Terrel Owens to the Bills

[Dirty]

Owens inks 1-year, $6.5M deal with Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Terrell Owens needed only two days to find another place to play.
The Buffalo Bills decided to take a chance on the talented but high-maintenance receiver, signing Owens to a $6.5 million, one-year deal Saturday. ESPN.com's John Clayton broke the story on Saturday.
In The Air

Aside from Lee Evans, the Bills have struggled to get production from their wide receivers. T.O.'s arrival should help Buffalo, which has the second-fewest touchdowns from its receivers over the last two seasons.

Team	TD Catches
Dolphins	12
Bills	15
Titans	15
Redskins	18
Ravens	18
* Owens has 25 TDs in last two seasons

Owens, 35, caught 69 passes for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns last season with Dallas. But the Cowboys were looking to improve the atmosphere in the locker room and decided they would be better off without him.
"I'm leaving America's team [for] North America's team," Owens said at a news conference.
The Bills will be Owens' fourth stop. He started with San Francisco, bounced to Philadelphia -- where he helped the Eagles get to a Super Bowl -- and then to Dallas.
"I must move on, and it's another beginning for me," Owens said. "If I can be that extra added piece to get them to the playoffs, then that's what I'm here for. I looked at the defensive side of ball and offensive side of the ball, and these guys have all the pieces."
The Bills were in need of a receiver to take the pressure off Lee Evans. They got one of the biggest names out there.
"We all know of his tremendous ability and look forward to what he will bring to our offense," Bills owner Ralph Wilson said in a statement. "This is a very exciting day for the Buffalo Bills."
Owens, a six-time Pro Bowler, is among the NFL's career leaders in catches, yards and touchdowns. Over the last three years, his 38 touchdowns are one more than Randy Moss and he's among the league's best in catches, yards, yard per catch and yards per game.

Mosley: T.O. back in business

Former Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens may not have nine NFL lives, but he has at least four. T.O. has signed a one-year deal worth $6.5 million with the Bills, Matt Mosley writes. Blog
Graham: Bills take chance
Fantasy spin


He's coming off the ninth 1,000-yard receiving season in the last 11 years.
"We got one of the premier playmakers in a playmakers league," Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon said.
For the Bills, the signing is their biggest splash since acquiring quarterback Drew Bledsoe in a trade in 2002. Team officials flew to Miami Saturday morning, flew back to Buffalo with Owens and agent Drew Rosenhaus, and signed the deal in the late afternoon at Bills headquarters.
"'Wow!' was my first reaction," Evans said. "I know we were looking at some different receivers out there. When he was cut by the Cowboys, I didn't know if we were going to make the move for him or not. We did and it worked out. I'm very excited for everybody."
The question now is how T.O. will deal with Trent Edwards, who is only entering his second full year as starter. Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo have all had dicey relationships with Owens. Edwards isn't nearly as accomplished as any of those players and the Bills' offense has been abysmal in recent years.

NFL.com Video
NFL Total Access counts down the top 10 moments of Terrell Owens' career.


"I am really excited about the addition of Terrell Owens to our team," Edwards said. "We spoke earlier and both look forward to working hard this offseason. We share the common goal of winning football games. His ability and experience will add to our offense and the weapons we already have."
The Bills were 25th in the NFL in yards gained and failed to have a 300-yard passer. Buffalo has ranked 25th or lower in each of the past six seasons in total offense.
"I'm looking forward to getting together with Trent, Lee and the guys and putting some points on the board," Owens said. "That's what I've done everywhere I've been, and it's going to continue."
Coach Dick Jauron has often complained about the Bills' lack of scoring punch, but this represents a serious change in philosophy for a team that in the past has tried to avoid taking on disruptive locker room personalities.
Owens, though, isn't worried about his perceived selfishness in Dallas.
"That's all hearsay," Owens said. "If you look at all the comments coming from my teammates with the Cowboys the last three years, it's all been positive. Prior to that, I really don't want to get into it."
Owens becomes the Bills fourth free agent addition this offseason. Buffalo has also signed cornerback Drayton Florence, backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and former Panthers offensive lineman Geoff Hangartner.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.




Terrell Owens agrees to one-year deal with Buffalo Bills - ESPN

[Dirty]

[Dirty]

T.O. in Buffalo elicits 'Wows'

Associated Press


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Updated: March 9, 2009, 5:47 AM EST
28 comments

Marv Levy had just stepped off a plane in Chicago when a friend informed him that Terrell Owens had signed with the Buffalo Bills.
More on T.O.

Court him: Who wouldn't want a guy who puts up monster stats and just wins, baby? Kevin Hench is T.O.'s attorney — and his client has a case. Jock-strap diva: Jason Whitlock said some owner would make it rain on T.O. like a reformed stripper. Turns out he was right. Photos: Terrell Owens makes headlines anywhere he goes. Check out what T.O. has done through the years. Video: Jay Glazer gives his take on the Dallas drama. Video: Classic T.O. WhatIfSports.com: Would Cowboys do better without T.O.? Find out now.

