So, that didn’t take long. Terrell Owens, fresh off being released by the Dallas Cowboys, has signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. Perhaps it was a willingness to prove that Drew Rosenhaus wasn’t just making things up when he told reporters a few days ago that multiple teams were interested in Owens, but we can’t help but think that this move was, well, just a bit premature.
(”Ha, ha! I’m going to enjoy sending you off to NFL Hell.” “What’s that, Jerry?” “Hmm? Oh, I was just clearing my throat.”)
1. Owens will eat Trent Edwards alive by November. Here are the starting quarterbacks that T.O. has played for in his career (injury backups excepted): Steve Young, Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Drew Bledsoe, and Tony Romo. The only ones with whom things didn’t end poorly were Young and Bledsoe, and that was probably because their starting careers effectively ended before Owens could do much with that team; their replacements had to put up with much worse. Further, those five are pretty darned good quarterbacks in their own right. Young, McNabb, and Bledsoe will all probably make the hall of fame, while Garcia and Romo were both above-average QBs last season. Trent Edwards, on the other hand, passed for fewer than one touchdown per game (11 in 14 games) last season and committed 15 turnovers. Whether he’s got the stature in Owens’ eyes to command respect… okay, he just probably doesn’t. The fireworks won’t wait long when the passes start sailing over Owens’ head.
2. It is freaking cold in Buffalo. Woe upon a Buffalo resident in the throes of winter. There’s really nothing to stop the winds from the northern reaches of Canada except a few trees and the Great Lakes. But on the plus side, at least when the wind blows straight from the west instead, it brings lake effect snows of unimaginable depth; snowstorms of over 18 inches are commonplace in the area. It’s the most depressing city in America. What happens when it’s -10 outside, the Jets are finishing up a 31-10 dismantling of your team, and you’ve only got 6.5 million reasons to live? Hmmm?
3. Nobody buys Bills jerseys. Seriously. An Owens/Buffalo jersey is going to have as much unironic appeal as a Mays/Mets jersey.
4. Cincinnati would have been so, so much more entertaining. An offense with Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, Laveranues Coles, and T.O.? Who cares if the Bengals don’t have a tailback; they wouldn’t have needed one. That would have been fun. Instead, we have T.O. in the NFL’s igloo just so they can get Lee Evans in single coverage. Whatever. You guys blew it.
8:50 pm on March 7th, 2009
Yeah…Buffalo is that last team of the remaining 16 that I'd expect T.O. to go. Very strange. At least it's more reason to watch a Bills game now.
9:01 pm on March 7th, 2009
That's one for your reasons? 18inches of snow? So weak. I expected better from you.
Buffalo is a great city. Owens is going to hate it, but its still a great city.
1:06 am on March 8th, 2009
Raine, you expected better from SbB? Come on.
Owens is fine in his first year with a new team, and the Bills were smart enough to sign only a 1 year deal with him. At the very least, it'll draw attention away from Evans.
3:31 am on March 8th, 2009
I have to agree with the one year theory.
3:36 am on March 8th, 2009
in the great white north we all live in igloos
4:26 am on March 8th, 2009
Why are pussies so afraid of the cold?
5:26 am on March 8th, 2009
Why do stupid people post things without thinking things through?
H enlighten us?
7:42 am on March 8th, 2009
Big deal, so now he won't be running complete routes in Buffalo.
7:54 am on March 8th, 2009
More Hardball has looked at potential teams to add to the Major Leagues. So far, only the eastern half of the country has been explored, covering 16 of the 32 states that are not represented. Here, the west central United States will be examined. This time we look at North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
Link: http://morehardball.blogspot.com/2009/03/major-league-expansion-part-4.html
We'd appreciate the plug if you like it.
9:57 am on March 8th, 2009
Young went into the Hall in 2005. Bledsoe at the Hall? Only if he introduces Tom Brady when Brady is inducted.
10:46 am on March 8th, 2009
Steve Young is already a Hall of Famer
10:48 am on March 8th, 2009
…and TO will destroy anything the Bills had going.
-disgruntled Cowboys fan
3:15 pm on March 8th, 2009
It's a shame blast an entire city like that…take the high road sheesh…it not like it's a cess-pool like LA after all. btw, your weather facts are wrong…most of the snow falls south of the city where the ski resorts are…sometimes it goes into the city…it's not as cold as Chicago or Green Bay, but you don't bash them!!
TO is an A-Ho no matter where he goes.
9:00 pm on March 8th, 2009
McNabb in the Hall? I don't think so.
11:22 pm on March 8th, 2009
I like these reasons
http://www.totalprosports.com/blog/index.php/2009/03/top-10-reasons-why-terrell-owens-signed-with-the-bills/
1:05 am on March 9th, 2009
But it will all be better once the Bills move to Toronto into the Skydome.
1:51 am on March 20th, 2009
Thinking what through exactly?