Owens oddly makes sense in Buffalo

NFL_owens2_250.jpgWhen we made a list of possible destinations for Terrell Owens, Buffalo didn't even crack the top seven.  But that's where he signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract on Saturday.

While the fit sounds nutty, it actually makes sense for Buffalo.  Bear with me here.  

The Bills have been desperate to find more offensive firepower under Dick Jauron.  They have an elite vertical receiver in Lee Evans and a deep backfield, but they are very thin after that.  Trent Edwards remains a promising young quarterback, but he doesn't have enough weapons. 

Owens will provide that weapon, provided he doesn't blow up Edwards' career.  Evans will see more single coverage and Buffalo's running game will see fewer defenses geared up to stop them. 

Buffalo wasn't listed as a likely destination because they usually value character highly and don't often pay big money to free agents.  But they know it's time to take a gamble. 

Jauron is on the hot seat and the team is suffering a long playoff drought.  The competition in the AFC East isn't getting any easier.  (Buffalo went 0-6 in the AFC East last year.)  While the Bills have a promising nucleus, they need to try something, because a fourth straight 7-9 season won't cut it.   

ESPN's Len Pasquarelli reported Saturday that Bills owner Ralph Wilson was heavily involved with the decision.  Owens will help raise the franchise profile and help sell tickets for their games in Canada. 

The key to all of this is the length of the deal.  Only so much damage can occur in a year, and Owens usually behaves in the first year of his contract.  Owens will be under pressure to behave and perform or he won't get another contract in 2010.  A little dose of career mortality could keep his mouth shut. 

The Bills are taking a huge risk, but standing pat meant going nowhere.   Signing T.O. sounds so crazy, it might just work. 

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25 Comments

Ron Furbay said:

Owens is a great receiver but when the snow falls,will he shuffle or shovel.

Anthony said:

As a Bills fan I have mixed emotions. I want to win but with his history...

How the organization responds when the first time he blows up will say a lot. We better show up the offense and defense lines or it won't matter.

Here's hoping for the best - after years of mediocrity it can't get worse.

tommy said:

cowboys will be worse bills will be better you be the judge

Tim Connelly said:

I hate T.O., but I love the signing. Consider this.....

6. Last football season on ESPN, what issues were discussed the most? Brett Favre, and them Cowboys. Now our Bills will finally be in the spotlight, whether we win or lose.

5. T.O. will only make his other fellow offensive players better.

4. The Bills franchise and especially the Bills' fans will not accept his poor, immature attitude for one second.

3. T.O. has always been a fairly good teammate in his first year with a team.

2. Who has ever had success without taking a little risk?

1. How can things get any worse in Buffalo than they already are? The only place to go is up.

Jesus said:

Bills win Super bowl

Scooter W. said:

I am flabbergasted! Who knows? This could be the start of something good! Signing him is a huge risk, but it's so crazy it just might work. Go Bills! I think Tim Russert would love this move - the Bills will be the talk of the NFL for the rest of the off-season.

First OJ and years of being Miami's door-mat, then a choke-filled 4-time Super Bowl run, and now TO. For cryin' out loud, can the long-suffering Bills fans catch a break?
I can't help but believe that the football gods hate this city and its fans.

This year will see the Chippawa Street bars flooded in tears.

Good luck, Buffalo...you're gonna' need it.
But then again, you always were your own worst enemies...

Bills Fan no matter what said:

I think T.O. will end up complaining that the only thing to do in Buffalo is TGI fridays, and then whine his way out. Upstate NY needs someone to come in and lift everyones spirit. T.O might just cause everyone to hold their breath even longer until they pass out from another disappointment.

Ronnie B. said:

I live in Waco, in which the people around me live and breathe Dallas Cowboys.(Hate em')
I was thinking in my head ,You've got to be kidding, but the numbers don't lie. T.O. Produces. Look at it this way, at worst, he's going to free up Lee Evans. We all know what he does in single coverage. So it may be crazy, but we finally have someone that will draw attention away from Lee, and is a playmaker. maybe Chris can go back to saying "No one circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills" Go Bills!!!

JFTFOX said:

SORRY BILLS... NOW YOU FIND OUT WHAT THE REST OF THE US ALREADY KNOW...TO IS A CANCER.. LEE EVANS IS A STUD..I'LL TAKE HIM ON MY TEAM ANYDAY.. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE T.O. WANT'S THE BALL MORE. THE BILLS ARE THE 3RD BEST TEAM IN N.Y. ... THINGS ARE GONNA GET WORSE.. WELCOME T.O. BILL'S FANS !!! AT LEAST YOU'LL MAKE SPORTS CENTER NOW !!!

