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IRVING –You can say what you want about Terrell Owens, the occasionally petulant receiver who whines – like they all do – when he doesn't get enough passes thrown his way.

No one, though, has ever questioned his effort or intensity. Not Jeff Garcia. Not Andy Reid. Not Donovan McNabb. And very unlike Randy Moss, whose inconsistent effort is among the reasons Minnesota and Oakland got rid of the game's best receiver.

That's why it's hard to figure out why so many of you seem shocked at T.O.'s hustle in the Cowboys' 27-16 win over Green Bay the other day.

Based on e-mails I received, a few of you were incredulous that T.O. sprinted nearly 55 yards down the sideline shielding Felix Jones from defenders on the rookie's 60-yard touchdown run.

Well, he did the same thing last season on Patrick Crayton's 59-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown against St. Louis. And he did it in 1998 on Garrison Hearst's 96-yard touchdown run in overtime against the Jets.

Others seemed more amazed that T.O. chased Green Bay safety Nick Collins 54 yards – after someone knocked him on his butt – following Tony Romo's end zone interception.

He grabbed Collins from behind, allowing Patrick Crayton to tackle him at the Dallas 43. As he jogged onto the field, Zach Thomas patted Owens on the helmet.

If T.O. doesn't slow Collins down, he might've scored. Instead, the defense held Green Bay to a field goal as the Packers took a 6-3 lead.

"I don't do it for show. I do it because that's part of my job. I've always been labeled as a good blocker," he said Tuesday, while signing copies of his new book, T.O's Finding Fitness, in Southlake. "This isn't the first time I've kind of escorted some guys to the end zone.

"... I want people to say that Terrell was one of the greatest athletes to ever put on the Dallas Cowboys uniform. I think I'm on my way, and I think I'm doing those necessary things."

What you must remember about T.O.'s troubles in San Francisco and Philadelphia is that they occurred because he was mad about his money.

That's never been the case in Dallas. Jerry Jones has made sure of that.

Jerry gave him a three-year, $25 million deal with a $10 million signing bonus when he acquired him three seasons ago. Last spring, T.O. received a three-year, $27 million deal with a $12 million signing bonus.

None of that means he's going to be content catching two passes for 17 yards each week.

He won't.

But it doesn't mean he'll ever stop hustling. T.O. has always played hard.

T.O. wants the ball because he believes the more he gets it, the more he enhances the Cowboys' ability to win.

Despite his numbers against Green Bay, T.O. still impacted the offense. Green Bay used a safety to stop T.O. from getting deep much of the night, giving them one fewer defender to stop the run.

The result: Marion Barber rushed for a career-high 142 yards.

T.O.'s presence also helps Jason Witten operate underneath more easily because he occupies one of the safeties, also the same reason Miles Austin and Patrick Crayton usually get single coverage.

This won't last forever.

At some point, opposing defensive coordinators will turn their focus on Witten and Barber, then T.O. will become the offensive epicenter again.

Last year, the Cowboys beat St. Louis, Buffalo and Detroit without Owens dominating. He did not have more than 33 yards receiving in any of those games.

Actually, that's the beauty of this offense.

Whenever defenses take one facet away, another excels. Besides, it's not like T.O. has struggled this season. He's averaging 19.3 yards on 10 catches with three touchdowns. He's been a difference-maker in every game.

That won't change no matter how many balls he's catching. Neither will his effort.