Owens doesn't mind going nameless

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. " If Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo doesn't want to refer to Terrell Owens by name these days, that's fine with T.O.

"Dude, I could care less," Owens said with a laugh following the Buffalo Bills voluntary minicamp practice Wednesday. "I mean, he doesn't mention my name, that's fine. What about it?"

Owens spoke in response to a question regarding Romo, who declined to refer to the receiver by name after the Cowboys practiced last week for the first time since Dallas released Owens in March. Though Romo didn't say anything negative, the quarterback referred to Owens with nothing more personal than "he."

Wouldn't be the first time that's happened, Owens said.

"Bill Parcells didn't call me by my name either, so what's the difference?" he said, referring to the Cowboys former coach who would refer to Owens only as "The player."

Though Romo and Owens combined to produce more touchdowns over the past three seasons than any other NFL quarterback-receiver tandem, the two had what's regarded to have been a falling out last year.

Neither have gone into detail about their relationship this offseason, though the rift was considered to be one of the reasons that prompted Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' decision to release Owens on March 5. Owens signed with the Bills two days later.

Owens has previously blamed his release on Jones and the owner's son, Stephen Jones, the team's chief operating officer.

Last week, Owens posted a note on his Twitter page, also blaming Romo and Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. The unedited note, posted May 19, read: "blame the OC & romo!! but i'm happy 2 b where i am but i miss the other guys tht were & r true teammates."

Owens has received a warm welcome in Buffalo and has attended all five team voluntary minicamp sessions so far.

On Wednesday, he spent about 25 minutes after practice working on pass routes with quarterback Trent Edwards and fellow receiver Lee Evans in an effort to get his timing down and learn the offense.

"Obviously, I have to get used to the way he throws the ball and he has to get used to my body language," Owens said. "We're just trying to get a sense of timing and some chemistry."

So far so good, Edwards said.

"You can tell that he's been around, and you can tell that he's worked with some good quarterbacks," Edwards said, when asked his initial impressions of Owens. "Any extra practice we can get is beneficial to all of us, and Lee and Terrell and myself are really communicating well."