Among other things, Terrell Owens is a reality television star. Going by his latest reported contract aspirations however, he may be slipping from the reality that exists in his head.
Foxsports.com’s John Czarnecki reports that Drew Rosenhaus, agent for Owens is out trying to find a deal that will pay his client at least $5 million per year.
Not going to happen.
Owens has one likely route to one last significant payday, which could come if the Chicago Bears get desperate. Though Owens doesn’t fit into the Mike Martz style of offense, the team could use a receiver and with Lovie Smith’s job in jeopardy are in “win-now” mode. That could push the team to possibly consider Owens. But even then it’s farfetched to think he’ll get $5 million.
To this point Owens has received lukewarm interest around the league. His lone visit came with Cincinnati, which despite the pleas of Chad OchoCinco decided to go with Antonio Bryant over Owens.
The Oakland Raiders have presumably showed interest but no visit as of yet has been scheduled.
Buddy Nix announced before free agency that the Buffalo Bills would not offer Owens a contract and there’s been no indication his thought process has changed.
It’s also widely speculated that Owens has equal disinterest in returning to Buffalo without a more proven quarterback and offensive line.
Nix’s disinterest in Owens is at least mildly puzzling. The Bills are perceived as being in full-blown rebuild mode, yet all three of their free agent acquisitions show otherwise. Cornell Green is an 11-year veteran while Andra Davis has been in the league eight years and Dwan Edwards for five.
They also brought in a pair of players for visits not considered young. Wade Smith is an eight-year vet and Jimmy Kennedy has been around for six seasons.
Owens is 36 years old and his best days are long behind him, as evidenced by his worst statistical season last year since being a rookie. Even so he had the best year of any Bills receiver in 2009, catching 55 passes for 829 yards and five touchdowns. His 14.9 yards per catch showed if nothing else he can still get down the field.
On top of that, Owens was anything but a problem off the field as he went a long way towards fixing a heavily tarnished reputation. And in an organization where off-field marketing is never lost in the eyes of Russ Brandon, Owens was still elite when it came to the box office and season ticket sales.
The Bills are paper think with proven receivers right now after Lee Evans and haven’t done anything to address it since free agency started. Kevin Walter, Bryant, Derek Mason and Chris Chambers were capable number twos both are all off the market.
James Hardy was drafted to be a starter but has done nothing in two seasons. It looks like he’ll finally get his shot in 2010 and maybe he pans out, but given how anemic this offense has been in recent years it’s quite risky banking on him to succeed right now.
Still, the chances of Owens returning to Buffalo in 2010 are slim to none. He’ll find employment somewhere for sure, but he may be growing delusional if he thinks he’s getting $5 million per year.