FOOTS said:

I think T.O. has grown up a little. Many didn't recognize his demeanor when and after he heard about being cut from the team. He's still smiling! I think the Bill's got a good deal because Jerry Jones will probably pay part of the financial cost of T.O. contract. The Bills will get productivity from their whole team. The media will give Buffalo attention and the other players will be out to prove they aren't chumps anymore. Sounds a little like Arizona doesn't it?

Etaoin Shrdlu said:

TO in Buffalo? I LOVE IT! One less team my Patriots have to worry about. Halfway through the season when the Bills are 1-7 TO will start whining and the Bills will begin their descent to Lions territory. Hell, I wish Brett Favre could have stayed with the Jets! GO PATS!

leslie mann said:

My wife is a lifetime Bills fan. She has not stopped throwing up since the news of T.O's signing. Please T.O., resign immediatley before my wife completely dehydrates. I will send you a check for $6.5M.

Da Man said:

If all you want to do is talk about his talent then go ahead and fool yourself. There's a lot more to winning football than having a talented receiver.

Everyone thinks they have the cure but this cat aint changing his spots.

Maggie said:

Does it even matter? As long as he stays away from Philadelphia, I dont care where he goes.

Tom said:

It might work out just fine! As a Pats fan, I remember that it wasn't that long ago the football world was characterizing the Randy Moss signing by the Patriots in the exact same terminology. Now most who thought it was a terrible fit can't imagine they ever thought that.

Mark said:

Face it, TO is not the catalyst everyone makes him out to be (except maybe for negative attention). In 13 seasons, playing for three teams, he has six Pro Bowl apperances but he has only been to one Super Bowl.

DKF said:

Im a die hard bills fan. I watched T.O. over the last few seasons and just been shocked. Yes he has a attitude but he is a great player. Crazy as it may sound the Bills need a player like this to keep them on there toes. No one will slack off because of fearing they will be the talk of Sports Center in a Soap Opera show during the game with T.O. No matter what or who GO BILLS!!!!

M. Lyons said:

Regardless, the Bills are headed to Toronto for keeps. Say goodbye Buffalo.

phe said:

TO Owens is waaayyyyy too big-time (at least in his mind) for Buffalo. Sorry, guys. I love your wings, and I hear good things about your town and your fans. But TO Owens needs ESPN, Fox Sports, and hot Mexican reporters following him around like puppy dogs. When the Bills are 3-5 and Jauron figures out that TO has hands made of Teflon-covered cement, the cameras aren't going to be there for him.

I wish no ill will on Buffalo, but I feel pretty comfortable telling you all that you will rue the day you signed this clown.

Respectfully,
Been There, Done That, Glad It's Over
Dallas TX

Buffalowens said:

So..... does anyone remember the attitude problems of one Mr. Jim Kelly? Does anyone remember Bruce Smith threatening to sit out over dollar signs? NO! because they were winners. Good luck TO, go Bills!!!

Tony said:

What harm can this signing do to a 7-9 team, that no one expected to do anything this upcoming season? He can't possibly harm the chemistry in the locker room as currently there is none. Now if the Bills were 13-3 last year, I would be aghast at the prospect of T.O. coming in and disrupting the team, but as it is, he'll have to play hard if he wants another contract next year, and I can't imagine anybody being that stupid as to rock the boat being in that position. It'll be interesting to say the least. One other matter I'd like to address is why does anyone believe the Bills are headed out of the area? First off, they are the only team to play it's home games in the State of New York, so there will be incentive by the state to keep them here, and secondly, what city is in the financial position right now to entice the team to move with new stadium deals, sweetheart leases and concessions? None. The economy is in such disarray that no city in their right mind would dangle a carrot worthy of relocation without a huge taxpayer donation to the cause and I'm sure any city interested would be hard pressed to justify bringing in a football team when they have more important financial obligations.

SFA51 said:

Regardless of whether or not T.O. excels in Buffalo, he'll be a catalyst for future happenings. The Bills have been an afterthought on the NFL landscape for a long time now, and sometimes you just need a headline like this to get things turned around. If it goes well, the Bills might just venture deeper into the free agent market, and re-kindle local fan interest and national media attention. It's a good move, whether T.O. actually helps or not.

TEXAS13 said:

I don't care where he goes as long as it is not in TEXAS...

Prophet Pete said:

James Hardy will make Bills fans forget this signing ever took place. GUARANTEE.

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