Seahawks are latest team to say no to T.O.
Posted by Anthony Stalter (07/20/2010 @ 9:11 am)
Once again, it appears that Drew Rosenhaus might be bending the truth when it comes teams being interested in one of his clients.
I know, I know – that’s surprising news. It hit me hard this morning, too.
Rosenhaus said late last week that five teams had showed interested in Terrell Owens and at least one new team was acting aggressively towards signing the receiver. He also said that he was encouraged about a team signing T.O. within the next couple of weeks and reiterated that, “this isn’t just agent rhetoric.”
But since making those statements, at least four teams (the Ravens, Bengals, Chargers and Seahawks) joined the Redskins, Browns and Patriots as teams that reportedly want nothing to do with T.O. Considering Owens also stated last week that he doesn’t get along with Chiefs head coach Todd Haley, you can probably cross Kansas City off his list of suitors as well.
Granted, that’s only eight teams and there are 32 in the league. It’s still a possibility that Rosenhaus is telling the truth when he says that five teams are interested in T.O. and maybe the receiver will find a new home within the next couple of weeks.
But it isn’t likely. The Seahawks are the latest team to say no to T.O. and they were seemingly the best fit. Who better to take on a personality like T.O. then Pete Carroll, who was on the 49ers’ staff the year they drafted Owens. Even Carroll weighed the risk versus the reward when it comes to T.O. and figured out that he wasn’t worth it.
We all know Rosenhaus talks a great game, but it’s becoming clearer by the day that very few teams (if any) are interested in Owens. I still think he’ll eventually catch on somewhere, but it might take a major injury or two for a team to gather up enough gumption to pick up the phone and call Rosenhaus.
Beason: “There’s no way T.O. could be a Panther.”
Posted by Anthony Stalter (07/16/2010 @ 11:00 am)
More times than not, when athletes are asked about whether they would welcome a player that could be a potential locker room distraction, they say yes, or deliver a cookie-cutter response about how it isn’t their place to comment on a topic like that.
But not Panthers’ linebacker Jon Beason, who flat out told NFL.com that there’s no way Terrell Owens could be a Panther.
“There’s no way T.O. could be a Panther,” Beason wrote. “Based on the fact that our ownership and coaches believe that the locker room is important and based on T.O.’s history, for whatever reason, he’s been a distraction in the locker room.”
That’s a pretty strong statement, considering Panthers WR Steve Smith once broke a teammate’s nose during a training-camp fight.
As the article notes, the Panthers would seemingly be a good fit for T.O. with Smith on the mend and rookies Armanti Edwards and Brandon LaFell lacking experience. But it’s becoming increasingly clear this offseason that most teams want nothing to do with Owens.
In the same article, NFL.com also reports that Redskins’ coach Mike Shanahan has made it known that he won’t take a flyer on T.O. either. While there is still plenty of time before the regular season starts, it appears that many coaches and general managers feel the same as Shanahan in that the risk isn’t worth the potential reward anymore when it comes to the 36-year-old receiver.
Brash personality + declining skills = no suitors for T.O.?
Posted by Anthony Stalter (07/14/2010 @ 10:30 am)
I find it ironic that Pacman Jones and Matt Jones currently have jobs, but Terrell Owens is still looking for work.
Think about that for a second. Let it marinade. Let it wash over you.
Pacman Jones is on a National Football League roster, while Terrell Owens is at home watching the 67th rerun of SportsCenter because he can’t find any takers. That’s amazing.
It’s hard to argue that T.O. hasn’t been a distraction over the years for almost every team he’s been with (the Bills last year was the only exception), but he has also never gotten into any real trouble. Not like Pacman or Matt Jones. He’s never tried to make it rain in a strip club. He’s also never been busted for drugs or has gotten into a fight with a bodyguard in a hotel bathroom.
So you can’t tell me that owners or GMs think Owens is that much of a headache not to take a chance on signing. I realize teams might not want to disrupt the chemistry in their locker rooms by bringing in a potential loudmouth like T.O., but that hasn’t stopped wide receiver-needy teams (and there’s no shortage of them every season) from acquiring him before. The fact remains that if a player is talented, some team will take a shot on him.
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Raiders deny interest in Terrell Owens
Posted by Anthony Stalter (05/19/2010 @ 9:01 am)
Despite an ESPN report stating that they had internal discussions about signing the free agent receiver, Raiders head coach Tom Cable is denying that the team is interested in Terrell Owens.
“We really haven’t had any discussion about that,” Cable said. “We’ve got a good, young receiving corps, it’s never been a point of conversation.”
