T.O Expresses Desire to Play for Patriots; would he fit in?
Move over Brett Favre and Lebron James. Terrell Owens is now commanding much of the off-season "where will he go?" media attention after the star wide receiver recently voiced his own desire to play a supporting role on a great team.
T.O dismissed all past allegations that he’s a troublemaker, pointing out he’s never been disciplined by the league unlike some of the other “golden boys” of the NFL. Owens thinks that it’s ridiculous for him to be considered a cancer to any team he plays on, as he had a calm, eventless season with the Buffalo Bills; though it was also eventless for Buffalo who finished with a third straight 7-9 record.
“There were a number of times where prior I probably would have reacted, said something I wasn’t supposed to say,” the receiver said. “I really had some restraint, very patient.”
No love for Chiefs
There were indications that perhaps the Kansas City Chiefs would be interested in picking up the veteran but Owens recently dismissed that idea on The Buzz a Kansas City sports radio show:
“Me and Todd Haley, we don’t get along,” Owens told the host.
Haley was Owens’ receivers coach in Dallas four years ago.
But Owens made it clear to Boston media outlets that playing for the Patriots would be a different story.
“I’d definitely be open to that,” he said.
“I mean, you’ve got (Tom) Brady there. You’ve got the great mind, coach (Bill) Belichick,” Owens said. “I’m like LeBron. I can go there and take less of a role, take less money and put everything aside and make it work.”
Owens may want to play for the Patriots, but would the Patriots really want him back? It shouldn’t have anything to do with Owens’ perceived reputation as a troublemaker. After all, Randy Moss was considered a worse cancer than T.O ever was but the Pats signed him, and look how that turned out for them.
Moss signed with the Patriots after several declining seasons in which he earned the reputation in Oakland of being a spoiled brat that couldn’t catch a ball. His very first season in New England saw him score 23 touchdowns, an NFL receiving record.
Now, how would a Terrell Owens experiment work out in New England? Well, the Buffalo Bills tried it last year and it didn’t really help them, but let’s face it. Peyton Manning may have found it challenging to help the Bills to the playoffs.
Owens didn’t have too bad a season, as he caught 55 passes for 829 yards and five touchdowns. Not bad numbers, but not nearly enough to fill a role as a number one receiver. He could fit in somewhere though as a number two.
He is now 36 years old and is looking for a job in the NFL. He has defended his average statistics of last year, claiming the Bills were amidst a coaching upheaval and the offensive line suffered many injuries. Also, the Buffalo Bills aren’t exactly a good team.
So now, one may wonder if a Tom Brady/T.O relationship could work out. Brady is one of the game’s best and has already won three Super Bowls while Owens is still in search of his first ring.
Brady already has Randy Moss and Wes Welker on offence and the Patriots are rebuilding their team, developing younger players to fill the holes. Terrell Owens may find it difficult in New England under mean old Belichick.
Perhaps a better destination for Owens would be somewhere where he is not the main story of the team and doesn’t have to be relied on so much. He could be a good number two receiver somewhere and if he finds a job this season, he’ll have a chance to prove that him being a troublemaker was a myth.
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