IRVING, Texas — The day at Valley Ranch started with colorful Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Johnson asking the media if he could curse during the middle of a conference call.

He could and he did.

It continued with Terrell Owens and Tony Romo saying they didn't get into a serious conversation about the offense following the Cowboys' loss to Washington on Sunday.

Multiple sources said Owens vented about his role to Romo after the game.

Owens, standing at his locker Wednesday morning with his baseball hat turned backward, was asked if being targeted 18 times was enough to satisfy him.

"I think it's really unfair to say 18 balls or 18 plays were called my way," Owens said. "If you want to dissect those, put on the screen all the 18 passes that were thrown my way, and you make the assessment of all those passes. Other than that, I'm really confident in this team."

Romo, sitting down at his locker with his hat turned backward, said Owens isn't the first player to complain about not getting enough passes.

"All right, I'll get you the ball," Romo said with a smirk. "What else can you do? You're going to pick out a guy and get him the ball. If I can't get there because something broke down for whatever reason, that's how it is."

But Romo is not without his own issues. He's committed a turnover in each of his last seven games dating to last season. And, after completing at least 70 percent of his passes the first two weeks of the season, he hasn't reached 60 percent the last two weeks.

"You like to never throw a pick," Romo said. "You think you will have more good plays than bad. Like I say all the time, this game is not without human error. You just try and fix it the next time and do better."

While Owens and Romo were busy answering questions about their play, Johnson and teammate T.J. Houshmandzadeh were begging for more passes to be thrown their way and showing support for Owens.

"If they throw (Owens) 20 balls and he only caught seven and they lost, (expletive) throw him 40 and he's going to catch 14 and they're going to win," Johnson said. "Out of that 14 that he's gonna get, some of those are going to be big plays and some of those are going to add up to touchdowns."

Johnson gave the phone to Houshmandzadeh, who happened to be walking by.

"Tell T.O. to tell Jason Garrett they need to throw the ball to him 24 times," Houshmandzadeh said while laughing. "Me and Chad ain't had 17 balls thrown our way in a game yet combined. Tell him they need to give it to him 24 or 25 times."

The Cowboys and Bengals meet Sunday afternoon in Texas Stadium. If the wide receivers have their way, they would like a shootout.

The Bengals are ranked 29th in pass offense, and quarterback Carson Palmer is scheduled to return after missing last week with an elbow injury.

"I'm not holding nothing back; we're 0-4," Johnson said. "Somebody's got to pay."

Cornerback Adam Jones, who knows both receivers, said Johnson is just trying to stay in the headlines.

"It is what it is," Jones said. "When Sunday gets here, I'll be ready."

So what happens if Johnson, who only has one touchdown this season, scores against Dallas?

"I've got so much respect for y'all," Johnson said. "If I score Sunday, I love Dallas so much, I'm going to take my helmet off, get a fine and kiss the star."