Archives for March 2009

‘Owens in Buffalo still sounds very strange to the ear, but there are things about it that hold considerable intrigue for the 2009 season. Here are five quick thoughts that came to mind when the Bills made their boldest move since trading for Drew Bledsoe in 2002…’.

‘Owens’ sudden signing with the Buffalo Bills was just the latest case of sports imitating pro wrestling. If Owens were the heel, then Rosenhaus is even more perfect cast in the role of the villain’s valet.’

‘Some may claim that Buffalo made a mistake by adding T.O., but the real error here was made by the receiver-strapped contenders that passed on him. A team such as the Titans is very close to being championship caliber, and Owens would have given them the established receiver they have lacked for years. Plus, they have a coach and QB that could’ve kept him in check. The same goes for the Giants, who are definitely going to need talented pass catchers if Plaxico Burress winds up in jail. Or how about the Bears or Jaguars, two teams that could compete for the worst receiving corps in the NFL? Do they really think they could be any worse by signing Owens? I doubt it. And these are just a sampling of the numerous clubs that missed out on a rare opportunity to add an All-Pro with quality seasons left in him.’

‘And why would events unfold differently this time?’

‘”The thing I like about him, and what I think that all stems from, is him wanting to win,” Edwards said. “That’s something I’m going to keep in mind. I spoke with him briefly on the phone and told him that. I don’t want to sit home in January. I don’t want to sit home in February. I want to play football. I want to be out there in the playoffs. I want to take this team to that level. I know he’s taken those teams that he’s played for in the past to that level, and I’m hoping I can do the same.”‘

‘Owens alone had 13 receiving TDs last season and 25 over the past two years. His two-year total is just one less than the Bills total over the same period.’

‘”You know what, the thing I like about him, and what I think that all stems from, is him wanting to win,” Edwards said. “If you keep that mind – and that’s something I’m going to keep in mind – that’s why I spoke with him on the phone briefly while he was here and told him that I don’t want to sit at home in January, I don’t want to sit at home in February. I want to play football.”‘

‘This move doesn’t necessarily make the Bills a playoff team. But it can’t hurt, regardless of the proverbial circus that may ensue and its 10-city fall tour.’

‘”We have no specific plans,” Rogers vice-chairman Phil Lind said yesterday. “But you can count on the fact that we’ll see Terrell up here, that’s for sure. Toronto’s an exciting city –one of the more exciting cities in North America — and I’m sure Terrell will be heading up here.”‘

‘In Buffalo, they’ve survived blizzards, the Music City Miracle, Wade Phillips and losing four Super Bowls. They can survive a year with Terrell Owens.’

‘But whatever he does, T.O. is a bad fit for the Bills. Buffalo is a working man’s city, with very good fans who appreciate good football, but who do not appreciate showboats. It’s not the big, national stage Owens likes for his antics, such as the one he had in Dallas, San Francisco and even in Philadelphia. The Buffalo fans may boo him off the stage.’

‘Best-case scenario for Buffalo: That Owens models exemplary behavior on and off the football field, mentors Buffalo’s young receivers and steps up with an All-Pro-caliber season. He’s quiet, humble and great in the community. Worst-case scenario: Owens never gets on page with Edwards and becomes a disruptive jerk. Fans seated at Ralph Wilson Stadium begin pelting him with snowballs as he leaves the field. Bridges are burned. Feelings are hurt.’

‘Does the signing say more about the team or about the player? Have the Bills decided to step up and get themselves an impact player? Or has Owens’ reputation for making trouble become such a problem for him that the only place he could find work was in western New York state?’

‘We’re hearing multiple stories on this, but I was actually at the Stanford Business School this past week and was sitting in my hotel room. It was at the end of the seminar and I had seen on TV just like you guys had seen on TV, and we had a couple receivers come in that we were considering offering contracts and they went other places, and I had been in touch with Russ all offseason and we share a pretty close relationship when it comes to that. It was just kind of a question thrown out there, if we were considering him, if he had known anything about it, just sort of an inquiry to see where he was at. I just said, ‘what about T.O.?’ That was really about it.’

‘Before I go any further, think about this… When was the last time a Bills jersey lead the league in sales?’