“I think we did what was best for our football team, that’s the only thing that really matters here,” he said. “Why, why not, this or that, it doesn’t matter any more. What matters is we move forward as a football team and we did what we think gives us the best chance to succeed.”
Al Davis has always acquired talent with reckless abandon, but Cable’s second quote indicates that the Raiders are going to be smarter when it comes to bringing in new players.
For the first time in a long time, the Raiders have had direction this offseason. They dumped JaMarcus Russell, acquired Jason Campbell, had a productive draft (where the player selection actually made sense) and now appear to be staying away from players that don’t fit. Are we seeing a change in philosophy in Oakland?
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Should the Falcons sign T.O.?
Posted by Anthony Stalter (05/18/2010 @ 7:20 pm)
D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution posed the question of whether or not the Falcons should sign free agent wideout Terrell Owens.
Here’s my answer: Why is this even a question?
The Falcons’ receiving corps is somewhat a concern heading into the season. Roddy White is a stud, but Michael Jenkins has proven to be more of a blocker than a pass catcher and Harry Douglas is coming off major knee surgery. Behind them is the aging Brian Finneran, special teamer Eric Weams and fifth round pick Kerry Meier (who essentially is a younger Finneran in the making).
On the surface, it might make sense to throw T.O. in the mix. On paper, giving Matt Ryan White, T.O. and Tony Gonzalez to play with might make sense. Besides, the Falcons would only sign Owens to a one-year deal, so if it didn’t work they could move on after the year and not think twice about it.
But let’s not forget that the Falcons’ strength is actually running the ball with Michael Turner, Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood (for the 11 plays he gets a year). Adding T.O. doesn’t make much sense given Douglas’ potential, Ryan’s familiarity with White and Gonzalez, and yes, even Jenkins’ blocking ability. (Fans like to rag on Jenkins for not being much of a receiver, but he’s by far their best blocker and that holds value for a team that often likes to set the tone with their ground game.)
While I applaud Ledbetter for trying to drum up conversation now that OTAs are underway, this topic should be put to rest immediately. T.O. won’t be a Falcon. It isn’t worth it for the team to sacrifice Douglas’ development in the offense and who knows what would happen if Ryan didn’t get Owens the ball enough. Atlanta just doesn’t need a potential distraction like that, especially with Ryan heading into his third year.
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Posted in: NFL
Tags: 2010 NFL Offseason, Anthony Stalter, Atlanta Falcons, Brian Finneran, Eric Weams, Falcons rumors, Kerry Meier, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White, Terrell Owens, Terrell Owens Falcons, Terrell Owens rumors, Tony Gonzalez
T.O. and McNabb to reunite in Washington?
Posted by Anthony Stalter (04/20/2010 @ 10:30 am)
According to ESPN.com’s Ed Werder, Donovan McNabb is lobbying for the Redskins to sign free agent Terrell Owens. Per Werder, Mike Shanahan says that the Skins aren’t actively pursuing Owens, but the team does want to upgrade their wide receiver corps so the possibility remains open.
T.O. and McNabb have since reconciled their differences stemming from their days together in Philadelphia, but I’m not sure why McNabb would want to go back down that road. It’s not like Owens is a productive No. 1 receiver anymore; why take on the potential baggage?
That said, there’s no doubt that the Redskins have to upgrade their receiving corps at some point this offseason. Santana Moss is coming off a rough year, while youngsters Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas have only shown vague flashes of potential. Owens always keeps himself in great shape and if Washington were to sign him for one year, he could at least breathe some competition into the wideout position. Plus, a lot of his struggles last year can be attributed to the fact that the Bills didn’t have a quarterback.
Still, the Skins would be better off taking a pass on T.O. He’s a 36-year-old headache waiting to happen and there’s no telling how he and Shanahan would mesh. Washington has seven rounds to add another receiver into the mix and it just makes sense for them to go younger.
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Is anybody interested in T.O.?
Posted by Anthony Stalter (02/24/2010 @ 10:37 am)
Beat writer Allen Wilson of the Buffalo News says the chances of Terrell Owens returning to the Bills are very slim.
“It was awesome,” Owens said. “I don’t know if I could have dreamed of a better reception than any city that I’ve played in. The initial signing there, getting a key to the city, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better moment.”
Owens was not asked about his future in football, a topic a lot of Bills fans are interested in. If you took a poll around town, the vote probably would be strongly in favor of his return. T.O. said after the past season that he wouldn’t rule it out, but the chances of him wearing a Bills uniform in 2010 is very slim.
