The Scores Report - The National Sports Blog » Terrell Owens rumors

Seahawks are latest team to say no to T.O.

Anthony Stalter — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:11:06 +0000

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.”

Anthony Stalter — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:00:27 +0000

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.?

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:30:59 +0000

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.

This is just speculation on my part, but maybe teams put on film of last year and see a washed up player. Blame it on the offense or the Bills’ quarterback struggles, but the bottom line is that T.O. wasn’t effective last year outside of a handful of games. In fact, he was damn near non-existent for the first time in his career.

He has always been in phenomenal shape, but maybe father time has started to catch up with the 36-year-old. Or maybe teams look at him and think, “He could help, but not at the price or the possible penalty of adding his personality to our locker room.”

The Redskins, Titans, Bengals, Ravens, Raiders, Seahawks and Panthers are all candidates for T.O. this season. But will any of them bite? It’s hard to believe that he won’t latch on with some team before the regular season, but he’s gone this long without receiving an offer, so maybe teams believe they have better options already on their roster.

Granted, teams might be waiting for training camp to get into full swing before making any roster decisions, but it doesn’t make it any less puzzling why Owens still can’t find a home.

Raiders deny interest in Terrell Owens

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:01:41 +0000

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.?

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 19 May 2010 00:20:57 +0000

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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T.O. and McNabb to reunite in Washington?

Anthony Stalter — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:30:48 +0000

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.?

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:37:17 +0000

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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