Old faces in new places
Many Pro Bowl players have been shipped off to new teams this off-season, making for another exciting NFL season. Here is a brief look at a few big name stars that have found new homes and how they have performed so far in the first pre-season with their new teams.
Terrell Owens
A well-known receiver, Terrell Owens has inked a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals in late July, making this the fifth team that the 36 year-old has played for. The move seems to have rejuvenated controversial receiver Terrell Owens, who joins his good friend Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and his new best friend quarterback, Carson Palmer.
Owens addressed the fans of Cincinnati with an open letter stating: “I'm promising you that the focus will be stronger than you've ever seen it. Life isn't always easy but it's the bumps along the way that makes you stronger. With my "me against the world" mentality as a young man, I've learned that life can be more challenging but I've matured,” Owens wrote.
So far, Owens has been focused, and more importantly, has not been a distraction for his new club. He leads the team with 12 receptions for 143 yards in his first pre-season with the Bengals and has added hype surrounding Cincinnati’s season around the league. If the pre-season is any indication of how things will unfold in the next few months, Owens could have one of his best statistical seasons yet.
Donovan McNabb
During his tenure in Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb took the Eagles to new heights. Now he will be asked to do the same for his new team in the Capital City. McNabb has teamed up with Washington’s head coach Mike Shanahan this off-season and for the first time twelve years, McNabb will be playing for another team.
There is no question that McNabb is still learning a new offensive scheme and is having trouble adjusting early on. He has struggled in his two pre-season starts, completing a mediocre 16 of 34 passes for 264 yards. He has thrown for one touchdown and has also been the victim of an interception.
Fortunately, the 33 year-old quarterback is a veteran, and will still be playing in the NFC East division, making him comfortable with the opposing teams. McNabb has played in this division for his entire career, so only the play calling and his teammates will be different, which should cut down his adjustment time.
His first test will be the Dallas Cowboys, but it is still uncertain if he will be available for the Redskins' season opener against their division rivals after injuring his ankle.
"I really don't know for sure," head coach Mike Shanahan said about McNabb’s chances to play on September 12. "That's why it's day by day. We'll see how it goes."
McNabb has not addressed reporters about his injury since last week, when he said it felt "a lot better" immediately after the Ravens game, when the injury initially occurred.
Brandon Marshall
This isn’t the biggest off-season acquisition that a Miami franchise has made in the world of sport (that would go to LeBron James signing with the Heat), but Pro Bowl receiver, Brandon Marshall, has made a big move by joining the Miami Dolphins. Marshall immediately makes the Dolphins receiving corps a threat.
With his former team, the Denver Broncos, Marshall put up over 100 catches for over 1000 yards in each of the past three seasons. He got off to a slow start with the Dolphins in the pre-season opener, dropping two passes, but rebounded last week catching three passes for fifty-one yards.
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