Friday, July 16, 2010

Terrell Owens: Dallas Cowboys or Elswhere?

By Jon Star

Terrell Owens has recently made headlines again. This time, however, it is not for antics either on the field or off. Owens has kick started his campaign to find another job. His one year contract with the Bills is over and now Owens once again finds himself on the open market. But will there be any suitors for the 36-year-old wide receiver? That is the $64,000 question for a receiver who has at times made himself the biggest pariah in the NFL. The options for Owens were very slim at this time last season. Now it appears Owens chances of getting on NFL roster may be as thin as a razor blade's edge. Here is a look at all 30 teams and whether they will have an interest in the former All-Pro.

The chances of a T.O. and Cowboys reunion is between slim and none and slim likely left town.

The Cowboys are banking on the continued growing of Miles Austin and the tandem of Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams.

The Cowboys let Owens go with the thinking that he'd never return. That is unlikely to change now.

Donovan McNabb is gone, but that doesn't mean there is a desire to reunite T.O. and the Eagles.

We've seen how Owens can detonate a young quarterback and the Eagles likely want none of that with Kevin Kolb.

Combine that with the rise of young receivers Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson and there is no need to bring in an over-the-hill T.O.

The Giants too are working to develop a young corps of wide receivers. The Giants receivers are young, but they are deep. Pro Bowler Steve Smith is backed up by Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Sinorice Moss and Ramses Barden. The Giants want to stay young at receiver. There is simply no room for Owens.

The Redskins acquired Donovan McNabb. Is a reunion in store for these two star-crossed players? The Redskins could possibly benefit from a veteran wide receiver, but restarting the T.O and Donovan show is a HIGHLY unlikely scenario.

We don't yet know who will be throwing the passes in Minnesota this fall, but we do know that the Vikings possess one of the best receiving corps in the game.

Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin are all legitimate downfield weapons who have made the Vikings into a high-octane offense.

Owens wouldn't even crack the starting depth chart on this team. So why would the Vikings pursue?

The Bears may be a team that could swoop in at the last moment and takes a one-year chance with Owens.

The Bears have their home run threat in Devin Hester and they like the development of Johnny Knox, but the rest of the receiving corps is unproven.

Jay Cutler has clamored for more weapons. To soothe his demands the Bears may sign Owens and see what they can get out of him and Cutler for the 2010 season.

The Lions have their unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver in Calvin Johnson and signed Nate Burleson to a five-year, $25 million contract in the offseason.

The Lions round out their receiving corps with Bryant Johnson, Dennis Northcutt and young Derrick Williams.

The Lions would be wise to keep Terrell Owens as far away from Calvin Johnson and second-year quarterback Matthew Stafford as possible.

Detroit is a young team looking slowly but surely to put it all together. Owens does not fit into that equation.

The Packers have one of the most productive receiving units in the NFL.

The Packers offense has turned into a high octane machine captained by 4,000-yard passer Aaron Rodgers. The Packers offense is a well-oiled machine and now one of the best in the league.

Bringing in Terrell Owens simply doesn't fit. He doesn't fit the speed and athleticism of the Packers receiving units and Owens in Green Bay just screams trouble.

The Falcons are not a far stretch for Owens. They have a steady yet unremarkable receiving corps led by Roddy White and possession receivers Michael Jenkins and Brian Finneran. The Falcons have established that it is Matt Ryan's team so there would likely be little conflict between T.O. and the quarterback. The expectations are low regarding Owens' production, but this formula in Atlanta could be the right ingredients for T.O. to find a new home.

Owens made his mark in San Francisco what seems like eons ago, but don't expect a homecoming.

The 49ers are trying to foster their young receiver tandem of Michael Crabtree and Ted Ginn Jr. who have both been embattled for different reasons.

The 49ers will fill out their depth chart with Brandon Jones and Jason Hill.

The 49ers are young, they want to say young and they've likely had enough of Terrell Owens.

The Rams could be a possible landing spot for Owens.

Yes, they have a rookie quarterback in Sam Bradford, but their depth is a cast of unassuming and unproven receivers.

Donnie Avery leads a receiving corps that would benefit from Owens' experience and ability to lengthen the depth chart.

One has to think at this age Owens has grown out of his quarterback quarrels. It's not a long shot that Owens lands on in his feet in St. Louis. But would he rather retire than go to an NFL bottom-feeder?

The Cardinals lost Anquan Boldin in the offseason, but they still have Larry Fitzgerald, the emerging Steven Breaston, and the speedy Early Doucet.

Arizona also transitions to the post-Warner era with Matt Leinart or Derek Anderson.

The one reason Arizona may be interested in Owens is that the Cardinals like their big receivers. While Owens is no longer the home run threat he once was, he still brings size to the position.

The only knock may be that he lacks the ideal speed to run in the Cardinals open offense.

The chances of T.O. to the Pacific Northwest are slim. The Seahawks spent big money on T.J. Houshmanzadeh and used a high draft pick on Golden Tate.

They also have Deion Branch and Deon Butler on the roster. Pete Carroll also brought in his former pupil at USC, Mike Williams, to compete for a spot.

The depth chart simply doesn't lend itself to Owens.

The Saints offense is as efficient and well-run as we've seen in recent years.

Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and Marques Colston give Drew Brees three dynamic weapons who have shown they can do it.

Where does Terrell Owens fit into that mix? Nowhere.

The Buccaneers are a young team that is undergoing a change in identity, but the Bucs made a commitment to Arrelious Been in the draft to go with Michael Clayton and Reggie Brown.

