Owens to Buffalo: Really?

I know. I was just as confused when you heard the news that controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens had been signed by the Buffalo Bills. For a player with a troublesome history like Owens, this might be his last chance to redeem himself and prove he can play nice with others. For a team that barely gets any national attention, Buffalo just cannon-balled into the media pool. I did not see this coming. Oakland? Yes. Al Davis loves stockpiling problem children. Then it’s always a surprise when they’re a problem and are released a year later. Buffalo? Dick Jauron is the model of calm and non-confrontational. Trent Edwards is a second year quarterback whose growth could be stunted if T.O. starts acting up early. Is this a good acquisition for the Bills? Well, to answer simply: maybe.

Let’s start with Owens. It says a lot to me that Jerry Jones, the rehabilitator of the NFL’s malcontents, gave up on T.O. Even further, he took a massive nine million dollar cap hit when he decided to release the embattled wide-out. That’s nine million dollars the Cowboys can’t use to upgrade their defense or sign DeMarcus Ware to the lofty extension he has coming. Jones just signed Owens to an impressive extension last off-season, which signaled Terrell would have a star on his helmet for the long-term. For Jones to outright cut Owens is a giant mark against the player and a huge “mea culpa” from the owner. Jerry seems to have accepted the idea that simply signing the best players no matter what character issues are on display is not the best idea in today’s NFL. Now his lop-sided trade for former Lion receiver Roy Williams has to pay dividends. Now Tony Romo can take charge of his team and hopefully lead them to a playoff victory. (Wouldn’t that be something?) After burning bridges and quarterbacks on three consecutive teams (San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Dallas in case you blocked it from memory), Owens has next to no leeway. It’s time to put up or shut up. In Owens’ case, I can’t see him shutting up. At least he’s in Buffalo now, so we don’t have to endure the two-fold media frenzy of his antics matched up with “America’s team.” Even if Terrell goes nuts, he’s still in Buffalo. There’ll be what, six reporters to cover it?

On the team side of the matter, this is a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Bills. It’s only a one year contract, with the reinforcing idea that T.O. needs to be on his best behavior if he wishes to continue his career past it. Owens will pull coverage away from Buffalo’s primary receiver Lee Evans, allowing for more single coverage downfield for Edwards to dissect. He also should improve their running game, both by keeping men deep to protect against the pass and his run-blocking, which can be one of his better talents (when he feels like it). Even if he doesn’t see the ball as much as he thinks he should, Buffalo can either cut him outright (that money’s already on the books anyway) or wait it out until the season ends. Then it can just be called a failed experiment, with Owens’s personality being the overriding reactant. I’m putting ten bucks on that outcome right now. Another ten says he’s had a blow-up before week eight as the Bills are struggling to keep pace in the AFC East. (Remember, Brady will be back.)

Are you excited to not see T.O. as much? I know I am!