Bengals Confirm Interest in Terrell Owens
The media must be ready to sink their teeth into this one. Cincinnati Bengals president Mike Brown has confirmed his team’s interest in free-agent and wide receiver (WR) Terrell Owens (T.O), indicating an offer had been made.
"It's up to him," Brown said at the Bengals' training-camp. “We are talking to him. We have some interest."
It was reported that the St. Louis Rams and the Bengals were two teams interested in landing T.O.
Owens met with the team in March and Brown claimed he was impressed with Owens’ attitude: “I found him polite, nothing that has been said about him. We like him as a player."
However, that same day, the Bengals wound up signing veteran WR Antonio Bryant, seemingly ending the possibility that T.O would join his friend and TV partner Chad Ochocinco, who are both represented by the same agent.
Ochocinco has certainly been leading the campaign in bringing his buddy to Cincinnati.
Ochocinco has used his Twitter account as a main source for his campaign: "Coming soon to a city near you if you're playing the Bengals, Batman = T.O. Robin = Esteban."
Another post stated: “Be blessed today folks, I am so excited for training camp, especially since Batman is coming to join me."
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis initially didn’t seem like he was interested in Owens’ services, saying: "I don't want to speak about Terrell. We've been down that road. I don't have a concern that we need to add anybody at receiver." However, the coach recently seemed to have a change of heart saying that the team’s goals and Owens’ goals match up.
Brown has also been asked whether he would extend Marvin Lewis’ contract, which expires at the end of the season. Brown didn’t reveal much in his answer.
"Marvin knows I hold him in high regard," Brown said. "But it's an internal matter and I won't discuss it (publicly)."
Quarterback Carson Palmer also had nice things to say about T.O. He has been working with the receiver in California and claimed “he can still run.”
Certainly, this would be a media and a fan-based match made in heaven. Ochocinco and T.O are both colorful, charismatic receivers and will certainly spark the league’s interest.
The two both host their own VH1 reality show and both have helped the other promote their respective shows.
According to an NFL source, Bryant has struggled so far and that has motivated the team to take another look at Owens.
Sources are also indicating that the Rams have seemingly lost interest in Owens, further pushing the possibility that the two entertaining, controversial wide receivers would join forces.
Last season, the 36 year-old Owens had a pedestrian season with the Buffalo Bills, catching 55 passes for 829 yards and five touchdowns. However, the Bengals have the better team and seem like a more natural fit for Owens.
This move can work because the Bengals have an experienced, established quarterback in Palmer, although he does have to pick up his game if the Bengals are to defend their AFC North crown this upcoming season.
Having Owens and Ochocinco would give the team a swagger that may be unparalleled in the NFL. Both can definitely talk the talk and have the talent to walk the walk as well. It would entertain fans around the league if these two pair up. Whether the duo would end up being called names like ‘the Bash Brothers,' ‘Batman and Robin,’ or ‘Loud and Louder,’ the fact is, this would bring two talents together and can be an entertaining, yet successful combination in Cincinnati.
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