The Bucs could be inclined to bring Owens in as a veteran presence, but the team is far from competing at a high level and knows it has many more holes to fill before acquiring T.O.

Steve Smith has screamed for help in Carolina. The Panthers gave him some help by drafting Brandon LaFell and quarterback-turned-receiver Armanti Edwards this year.

Will that be enough?

The benefit of Owens at this point is that he may understand that he is not a No. 1 option anymore.

The Panthers could be a sleeper for Owens, but a possible clash of egos between T.O. and Smith may be enough to dissuade the front office.

All the Terrell Owens talk began when he went on a Boston radio station and expressed his interest in playing for the Patriots.

While he would like to, it's a situation that is unlikely to happen.

First, Randy Moss and Owens in the same locker room? Wes Welker's return from injury could at least raise an eyebrow at the idea of signing Owens, but the Patriots have already signed their veteran receiver in Torry Holt.

The Patriots will also foster the development of Julian Edelman.

Terrell Owens had a respectable season for the Bills last season, grabbing 55 passes for 829 yards and five touchdowns.

However, if the Bills had any interest in keeping Owens, they would have resigned him by now.

The Dolphins acquired arguably the best wide receiver in the league in Brandon Marshall and jettisoned Ted Ginn Jr. in the process.

The Dolphins like Greg Camarillo, Patrick Turner and Brian Hartline.

Perhaps the Dolphins could use Terrell Owens, but let's not forget that Bill Parcells runs the show in Miami. Chances are he wants nothing to do with T.O.

The Jets too acquired a big receiving weapon in the offseason by trading for Santonio Holmes.

The Jets now have their set one-two punch in Holmes and Braylon Edwards with Jerricho Cotchery, Brad Smith and David Clowney filling out the Top Five on the depth chart.

There simply isn't room for T.O. in what is now one of the league's most star-driven teams.

The Bengals took many steps to fill out their wide receiver depth chart this offseason.

They brought in Matt Jones and Antonio Bryant and drafted Dezmon Briscoe and Jordan Shipley.

The Bengals have never been shy about bringing in troubled players or players seeking redemption, but even T.O. may be above their pay grade this offseason.

The Ravens took huge steps this offseason to bolster their receiving corps. They traded for Anquan Bolden and signed Donte Stallworth to go with the returning Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton.

The Ravens receiving corps is chock-full of talent that would likely relegate Owens to fourth of fifth receiver. Where's the benefit of bringing him in?

The Browns have a young receiver corps led by Josh Cribbs and complimented by Mohamed Massoquoi, Bobby Engram, and Brian Robiske.

The unproven nature of their unit could bring Mike Holmgren to make a late decision to bring in Terrell Owens especially with the Browns possessing an established veteran quarterback in Jake Delhomme.

The Steelers sent Santonio Holmes packing in the offseas in an effort to clean up the team's image.

Now, it appears the Steelers will rely on their old reliable in Hines Ward, Antwaan Randle El, and the upstart Mike Wallace.

The rest of the depth chart is loaded with young and unproven talent, but the Steelers want to avoid bad publicity like a heart attack right now. Terrell Owens doesn't figure into that mix.

The Colts reached Super Bowl XLIV with Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, and the emergent Pierre Garcon.

The Colts will also get back Anthony Gonzalez this season. Peyton Manning has the ability to turn no-name receivers into legitimate threats.

If he can do that, what purpose would the Colts have for signing Terrell Owens?

Quarterback Matt Schaub has become a Pro Bowl level quarterback with Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter lining up opposite from each other. The Texans committed to receivers in the draft, but there isn't a definitive number three receiver.

That wouldn't be a bad spot for Owens who could add more size to the Texans receiving corps and give Schaub another experienced weapon.

The Titans flirted with the idea of signing Owens last season.

They could be inclined to so again if they believe Vince Young and Owens' personalities would sync up. The Titans drafted Damian Williams to play alongside Kenny Britt, Justin Gage and Nate Washington.

Previous interest in Owens should at least keep him on the radar.

Troy Williamson, Mike Sims-Walker, Kassim Osgood. None of those names truly inspire the Jaguars offense nor do they give quarterback David Garrard the weapons he needs to live up to his contract.

Owens should come on the cheap at this point in his career and could be somewhat of a good draw for a franchise in need of a reason to sell more tickets.

It could simply come down to a financial decision for the Jaguars.

The Broncos shipped off Brandon Marshall, deciding to go with Brandon Stokley, Eddie Royal and Jabar Gaffney. The Broncos picked up first round Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker through the draft.

The Broncos getting younger and are keeping headaches out of town. Chances are they will not roll out the welcome mat for Owens.

The Chiefs picked up Chris Chambers last season, pairing him with Dwayne Bowe.

Behind them though, the depth chart doesn't give them many weapons. Terrell Owens voiced his desire to play with New England but he may end up with New England "West" with a Chiefs team looking to stock up with as many options for Matt Cassel as possible.

The Chargers face an uncertain future with Vincent Jackson out there as a restricted free agent.

Behind him, Buster Davis and Malcolm Floyd will handle the Chargers work load in case of Jackson's loss.

However, the Chargers may keep their ear to the ground regarding Owens. It appears a long shot, but the Chargers are a contender that could probably crack the whip with Owens.

The Raiders appeared to have busted with Darrius Heyward-Bey and could be looking for options.

After all, these are the Raiders we're talking about and they have never been shy from rolling the dice on anyone.

If Owens is truly out of all other options, we could see him in the silver and black this fall.

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