GRAPEVINE — Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens may have been booed at Texas Stadium on Sunday. But his head coach, his family, the city of Dallas and the majority of his teammates rallied around him Monday night at his annual birthday party and celebrity fund-raiser at the Gaylord Texan’s Glass Cactus Nightclub. Among the celebrities in attendance were singer Solange Knowles, comedian Guy Torrey — who served as the master of ceremonies for the live auction — actress Jill Marie Jones and actor Carl Payne. Actor Will Smith sent a special birthday message, and rapper Ludacris was expected to perform at midnight.

However, considering the events of the last week — when Owens was involved in a controversy with tight end Jason Witten and quarterback Tony Romo, the headliners Monday night were his teammates and coaches. Romo, who is suffering from a back injury sustained against the Giants, was a no-show at press time, along with Witten, who is also nursing injuries. [LB Greg] Ellis said it was important to send the message that "we are one team. There are not any problems. We are not a team divided and we are sticking together."

For starters, when a ballplayer says "There are not any problems, we're not divided and we're sticking together," you know for a fact that there are problems, they're divided and they're not sticking together. It's like saying "with all due respect" just before you say something disrespectful; If it were true, you wouldn't have to say it. And as phoney as Romo and Witten faking injuries to get out of going to T.O.'s birthday.

And you also know for certain that whatever kind of happy face Owens puts on this, you know he cried real tears when he found out Romo and Witten blew off his lameass party. But what did he expect with a guest list of M-List celebrities like this? Beyonce's sister? Some bottom feeding comic? The stars of "The Longshots" and "Feast II: Sloppy Seconds?" I'm no Tony Romo fan, but this is a guy who's slept with Carrie Underwood and Jessica Simpson. Did TO honestly expect him to put the key in his ignition in order to hang out with a dog's breakfast like this? To watch Will Smith's birthday wishes on YouTube? It's an embarassment. And that business of Ludacris "was expected to perform"? Tracy pulled the same move to get people to come to Kenny's party on "30 Rock." I know Jerry Jones loves this sort of chaos around his team because it keeps them in the public eye and boosts their Q rating, but for me, it's just Reason No. 93682736203 why I'm glad I'm a Patriots fan.