Will T.O’s show in Buffalo be canceled after 1 year?

On the eve of Terrell Owens reality show debut, take it from me that all eyes and ears from the VH1 executives will be on how the show does ratings wise. If the show does huge numbers it will almost be guaranteed to be picked up for a second season. T.O.’s numbers mean a lot to the VH1 executives if they want a second season, however that philosophy isn’t the same when it comes to whether Owens and the Bills decide to come back for a second season.

Recently T.O.’s Super agent Elvis..er..Drew Rosenhaus told a Miami TV Station that his client is loving life in Buffalo and may want to stay in Buffalo past its original 1 year deal. The Bills are going to be the ones who would make the initial offering if they want him back and it’s going to take a lot for that to happen. I’m not worried much about what sort of numbers he puts up as long as Edwards stays healthy. T.O. haters never seem to mention that his downer 2008 season (69 catches, 1052 yards, 10 tds) may have been due to the fact that the immortal Brad Johnson quarterbacked the team for 3 games. In those games Dallas went 0-3 and scored an average of 14 points in those games. I’ll give you that Romo is better then Edwards, but Johnson? Id take Losman over him. I think Owens will get his standard TO numbers (80 catches, 1200 yards, 13 tds), but in order for the Bills to sign him to an extension its going to have to count in the record column, and I mean big time! Here are some of the scenarios that could face Owens on whether he comes back for a second season.

Bills win 5 to 7 games

Gone! Even if T.O. pulls in great numbers and the team loses Evans, Lynch, Edwards, Whitner, and McGee to injury, he is as good as gone. And if the team is this bad, look for a blow up between Schonert and Owens. I’m predicting (you heard it here first) that Owens will get into it with a former Bill from the 90’s. I don’t know why but Thurman Thomas and Jim Kelly are always on the radio and TV in Buffalo giving their opinions on the team. If things go bad and Kelly and Thomas start burying the Bills and Owens, you know the press is going to let Owens find out. Since Owens has always gone after current teammates maybe he’ll change it up and go after a Bills legend. He won’t have to look too far since both players are normally spotted on the sideline during games. Also, if the Bills are this bad you can kiss Dick Jauron goodbye. That means the marketing team can just hype up the new coaching regime to come in and make changes.

I’ll give you a 20% chance Owens stays. Lets say the Bills win 10 games and make the playoffs only to get eliminated in the wild card game. That means you don’t need Owens anymore to market this team. Face facts, the Owens signing was a marketing move. After Owens signed I remember hearing the folks at One Bills Drive talking about how it all started. It started with coach Jauron and then worked its way up to GM Russ Bradon. The kicker was after it went through those two guys it went over to the people in marketing who ended up swaying the vote. Owens was the meal ticket to make fans forget about how bad Jauron was and the last 9 years of mediocrity the team represented. If the team makes the playoffs and gets eliminated right away that’s enough hope for next year to make the typical fan not care if Owens comes back or not. The only way Owens stays in this matter is if no other team wants Owens.

Id go 70% #81 stays put. If the Bills win a playoff game or two and give the Patriots a run for their money, I don’t think Ralph would have it in him to let Owens go. Say what you will about Wilson, but I can think of two instances where Wilson paid for success whether it was in the PR or winning sense. Simpson and the 90’s Bills come to mind. During the 70’s, O.J. Simpson was the toast of the town. Simpson was getting rushing titles and selling tickets. But by the mid 70’s Simpson started tailing off in production and his best years were behind him. But Simpson was still a big draw for the Bills and against some of the coaches wishes, Mr. Wilson went with keeping OJ as his ticket selling item. As for the 90’s Bills, Wilson did what Golisano couldn’t do and that was keep his core team together year after year. Wilson always paid Thomas, Kelly, Reed, and Smith market money. Even when Thomas and Bruce were on their last legs he still paid for them. Wilson knew those 4 guys were the key to winning a championship. How many times did he renegotiate Bruce Smith’s contract? Owens and the Bills need that type of year if they hope to get green lit for season two of the star studded show, “Owens in Buffalo. “

-Joey P-