Five landing spots for the veteran wide receiver. Matt Bowen
Tuesday, we talked about the Vikings’ Chester Taylor — a player who could be the hottest name once free agency opens. Today, I want to talk about Terrell Owens, who is also set to become a free agent on March 5.
But how much and what type of value does a player like Owens — who will turn 37 next season — have this offseason?
Owens led the Buffalo Bills in receiving last season with 55 receptions for 829 yards and 5 TDs, despite playing with a musical chairs rotation at QB. Yes, there’s still production there, but even T.O. has to be honest that his skills no longer demand a No. 1 role on a team, or even a No. 2, depending on where he ends up.
In the past, opposing defenses would have to game plan for T.O. Often, we would see teams play a form of Cover 2 to his side of the field (where a corner could get a jam on Owens and slow him down to protect the deep safety over the top), or various forms of 2-Man.
But that’s changed. Owens struggles to get off the jam, he doesn’t have the separation speed once he gets onto a safety’s cushion, and outside of the 3-step game (hitch, smash, slant, out), he isn’t as much of a threat to the top NFL secondaries.
However, he’s still T.O., and there will still be teams interested in his services.
The one-year deal he got in Buffalo last year for $6-plus million? Not going to happen in 2010. He will most likely sign another one-year deal because teams will be unwilling to give him up front money that puts him on the books for more than one season.
Talking yesterday to league sources, the same numbers continued to come up. Look for Owens to sign a one-year deal in the $2.5-million to $3.5-million range with incentives built in that could push the deal close to the $5-million range.
Is that a deal you think your team is willing to offer? I still see Owens as a receiver who can get behind the lower half of the league’s corners and could still be viewed as a strong red zone option.
Let’s look at five options for Owens in 2010:
1. Cincinnati Bengals
Laveranues Coles is nothing more than a possession wideout at this point in his career, and the more you read about the Matt Jones deal, the more you scratch your head. Chad Ochocinco needs another playmaker opposite him, one that draws attention. Ocho is too easy to take away right now with the wide receivers they have in Cincy. Not a bad call with the running game of Cedric Benson to lean on.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Let’s face it, the Bucs are desperate at WR, and with Antonio Bryant set to test the free-agent market, they need to at least give Owens a look. The last thing this club wants to do is to head into the season with a wide receiving corps thrown together over the summer for QB Josh Freeman. The more weapons you give him, the more he will develop in 2010. But will Tampa be active in free agency?
3. Detroit Lions
Maybe this is a stretch for Jim Schwartz, but with Matthew Stafford at QB, why not at least take a look at Owens? Calvin Johnson is the vertical threat for this offense, but outside of him, there are no other playmakers in this scheme, and Bryant Johnson isn’t the answer at No. 2. Yes, the Lions want to build for the future, but another awful season like ’09 and it could be time to start over again. Owens gives them more of a chance to compete in the NFC North.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
I would think the combo of Todd Haley and Charlie Weis would intrigue Owens. It’s a young team, but with the money this club invested in QB Matt Cassel, it needs to add more weapons. The Chiefs already have Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers, but with Weis’ system, there will be three wideouts on the field the majority of the time. Owens would catch a ton of balls in this scheme, and that will make him happy.
5. New York Giants
Really? Sure, if T.O. is willing to play a No. 3 role behind Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks. Think of the Giants when they go to their Zebra personnel (3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB). He could be a factor on third downs, and he could provide QB Eli Manning with a weapon inside the 20-yard line. Only question: will that satisfy Owens?
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No Way he goes with the giants. We already have Mario MAnningham as our number three and Ramses Barden who will hopefully be our red zone guy.
Also with Jacobs and our running game at full health well be in the I-Form with a TE most of the time
I def think that he would help out more with the Jets or whoever drafts a QB this year.
Also maybe in CArolina?
Come on Emac.... you really think that matters if he can help you win games?
Haley would take him if he can still score TDs.
He won't be going to KC. Todd Haley and TO hated each other in Dallas. It would be fun to see the exchanges between those two, but never gonna happen.
The Chiefs? T.O. and Todd Haley hated each other while they were together in Dallas. No way does that happen.
The Chiefs? T.O. and Todd Haley hated each other while they were together in Dallas. No way does that happen.
TO loves him some TO, if the money brings him to KC, he will play.
He fits the Jets better at this time, Rex Ryan could motivate him. They need someone to push Braylon to play better.
The thought of Raheem Morris, the most in-over-his-head coach in the league, dealing with TO is amusing.
Terrell Owens to the Lions isn't as far-fetched (at least from the Lions standpoint) as it might seem. They traded a young safety (Gerald Alexander) for a 31 yr old WR (Dennis Northcutt), who did virtually nothing. They signed perennial underachiever WR Bryant Johnson, who was ineffective in the No. 2 WR role.
With a strong-armed QB like Stafford, who can get the ball there in a hurry, and Calvin Johnson opposite TO, he could have a great year for the Lions--in all likelihood, better than the year he had for the Bills. TO would be an immediate upgrade to the Lions WR corps.
That being said, unless Mike Brown refuses to break out the checkbook, I see TO headed to the Bengals, who are a playoff caliber team going forward.
no way will the giants be players for t.o.,you conviently left out mario manningham who had a breakout year for the gints,the giants do not need to give eli a headache!
I don't really like football but I would sucj Terell Owens dick. He's so hot and I want my buns spread for his meat. I want to suckle his nipples and then shit on his chest and titty fuck him. I want to watch him fuck animals and have a horse cum on my face.
Haley specifically turned down the Dallas Head Coaching job that Wade Phillips got, because he insisted that TO not be on the team. There is zero chance he'd be signed by The chiefs.
A lot of teams want to pass on T.O. but i think this is wrong. T.O. has a lot of talent and i would not pass on him at all.
Feb 17, 2010
08:22 AM
The problem with a player like T. Owens is that he will have a few good games during the regular season as he goes against a secondary that will have a down day or have too many injuries. If his team gets into the playoffs, the opposing secondaries are generally playing well, which will shut down Owens, causing problems for his quarterback.
Too slow, too soft, too bad for T. O.
All that being said, the Chicago Bears may be an option as the Bear's coaching staff may become desperate to save their jobs this coming year.