11/05/24
October 24, 2009
NFL Exec: Terrell Owens is Done: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens has little trade value outside of selling tickets, several front-office executives told Yahoo Sports under cover of anonymity. "He's hit the wall," an AFC executive said. "I think it's done or close to it. He'll have a couple of games here and there where he shows up, but big picture, long term, I think it's done."
"Buffalo will make you hit a wall [in your career]. People thought Randy Moss(notes) hit a wall, too, didn't they? How motivated is [Owens] to play in Buffalo? How excited is he about the offense? They just canned the no-huddle [stuff] because it wasn't working. They're not finding creative ways to get him the football, either."
As someone living in western New York, I can say beyond any doubt, the Bills offense is horrible (not that you have to live around here to realize this fact). Their defense is OK, but offensively, they're absolutely awful. The writing was on the wall right before the season started when the team got rid of both starting tackles. Their coaching stinks, they already canned their offensive coordinator earlier in the season, and Jauron is most likely coaching out the season because the team is too cheap to dump him and have to pay him what they still owe him while having to bring in a new head coach. As mentioned above, I think Owens could be decent still, but only in the absolute right situation. And motivation is the key with him. If T.O. is motivated, and the team he's on is playing competitive, (often) winning football, he'll produce. Not as a number 1 guy anymore, but he could definitely be an contributor somewhere. Will he get that chance? More than likely, but not if his money demands are too great.
posted by dyams at 11:50 AM on October 24, 2009
If I were Commissioner Goodell looking at the Bills possible future plans and what options the ownership has been exploring, I would quickly approve the relocation of Terrell Owens to Canada.
As long as the rest of the team stayed in Buffalo.
posted by beaverboard at 12:08 PM on October 24, 2009
Little trade value? Could it also be because he has a history of throw QBs under the bus? (they're still getting the tire prints off of Tony Romo's back) I refer you to the game (not sure of the opponent) when his consecutive-game reception streak ended. His attitude during the post-game press conference should have turned off every football fan.
posted by jjzucal at 12:09 PM on October 24, 2009
Little trade value? Could it also be because he has a history of throw QBs under the bus? (they're still getting the tire prints off of Tony Romo's back) I refer you to the game (not sure of the opponent) when his consecutive-game reception streak ended. His attitude during the post-game press conference should have turned off every football fan.
w.t.f are u talking about?? tony romo is highly overrated and people are seeing that now that t.o. is gone. dallas cannot continue to use him as an excuse for ROMO'S inability to get the job done. yeah his attitude was not great at the press conference,but what was he supposed to do?? anything that would have came out of his mouth would have gotten twisted and turned into a controversy. so he is in a no win situation now he is damned if he do and damned if he doesn't.
his best days are past him now. i think he is about 36 or something close to that. on a good team he would be best as a number two or three option. his days as being a number 1 are over.
posted by rageagainstthemachine at 01:07 PM on October 24, 2009
What winning team would want him. Smart GM's and coaches wouldn't get anywhere near him for any amount of money, thus we will probably see him playing again next year for another loser. Please just go away TO
posted by vfitch09 at 02:11 PM on October 24, 2009
I was thinking the Bears would possibly try to swing a deal with Owens, at least for the remainder of the year. The Bears have some athletic talent at receiver right now, but are still lacking something. Cutler is the type of quarterback that might be able to utilize Owens. I'm not saying he'll ever be dominant, but Owens needs to be able to play for a team that can devise ways to get the ball in his hands. The Bills are not that team, and I'm not ready to completely write off T.O. due to issues with them. Trent Edwards stinks. He could probably be a decent backup for a team, but as a starter, forget it. Even when he gets time to throw, he seems to wait for a receiver to find separation from a defender that just isn't going to be there. I'd like him to at least get to a point where he'll be confident in putting the ball to a spot that may give someone like Owens a chance to make a play.
posted by dyams at 02:37 PM on October 24, 2009
Tom Brady could use a #3 receiver. I'd take a risk on him, simply because Bellichek would have no problem firing his ass the second he acts up.
