“Exposure”
“The Player”
“Locker Room Cancer”
Once Jerry Rice was gone in San Francisco, it became the Terrell Owens show. When he took over, his quarterback was the nimble and effective quarterback Jeff Garcia. They were a solid combo, but the relashionship was cut short. Owens called Jeff Garcia “gay”, not always a cooperative and motivating tool for your quarterback. Owens then left the 49ers to start a new career in Philadelphia.
His first season in Philadelphia was near harmonious. The McNabb-to-Owens connection seemed to blossom in their first season in 2004. Owens recorded 1,200 yards and 14 scores. But, after Terrell was injured thanks to the infamous Roy Williams horse-collar tackle, he had to miss the last 2 games of the season as well as the Eagles Super Bowl run. Owens shockingly came back for the Super Bowl, as his injury had not fully healed, yet grabbed 7 balls for 122 yards.
However, the Eagles did not come out victorious, much to Owens’ dismay. He blamed McNabb’s lack of conditioning for the game, yet denied that the comment that he “wasn’t the guy who got tired in the Super Bowl” wasn’t directed at McNabb. Either way, after that season he hired Drew Rosenhaus as his agent. His displeasure for a new contract lead him to be suspended by the team and then released at season’s end.
The next, and most recent stop before the Bills, stop was with Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys. He again enjoyed two great seasons to start his Cowboys career, having over 1,100 yards and over 12 TDs in both of those seasons.
However, the Cowboys struggles in the playoffs and his displeasure of the relashionship between Tony Romo (the guy infamously known to Terrell as “my quarterback” in that tearfully bogus interview) and Jason Witten, the real star receiver for the Cowboys the past two seasons, caused tons of controversy in the locker room. It got to the point that rumors were spreading that the locker room was divided between Romo, Witten and Garrett vs Owens.
Jerry Jones released Owens just this past week, although made it very clear that it was to amplify Roy Williams’ production and highlight his skills. He also said that he should be on the top of Owens’ reference list when looking for a new job, as he has the utmost respect for him.
So, onto Buffalo, which is where Owens has just landed. Merril Hodge, ESPN analyst, has said that Owens has lost his skills, and, not in so many words, said it was a terrible signing for the Bills, as it won’t help production-wise, but will only mess with Trent Edwards as a quarterback.
When I first heard of rumors of TO to Buffalo in the past few days, I was a bit caught off-guard. Buffalo usually builds through the draft, they already have Lee Evans, plus they have James Hardy, a guy who I think has number one receiver potential. But, on second analysis, Owens seems like a great fit in Buffalo.
For one, it’s not a big market, so the big city pressure will be off him a little. San Francisco is a winning environment, and Owens is more about stats and money than winning. Philadelphia is known as having the harshest fans in the game. And Dallas has becomes such an off-the-field joke that Cowboys fans and teammates want to get back to the Cowboys winning ways.
However, the Bills are a much smaller market. The Bills have loads of young talent, a budding quarterback, and a solid defensive and offensive line. Owens will be a big fish (media-wise) in small pond, and will be stricken to stay out of the lack of media attention and may put more time in the film room? Most likely.
Plus, I think now that Owens is 35 years old, he’s understanding that his legacy is almost finished being written. He already is being viewed as a talented and productive receiver who’s mouth has outplayed his stats at every stop. The Bills can be a whole new start, even if it’s for one year. Terrell coupled with Evans and Roscoe Parrish can form a formattable trio for Trent Edwards to lead to the playoffs.
So, to recap, Owens will be looking for fresh start in a city where media is more concerned with hockey than Owens’ relashonship with his quarterback. Expect Owens to prove the doubters wrong, emerge as a Top 10 receiver stat-wise once again, and lead the Bills into the playoffs. Maybe the popcorn can be eaten watching the game instead of watching John Clayton talk about the TO locker room saga.
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