erickson said.
