The weirdest sports story this weekend was the news that Terrell Owens has signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. Owens, who loves the limelight and attention, would have been the last player one would associate Buffalo, an NFL Siberia when compared to his other teams in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Dallas.
“I’m leaving America’s team (for) North America’s team,” Owens said at a news conference. “This may not be the most 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.”
“I’m leaving America’s team (for) North America’s team,” Owens said at a news conference. “This may not be the most 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.”
In thinking about this deal, I can see how it makes sense for both sides. T.O., a narcissistic drama queen, was blackballed by most of the teams in the league, fearful of taking on a major headache, so his options were limited. Yet he would up signing a contract that will pay him $800,000 more than he would have made had the Cowboys kept him. If he has a great season, he can then bargain for more money in 2010 from Buffalo or someone else.
From the Bills’ standpoint they pick up a guy who, despite diminishing skills, still had more yards and touchdowns last season than any Buffalo receiver. Buffalo has had a pop-gun offense for years and Owens gives them a big-play guy to go along with Lee Evans at wideout. And they are only on the hook for one season should T.O. become decisive.
My guess is that he’ll be on his best behavior given that 2009 is a showcase year for him to try and land a long-term deal. T.O. was great in his first seasons in Philly and Dallas, before he started driving everyone nuts. The AFC East just got more interesting.
