Time to catch this fallen star
Could T.O. end up in E.R. (East Rutherford) next year?
The Jets are desperate for playmakers and Herm Edwards prides himself on being able to handle all the divergent and quirky personalities a locker room presents. So, the Jets should absolutely make a run at Terrell Owens when the Eagles take him out of storage after the season and trade or release him.
But it comes with risks, of course. Imagine this postgame scene when Chad Pennington, coming back from another grueling rehab, underthrows Owens and gets picked off in the red zone with 30 seconds left in the season opener.
"We would be better off with Donovan McNabb," Owens declares. "Or Joe Namath."
The Jets need to make a bold move. They need a big-time player. They need to take a chance, gamble on Owens, the epitome of a look-at-me egotistical player. They don't all have to be like Curtis Martin. If Terry Bradway can't draft Pro Bowl players - his next one will be his first - then go out and get somebody else's. Have faith Edwards can control the league's No.1 headache and teach him what it means to be part of a team. They need to go get Owens.
The Jets were interested in Randy Moss before he was traded to the Raiders, but the price was too high. The price would be lower here, and it would be surprising if the Jets don't make a bid for Owens.
The Giants? That's too much to ask of Tom Coughlin.
Owens needs a new team. And the Jets need firepower and somebody to be the host of some of the 230 hours of television programming they plan next year on SportsNet New York. They need each other. It's a perfect short-term marriage. Edwards has not had one player challenge his authority in five years. His strength is the respect he commands.
One GM said yesterday that Edwards' ability to handle Owens "is not even an issue. He's had some guys who have been harder to manage and he's done fine."
However, another GM said, "Nobody can handle him. He's one of those guys."
Maybe being in New York, with everybody watching and potential endorsement money at stake, would force Owens to conform. The bigger the stage, however, the bigger the risk.
"New York City would be just awful," one GM said. "Now there's even more opportunity to say something stupid. He's almost better off going someplace where he could hide."
Bringing in a divisive player like Owens would be an out-of-character move for the Jets. It was for the Eagles, too. And it worked for a while. They made it through his first season with the biggest controversy being his ankle surgery and Super Bowl status. Then he wanted more money.
"He can help the Jets. Who can't he help?" one GM said. "It's not a matter of can he help your team. What is he doing to the fabric? He challenges the fabric of how important 'team' is. He takes you not to the line. He takes you over it. Nobody would touch him with a 10-foot pole."
Owens all but got on his hands and knees yesterday in front of his Moorestown, N.J., house and begged the Eagles to take him back. He apologized to Andy Reid, McNabb, Eagles fans, Eagles ownership, well, to basically everyone but Jeff Garcia. Owens was a little late with the humility routine - he's done in Philly.
"There's no remorse in that guy's heart," one GM said.
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who struck out months ago trying to get Owens a new contract, answered questions for Owens after T.O.'s statement and lobbied for the Eagles to get him back on the field Monday night against Dallas. The desperation in his voice was clear.
Forget it. Owens and his runaway mouth and ego have been deactivated by the Eagles for the rest of this season. When it's over, they will either cut or trade him. The Jets, who plan a total makeover of their offense in 2006, could start with Owens. They should give him a one-year contract that would expose them to minimal financial liability if he starts pulling all that T.O. stuff again. He will be 32 next month and may have entered the rent-a-player-for-one-year phase of his career.
He's going to be humbled by the lack of action on the T.O. market. He's scared off so many teams. So it's not like he's going to dictate terms. He's all but talked his way out of the league.
Owens will never get a contract better than the seven-year $49 million deal that made him so miserable in Philadelphia. "He can't make money anywhere else," one GM said. "That's why he's apologizing."
When the 49ers shopped Owens last year, the Ravens and Eagles were the only teams interested. "He wasn't in demand then," one GM said. "I think he is in worse shape now. You might have more teams now, because he's not going to get big money. He may never get big money. He's a destroyer."
The entire Owens package can rip apart a team. Look what he did to the Eagles this season. Yet he is the most dynamic receiver in the league. And the Jets need so much help on offense it can't all come in the draft. At 2-6, they could be on their way to a top-five pick. That could position them to get Southern Cal QB Matt Leinart or his teammate, running back Reggie Bush, if he skips his senior year. Owens would fill another huge need. He would be a nice upgrade over Justin McCareins. Owens would have held onto that fade pass last Sunday on fourth down.
The Jets have nothing to lose. And Edwards just might be the authority figure Owens needs, even if he will never have it as good as he did in Philly.
If he wasn't satisfied with McNabb in Philly, what sense does it make to put him with a QB with who doesn't jhave the arm to make the throws downfield? And I doubt that Herman would be able to handle him. And could you imagine him in NY, where EVERYTHING is under a microscope?
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football
I posted in one of the threads that I think the Jets are a possible destination for TO. I think it could happen.
Plus, and I know this holds no real value considering his track record, but TO said he wanted to play with Chad Pennington when he was on an ESPN2 show with FunkmasterFlex.
Broncos
Jets
Those are the top 2 teams I think will be in the TO Sweepstakes
Yeah TO we all know that Chad Pennington has a stronger arm than Donovan :-D The guy cant even sign his name right now.
theres gonna be a huge line of suitors for TO...hes going to come cheap at minimal years and have learned his lesson...he will be a great get for someone next year
There'll be an article like this one in 29 other NFL cities between now and March.
Quote from: ice grillin you on November 09, 2005, 12:45:59 PM
theres gonna be a huge line of suitors for TO...hes going to come cheap at minimal years and have learned his lesson...he will be a great get for someone next year
He came cheap with minimal years in March 2004. The huge line had 2 teams, maybe 3....
He seems to have a one year honeymoon period. Whoever he goes to needs to win it all in year one then cut him. That would be a very successful pick up.
Hopefully, he'll be dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound by then...
Quote from: EagleFeva on November 09, 2005, 01:06:48 PM
There'll be an article like this one in 29 other NFL cities between now and March.
heh, true.
i wanna win the super bowl...good luck with the jets...what a joke that would be.
hes all about the money...football is not his passion, otherwise he would be happy with the eagles.
what a cancer
The Jets are ruined already, therefore the Jets would have no use for him.
Quote from: BigEd76 on November 09, 2005, 01:08:49 PM
Quote from: ice grillin you on November 09, 2005, 12:45:59 PM
theres gonna be a huge line of suitors for TO...hes going to come cheap at minimal years and have learned his lesson...he will be a great get for someone next year
He came cheap with minimal years in March 2004. The huge line had 2 teams, maybe 3....
According to his book, it was 3--and ATLANTA WASN'T ONE OF THEM. The Ravens and the Browns were the other two, believe it or not.
Quote from: ice grillin you on November 09, 2005, 12:45:59 PM
theres gonna be a huge line of suitors for TO...hes going to come cheap at minimal years and have learned his lesson...he will be a great get for someone next year
dude needs some serious Prozac.
TO for Coles.
Quote from: PhillyPhreak54 on November 09, 2005, 12:41:55 PM... TO said he wanted to play with Chad Pennington ...
Pennington's career is dead.
Quote from: stillupfront on November 09, 2005, 01:11:55 PMHe seems to have a one year honeymoon period..
No team will sign him to more than a one year deal. He's not getting younger, he's trouble etc. Some team will him a signing bonus for one year, as a high percentage of that year's deal, and he'll sign anywhere.
To bad Edwards won't be back next year :(
He will sign for whichever team is dumb/desparate enough to take him on. Some coach on the hot-seat will take a gamble. I don't think Haslett will be fired at the end of this season and he/the Saints might just be desparate enough to give him a big one/two-year deal.