The Hall of Fame coach's first reaction was wondering if the person picking him up at the airport required a breathalyzer.
"I was surprised, naturally, like everybody else," the former Bills coach and general manager said by phone Sunday. "I verified it a little bit later that it was true, and that my friend hadn't been drinking."
T.O. in Buffalo certainly takes some getting used to. The Bills aren't the NFL's sexiest destination, and they've traditionally operated on a low-profile, small-market scale, building mostly with draft picks and mid-range free agents. But the head-turning news of the receiver signing a one-year deal with the team Saturday is, in fact, for real.
"Wow," said Bills Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas. "I said it at the end of last year that the Bills have to make a big splash. This is a bigger splash than I thought the Bills organization would ever make."
Something this big hasn't splashed in Buffalo since they started construction on the Erie Canal in the 1800s. And move aside, chicken wings, Owens might be on the short end of his career in entering his 15th NFL season, but he can still draw attention that's as hot as an Anchor Bar drumstick.
Though Buffalo has been home to numerous high-profile athletes, including Thomas, Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, O.J. Simpson and hockey's Dominik Hasek and Gilbert Perreault, all of them were either developed in Buffalo or arrived early in their careers.
Owens' situation is far different.
Here's a bona fide A-list athlete, capable of commanding the modern-day electronic, 24-hour news cycle with a rare combination of great skill and high-maintenance personality, landing in a blue-collar town that former Bills running back Willis McGahee once complained lacked any semblance of a nightlife beyond Applebee's.
Even Owens, after stints in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Dallas, acknowledged how this might initially seem a fish-out-of-water fit.
"This may not be the most ideal place for a lot of people, but I'm the guy," Owens said. "I beat to my own beat sometimes, my own thinking, my own intuition. For me, this is an opportunity. It's an interesting situation."
What's also clear is that the Bills needed the type of dramatic boost — on offense and in marketing — that Owens can immediately provide.
As a receiver, he's among the NFL's most prolific and capable of providing the Bills' popgun passing attack a much-needed 1-2 punch opposite Lee Evans. Owens' 25 touchdowns receiving over the past two years are one fewer than Buffalo has produced as a team over that span.
Marketing also plays a factor.


This is a team that hasn't made the playoffs in nine years and was coming off three consecutive 7-9 finishes under coach Dick Jauron. And the Bills did need to do something big to counter the negative backlash and threats of a fan revolt that came at the end of last season when owner Ralph Wilson announced he would retain Jauron after his contract expired.
It's no coincidence that shortly after Owens was signed that the Bills unveiled an Owens No. 1 team jersey and text-messaged fans to announce that their ticket office would be open Sunday morning.
Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold didn't have the final numbers, but reported that sales were brisk.
Suddenly a few more prime-time network games aren't out of the question, and don't forget the team's annual regular-season game in Toronto. The five-year across-the-border series kicked off to mixed reviews and lukewarm reaction last year, following a 16-3 loss to Miami at which at least a third of those in attendance were rooting for the Dolphins.
This year's game, which has yet to be scheduled, will now feature an actual T.O. in T.O., as Toronto is sometimes called.
"I think it's a great move," Thomas said. "I always said they needed more play-makers out there, and he's definitely one."
Thomas discounted Owens' reputation, and the extra baggage of distraction that has followed him throughout his career.
"He can be a headache sometimes, but I just think that comes with him being competitive," Thomas said. "Nobody's ever questioned his work ethic. And I tell you what, he definitely will be motivated because I think he knows this might be his last go-around at it."
Even Levy, who favored bringing in what he called "high-character" players, reserved judgment.
"Everybody knows about him," Levy said. "I remain an avid Bills fan and supporter. I hope it works out."


FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - T.O. in Buffalo elicits 'Wows'

[cassiusclay]

never even would have thought the bills would pick him up but he might be what they need to get into the post season...they always seem to start off well then finish the season poorly.

[Dirty]

I would rather not make the playoffs than to have him on my team

[cassiusclay]

I would rather not make the playoffs than to have him on my team

he needs to be humbled and i have never seen anyone really knock the shit out of him on the field....

[Dirty]

You can bet he wouldn't be the way he is if Ronnie Lot, Scott Case, Dave Duerson, et al were still playing... he would have been decapitated

[Reno Paul]

You can bet he wouldn't be the way he is if Ronnie Lot, Scott Case, Dave Duerson, et al were still playing... he would have been decapitated

Put Jack Tatum on that list too.

[BIGBOYDAN]

I think this was a great signing for the Bills. You figure since he's on a one year contract that he will be on his best behavior and will be playing for a contract next year.

[YeahBoyHowdy]

Scott Case

one of my top 3 all time favorite falcons.

[Dirty]

Mine too YBH... He would knock your block off