SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Terrell Owens returned to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, somewhat chastened by his week-long
suspension for his infamous touchdown celebrations in Dallas.
Owens didn't apologize for his flamboyant actions at Texas
Stadium on Sept. 24, but for the first time he admitted he made
"mistakes."
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Coach Steve Mariucci suspended his top receiver for a game and
fined him $24,294 after Owens twice caught touchdown passes, ran to
midfield and celebrated on the Cowboys' star logo.
"What I did against the Cowboys, it was excessive," Owens
said. "I've just got to move forward. ... Everybody makes
mistakes. The thing is just not to repeat the same mistakes."
It was a change of tune for Owens, who joined the 49ers for
regular Monday meetings at their team offices in Santa Clara. Last
Tuesday, he told reporters he didn't feel he had done anything
wrong, and that Mariucci was coerced by media pressure into
suspending him.
Owens said his teammates had welcomed him back, and both
Mariucci and Owens expressed interest in putting the incident in
the past.
"I think he's had a long time to reflect upon it," Mariucci
said. "While we don't want to take away from the game's emotional
side, we hope we've all learned something from it."
Owens said he spent the week in Atlanta visiting with family and
working out with his personal trainer before flying back to the Bay
Area on the weekend. He watched the 49ers' 27-20 victory over the
Arizona Cardinals on television Sunday.
"I never really get a chance to sit back and watch from a fan
perspective," Owens said. "It was neat to see those guys go to
work."
Owens returns to an offense playing at its highest level since
Steve Young's career ended with another concussion early last
season. Mariucci praised quarterback Jeff Garcia and receivers
Jerry Rice, J.J. Stokes and Tai Streets for their performances
against Arizona.
Their play wasn't lost on Owens, who fell from second in the NFC
in yards receiving to 10th. He said his biggest regret from the
suspension was that some of his teammates felt slighted by his
exuberance.
As Owens headed to midfield for his second celebration, he ran
through or past hugs from several teammates, including Garcia.
"I've just got to make my teammates aware that everybody's
involved and it's a team concept," Owens said. "I've never really
tried to get away from that. It's just the best feeling in the
world, scoring a touchdown."
Owens said he hadn't been given any team or league parameters
for his next TD celebration, except "I just can't go to
midfield."
He claims he doesn't have a plan for what he'll do if he scores
Sunday against Oakland.
"I'm just going to go with the flow," Owens said with a grin.
"You know me, I'm spur of the moment."
Team notes
FB Fred Beasley was a surprise addition to the 49ers'
injury list Monday. Beasley, who has two TDs and is Charlie
Garner's lead blocker, is suffering from lower back spasms and
likely won't practice on Wednesday. He is listed as questionable
for Sunday's game. ... CB Zack Bronson is likely to miss Sunday's
game. It's his second week out of action since experiencing
tingling in his neck and arms.
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