Outside of Chad Ocho Cinco suggesting that he’ll wind up in Cincinnati, T.O.’s name has not surfaced much this offseason. Granted, the free agency period hasn’t even begun yet, but usually there are at least rumblings about a team or two being interested. It’s been naddy for T.O. so far.
Whether it was the offensive system or the lack of quarterback play, Owens wasn’t productive in Buffalo last year. He’ll probably have to accept another one-year contract based on his age and declining skills but where that will be is anyone’s guess.
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T.O. to wind up in Cincinnati with Ochocinco?
Posted by Anthony Stalter (02/04/2010 @ 2:45 pm)
Chad Ochocinco shared an interesting nugget with FOX’s Jay Glazer down in Miami this week.
From Glazer’s Twitter page:
chad ochocinco just told me on The Jay Glazer Pre-Party on FSN that he thinks T.O. will be a Bengal next year. he said he’s sure of it
Owens is an unrestricted free agent and after spending one aggravating year in Buffalo, the chances of him re-signing with the Bills are slim to none. (Not that the Bills would want him back anyway.)
At least on paper, a T.O.-Bengals marriage works. Cincy needs to boost their passing game in the offseason and could stand to add a receiver opposite Ochocinco. That said, at 36, Owens isn’t exactly the playmaker he used to be. He’s slow getting off the line of scrimmage and doesn’t always work back to the ball, although he still uses his size and speed to his advantage in one-on-one match ups and he’s still an excellent all-around athlete. And it’s not like the Bengals have to worry about him destroying a locker room that has already been destroyed countless times before.
Granted, I think Marvin Lewis’ head just exploded thinking about the possibility of having to deal with the Ocho and T.O. in the same locker room.
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Blogging the Bloggers: Guerrero’s sting, say ‘no’ to Rush, T.O.’s next stop, and more
Posted by John Paulsen (10/13/2009 @ 4:00 pm)
- THE BIG LEAD has the details on Lisa Guerrero’s recent sting on the Tennessee hotels that allegedly filled a creep’s request to get a room next to Erin Andrews (which led to the peephole tape). Did you know that she posed for Playboy a while back? (NSFW)
- Over at YARDBARKER, Brendan Haywood argues that the NFL should just say no to Rush Limbaugh’s bid to buy the Rams.
- THE SPORTING BLOG reports that one Miami scalper took his “job” waaaay too seriously.
- The folks in Buffalo are already talking about trading Terrell Owens, and THE HERD’S WORD wonders where he could land.
- DEADSPIN details how Francisco Garcia will miss four months because of a freak rubber ball incident.
Posted in: Humor, NBA, NFL, Rumors & Gossip, Women
Tags: Black players, Erin Andrews, Erin Andrews peephole, Francisco Garcia, Francisco Garcia injury, Lisa Guerrero Erin Andrews, Rush Limbaugh Rams, Rush Limbaugh Rams owner, Terrell Owens, Terrell Owens rumors, Terrell Owens trade
T.O.: ‘I’ll be the scapegoat for what happened in Dallas.’
Posted by Anthony Stalter (06/26/2009 @ 12:00 pm)
Even though he’s moved on to other pastures, Terrell Owens continues to be asked about what happened that led to his release in Dallas, to which the wide receiver still doesn’t understand.
“(Romo) was the quarterback of the team,” T.O. said during his camp for kids today at Duncanville High School. “I think everybody realized that. It was upon him to adopt that leadership role and carry that out. Obviously, they saw that didn’t happen.
“So, for whatever reason, I’ll be the scapegoat. I’m not here. Now, it’s his team. You know, and I wish him well.”
T.O., who famously cried while defending Romo after the top-seeded Cowboys’ playoff loss to the Giants two years ago, claimed to be confused when asked how the relationship between the quarterback and receiver changed last season.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” T.O. said. “I don’t know what happened. Obviously, somebody is lying somewhere. I don’t know what happened. All I know is that I’m not here. I’m with the Buffalo Bills, and I’ll leave it at that.”
T.O. is right about one thing – he is playing the scapegoat. The Cowboys obviously felt that Romo could lead the team with Owens still on the roster and decided that the best thing to do was to cut bait and move on. But what Owens fails to understand is how big of a negative effect he had in Dallas.
What T.O. sees when he looks back on his days in Dallas (and San Francisco, and Philadelphia for that matter) was all the touchdowns, the stats and the receptions. He blocks out the times where he’s humiliated quarterbacks, offensive coordinators and everyone else when things weren’t going his way. He doesn’t see himself as a malcontent, yet he’s been run out of three cities already and fails to see what everyone else sees.
So yes, he was the scapegoat in Dallas but for good reason – reasons he’ll never fathom.
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