Where to, T.O.?

BasX · Mar 5, 2009

Now that the rumors have become official, and Terrell Owens has been cut by the Dallas Cowboys, the guessing game begins as to where he will continue his NFL career.

ESPN's John Clayton has speculated that the Oakland Raiders might be a potential destination, given Al Davis' penchant for big-play wide receivers. A Raiders' No. 81 jersey might become a hot item on the apparel market, but a move to Oakland doesn't really make sense for T.O., who is still seeking that elusive Super Bowl ring. The Raiders are clearly not "one player away" from a championship-caliber squad, and in spite of his devotion to physical fitness Owens is on the far side of his career, and may not have many seasons left to hunt the Lombardi trophy.

With that in mind, several receiver-needy teams emerge as possible candidates. The Washington Redskins do possess a 1,000-yard receiver in Santana Moss, but Moss had a tendency to disappear at times during 2008 and would likely be better-suited to a No. 2 role. Owner Dan Snyder has relentlessly proven that he loves chasing big-name veterans, and really the only issue would be finding some more cash to lay at the feet of Owens given the monstrous contracts already dished out to Albert Haynesworth and DeAngelo Hall this offseason. It's hard to fathom the potential for entertaining post-game press conferences with Owens and one of Clinton Portis' many alter-egos, and Youtube viewers eagerly await such a circumstance. Unfortunately, it would appear now that the Redskins are out of the running, as ESPN's Chris Mortensen says that a team source has told him "No way" in regards to the team signing Owens.

Another likely suitor is the Denver Broncos. New Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels has experience in integrating a "problem" wide receiver into a cohesive offensive unit based on his time with Randy Moss and the New England Patriots. The Broncos may themselves have a problem on their hands with No. 1 wideout Brandon Marshall's off-field drama and the subsequent hearings that are bound to take place with the league, so T.O. could very well be the team's new No. 1 by the season opener.

This leaves the largest media market in the country, and one could argue a case for Owens reaching a deal with either the New York Giants or New York Jets. The Jets will lack a true No. 1 wideout if they don't make another move before the start of 2009, as the team elected not to re-sign Laveranues Coles, and Jerricho Cotchery is not up to that role. On the other hand, the team may focus on developing the rushing attack, given that there is as yet no proven quarterback on the roster, and Thomas Jones showed he still has quite a bit left in the tank after his 1,312-yard, 13-touchdown season in 2008. Additionally, ESPN Radio 1050's Andrew Marchand has reported that a source with knowledge of the Jets' thinking indicates that the team will not pursue Owens.

With the Plaxico Burress situation still up in the air, the Giants also lack a true No. 1 wideout, a fact that is plain to even the most casual observer of the team and perhaps a reason that the team withered away in the playoffs. While Owens would certainly provide more fodder for local sportswriters with his comments than the less overt Burress, he could fill a similar role on the field and has proven an ability to keep his nose clean off of it. However, Newsday and the Newark Star-Ledger have sources who have claimed the Giants will not go after Owens.

For all of the press Owens does generate, he's never had serious off-field issues like so many of his peers in the NFL. The controversy that Owens tends to spark falls fundamentally within the realm of wanting more passes thrown his way, which some would argue is just an indication of his competitive fire. Fans and media members don't seem to mind when a dominant basketball player demands the ball in crunch-time, and Owens is certainly still one of the league's dominant offensive players. Owens finished 2008 averaging 15.2 yards per catch, a figure that ranked seventh amongst receivers with 1,000 yards or more. No matter which team decides to take a shot on T.O., he will certainly be a difference-maker in 2009.
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Interested: Redskins? Raiders? Jets? Giants? Broncos?

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/features/rumors

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Where to, T.O.?

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