Archives for March 8, 2009

‘”This may not be the ideal place for a lot of people, but I’m the guy. I beat to my own beat sometimes, my own thinking, my own intuition,” Owens said last night at Orchard Park. “Well, for me, this is an opportunity. It’s an interesting situation no matter what uniform I put on.”‘

‘But for all his brilliance on the field, Owens has been unable to get along with many of his teammates and coaches. When he played with San Francisco from 1996-2003, he had frequent run-ins with coach Steve Mariucci and quarterback Jeff Garcia. He eventually was traded to the Eagles, enjoying a run to the Super Bowl in his first season. But things quickly disintegrated as he demanded a new contract and publicly criticized quarterback Donovan McNabb.’

‘For the Bills, the risks are actually minimal. The one-year deal means that if the Owens move doesn’t work out, they aren’t doomed for years to come. The $6.5 million is not an extraordinary commitment. Plus, they needed a wide receiver to go with Lee Evans and to take some of the attention from running back Marshawn Lynch. Head coach Dick Jauron was apparently forthright and demonstrative about his desire for more offensive punch, so much so that he was willing to risk a few potential migraines for Owens.’

‘The fans up there must be thrilled. After 41 years of searching, the Bills have finally found a replacement for Elbert “Golden Wheels” Dubenion.’

‘After all, when was the last time Trent Edwards was asked to film a shower scene with a cast member from “Desperate Housewives”?’

‘The Bills were 25th in the NFL in yards gained and failed to have a 300-yard passer. The offense has been a perennial problem. It has ranked 25th or lower in each of the past six seasons.’

‘Wherever he lands, he will be the only receiver in the NFL going for a fourth straight double-digit TD season. And you can almost guarantee that his new team will be better than they were last year.’

‘The Bills signed Owens to juice up a passing game that needed help opposite Evans. Teams simply rolled coverage to Evans in 2008 since there was no real threat on the other side — or in the middle in the form of a quality tight end.’

‘So Owens joined a team that makes less sense for him than he does for it, and we’re left with one inescapable conclusion: There just wasn’t a market for the guy.’

‘I mean, picturing T.O. in Buffalo is kind of like imagining the Queen of England at a monster truck show. Just doesn’t seem to fit.’

‘”We got one of the premier playmakers in a playmakers league,” Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon said.’

‘But the Bills must be applauded for trying something different. They badly needed another offensive weapon and could use another option to help them overcome the likely suspension of running back Marshawn Lynch. Status quo wasn’t going to cut it.’

‘Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson is among the group who doesn’t think the Bills made a wise move by taking on such a volatile player, but he admitted the move should improve the offense of a team that went 0-6 against the AFC East. “They certainly needed a pass catcher, preferably a big one like Terrell Owens,” Williamson said.’

‘”[Owens] thanks the Cowboys organization for releasing him and adding to his bank account,” said Rosenhaus.’

‘T.O. rarely makes clutch catches to win football games. In some ways, he’s the A-Rod of the NFL. At the end of the season, his stats will look pretty solid. But then you realize he didn’t help you win any big games. The Cowboys didn’t win a playoff game in T.O.’s three years. You can’t pin it all on him, but then, alleged superstars are supposed to will you to victories.’