Terrell Owens, who is reportedly close to full strength after rehabbing a torn ACL, is still unsigned as we approach the first week of preseason games. Will a team take a chance on him this season? If so, which team makes the most sense and when might it happen?
T.O. will play in 2011, it's just a matter of when. He will get healthy, and I tend to think at some point in September or October a decent little market for him will form.
There are teams with Super Bowl aspirations, like Baltimore and Philly, that could have a need for a tall target. The price will be low. More teams will suffer injuries. Heck, if Chad Ochocinco doesn't work out in New England, would anyone be shocked at Bill Belichick buying a veteran on the cheap?
No reason for him to rush back, or for anyone else to rush to sign him now. I know we haven't seen the last of him on a football field, barring a rehab turn for the worse. So get your popcorn ready in another month or so.
I believe we have seen the last of Owens in the NFL. I know that he's coming off a solid season, but he's an aging player with a serious knee injury. He had already started to show signs of diminishing skills over the past few years, and his injury makes it likely that he will no longer have the burst to separate from defenders. Also, his toxic personality doesn't play well in most locker rooms. With so many factors working against him, it's unlikely Owens will get a call from a team this year.
The time has come for Owens to play for the team he has long been destined to suit up for -- the Oakland Raiders.
Owens and the Raiders are like one of those sitcom couples that flirt. The audience is always wondering, will they or won't they, all while clamoring for this perfect union to take place. So just do it already.
My prediction: Owens signs with the Raiders just before the regular season kicks off.
T.O. is probably a few weeks out still from getting any calls. I hope he's not waiting by the phone because it might not ring too often unless there is an injury to another receiver. Owens will also probably have to accept a minimum contract with incentives.
Though he still wants to play, it wouldn't stun me if after a week or two into the regular season, he goes Randy Moss and hangs 'em up. If he's given a shot, I would probably have to say the Raiders might be one of the few teams in play, simply because they're always in search of playmakers. Still, I think it's going to take an injury to a key player before he starts getting looks. Most teams are set at Nos. 1-3 at receiver. When you get to Nos. 4 and 5, those guys play special teams. And T.O. ain't playing special teams.
I think a team will take a chance on T.O. If Donnie Avery continues to struggle coming back from his knee injury, why not the Rams? They got Mike Sims-Walker, who should start, but they lack any outside threats with Owens' size and ability. There was some interest in T.O. emanating from St. Louis last offseason, before Cincinnati ultimately signed him.
Yes, someone will definitely sign T.O. once his knee checks out. Where would make the most sense? That's an oxymoron, because No. 81 is a human being who makes no sense. It's easy for teams in the vacuum of early August to say they don't want to deal with the headaches T.O. invariably brings with him. But get back to me after your top receiver pops an Achilles in training camp or breaks a hand in Week 1 or rips his ACL while taping his reality show.
At this point, it doesn't seem like anyone is waiting for him to be 100 percent ready to go. T.O. wants to be in a camp -- look how quickly he signed in Buffalo and Cincinnati in the past two years. If a team loses a top receiver in the next few weeks because of injury, they might inquire about Owens. But as one general manager I spoke with on my camp tour said, "It's a long shot someone brings him in in the next few weeks."