posted by dfleming at 02:37 PM on October 24, 2009
Being a Bills fan, I actually feel sorry for TO. This offense is pathetic, the QB is terrible (Edwards...and I don't think Fitzpatrick will be any better), and the coach is a moron. Plus the Buffalo media puts a negative spin on something he says which is not the least bit controversial, then pile on him when he doesn't say anything at all. Granted, over his career he's been a monumental prick, but in Buffalo he's been fine. And at 35 he's still got plenty in the tank. Oh, and the Romo thing...it was the group of receivers complaining about Romo zeroing in on Witten all the time. It only became "news" because Owens was part of that group.
posted by cletus7777 at 04:07 PM on October 24, 2009
Tom Brady could use a #3 receiver. I'd take a risk on him, simply because Bellichek would have no problem firing his ass the second he acts up.
While Belichick has taken a couple of supposed "bad boys" (Corey Dillon and Randy Moss), neither one had a bad reputation in the locker room. Their problems were with management or the way the coaching staff was using them. Belichick recognized the obvious talent, and was willing to take a chance that with the right usage, both would blossom. TO's attitude in the locker room is such that he would probably wind up on the injured list after the first time he tried to place blame for his own poor performance on someone else.
New England injury report: Owens, out (broken face)
posted by Howard_T at 05:16 PM on October 24, 2009
While Belichick has taken a couple of supposed "bad boys" (Corey Dillon and Randy Moss), neither one had a bad reputation in the locker room.
Yeah, but what's that reputation really based on? One incident, talked over and rehashed a thousand times, is still just one incident. So how many actual incidents of being a bad teammate are we talking about?
For all that TO has a bad reputation, I've never heard of him getting into trouble with the law, drugs, excessive alcohol, steroids, firearms, or unplanned pregnancies. I've never even heard of him being a tasteless ass and blowing a lot of money on ego cars and mansions. I've never heard of him showing up for camp out of shape. I'm starting to wonder if people are harshing on this guy when they give others a pass for more serious problems.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 01:51 PM on October 25, 2009
For being done he had seven catches for well over 100 yards today.
posted by billsaysthis at 08:44 PM on October 25, 2009
For being done he had seven catches for well over 100 yards today.
Umm...Owens had 3 catches for 27 yards. And a few drops too. Just sayin'.
posted by cletus7777 at 04:38 AM on October 26, 2009
IMHO even at 36 years old, T.O. hasn't hit a wall, he just got traded to Buffalo which is a WR's nightmare. He doesn't have a talented QB to throw him the ball consistently, the O-line is a joke and the only thing the Bills got going for them is their defense and that's not saying much.
T.O. can still be a productive reciever if given the opportunity to play on a club that actually cares whether they win or lose. I'm not defending him but all T.O. wants to do is win, sometimes the way he goes about it is definately the wrong way (San Fran, Philly) but who can blame him if he wanted out of Buffalo to try to win a championship in his last few years in the league?
The league shouldn't allow for a future Hall of Famer to fade away with a team like the Bills. That's just wrong.
posted by BornIcon at 08:06 AM on October 26, 2009
Yeah, but what's that reputation really based on? One incident, talked over and rehashed a thousand times, is still just one incident.
Are you talking about him throwing Romo under the bus and being a media spectacle? Or when he did that to McNabb in Philly? Or when he spent all that time in San Francisco insisting that Jeff Garcia was gay?
posted by yerfatma at 10:56 AM on October 26, 2009
The league shouldn't allow for a future Hall of Famer to fade away with a team like the Bills. That's just wrong.
What are you suggesting that the league do? Owens' bad attitude reduced his marketability to the point that Buffalo was the best he could get. The "all T.O. wants to do is win" excuse is wearing thin.
... who can blame him if he wanted out of Buffalo to try to win a championship in his last few years in the league?
Stop making excuses for the guy. He signed his deal with the Bills just last March.
posted by rcade at 11:25 AM on October 26, 2009
The league shouldn't allow for a future Hall of Famer to fade away with a team like the Bills. That's just wrong.
Welcome to the NFL. Future HOFers regularly end up on crappy teams at the end of their careers. - if they are lucky enough to get work at all. TO could have been Marvin Harrison.
posted by bperk at 12:25 PM on October 26, 2009
I'm not defending him but all T.O. wants to do is win...
What professional athlete doesn't want to win?
The league shouldn't allow for a future Hall of Famer to fade away with a team like the Bills. That's just wrong.
The NFL controlling player movement based on empathy of age and a fading skill set would be more wrong.
posted by BoKnows at 12:29 PM on October 26, 2009
Umm...Owens had 3 catches for 27 yards. And a few drops too. Just sayin'.
I should know better than to repeat what I hear on Fox.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:47 PM on October 26, 2009
TO could have been Marvin Harrison.
The NFL controlling player movement based on empathy of age and a fading skill set would be more wrong
Both good points except with Harrison, he was injured and he also had that gun situation in Philly which no NFL organization wanted to get involved with.
Or when he spent all that time in San Francisco insisting that Jeff Garcia was gay?
From my recollection (and maybe I'm wrong about this), in a Playboy article that was being written about T.O., he was asked if he thought Jeff Garcia was gay and he answered, "If it looks like a duck..." but I don't remember him insisting that Garcia was gay on a constant basis.
posted by BornIcon at 01:39 PM on October 26, 2009
Hmm, I don't know one way or the other, but I can't imagine the Playboy interviewer asked that question randomly.
posted by yerfatma at 01:50 PM on October 26, 2009
Neither can I but I believe that's where that quote came from. This is what I was able to find about that though.
posted by BornIcon at 02:42 PM on October 26, 2009
I live in the SF Bay area and have lived here since 1986. I lived through the TO years here and I can tell you what he did to the locker room and Jeff Garcia were horrible. when TO was a rookie, he was spectacular. He trained and practiced hard, emulating Jerry Rice. Of course, having Jerry Rice play with him for TO's 1st year is probably what kept TO's ego in check. Once Jerry left the troubles with TO began.
Mind you, I loved TO for his first 3 years here and so did most fans. However, once Jerry left, something happened with TO's ego. He became unhinged and began behaving like the prima donna you have seen since. when Jerry was here TO kept his mouth shut, played hard and was a great teammate. I can't really say what happened, other than his greatness went to his head and he doesn't have the emotional maturity to handle things.
almost as soon as Jerry Rice left he began complaining about not getting the ball enough. soon it escalated into attacks on Jeff Garcia not liking to throw to him, then he hinted it was racial.....Then TO dropped the gay thing.....and he repeated if several times in the local newsmedia...I was never a Jeff Garcia fan but he is a very decent guy and a very solid quarterback.....
After a few years of TO's ego out of control, the 49ers and the fans justed wanted him gone. With TO all you get was him wanting attention, even to the detriment of his team. HE destroyed the cameradarie in SF's locker room. He was as bad here as he was in Philly and Dallas.
When he went to Philly, I actually hated him. I gave him two years in Philly and was blown away when he began his crying fits in the first season. and the way he went after Donovan McNabb blew me away. Of course he couldn't use the race card any more with McNabb....After Philly, came Dallas and he behave the same there...
Remember his suicide attempt? That is still the strangest thing I have ever seen....
TO? A very immature man, with the temperment and emotional makeup of a little child of about 5 years old. the only time he was ever really great as a player and a teammate was when he played with Jerry Rice....
such a shame really! He had the talent to be one of the best ever...
posted by rangerhawk at 09:58 PM on November 01, 2009
Sounds a lot like they said about Randy Moss a few years ago. I can't believe I'm saying this but put him on a team like New England and you would get 1 or 2 very good years out of him before he retires. A lot of it is up to him because I do agree he has hit the wall at Buffalo but put him on a winning team and he will produce. ( no Dallas is not and was not a good team )