Terrell Owens Brings Turmoil to Buffalo Bills

It seems T.O. packed for the weather but not the city. 

Terrell Owens arrived in Buffalo on Saturday for his press conference wearing his signature five-carat diamond-stud earrings. He was casually dressed in a red Buffalo Bills hat, green polo and blue hoodie. What was missing from Owens' attire was his blue-collar. 

A humbled and subdued Owens addressed the Buffalo media and answered questions about his attitude, his career and unexpected decision to make Buffalo his new home.  He opened with thanks to God for his new situation, a radical departure from the usual self-centered demeanor we are so used to from Owens. 

Terrell's vocal expression of his faith was no doubt an attempt at connecting with the down-to-earth fans of the snow capitol of the northeast. Owens mentioned multiple times that he was excited to "get with Trent, Lee, and the guys" and just be himself in the locker room. However, if history has anything to say about Owens, his personality and his relationship with teammates, "the guys" should buckle up. 

Terrell Owens has been the most destructive force in the NFL for the past decade, on and off the field.

It seems like just yesterday he was being fined repeatedly for excessive celebration, posing on the star at Texas Stadium, doing sit-ups in his driveway in front of cameras while belittling Donovan McNabb, cursing out players and coaches on the Dallas sidelines, and nearly killing himself by overdosing on medications. 

As a loyal Buffalo fan and native of Western New York, I can't help but be enthusiastic about the media attention the city will receive this offseason. When was the last time the Bills were the lead-off feature on SportsCenter?  Kevin Everett is the biggest story that's hit our town in years, and his was made by miracle-working doctors and his own perseverance. Terrell Owens makes the Buffalo Bills relevant again for at least one season, but at what cost? 

It's no secret Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson Jr. wants the Bills to succeed and at least make the playoffs before his time is up. The man is 90 years of age, born six days after World War I ended in 1918.  His first press release with the Bills was transmitted via telegram. The people of Buffalo appreciate what Wilson has done for the city, but also realize if nothing is done soon the team could be headed to Toronto, or worse, Los Angeles.  With this fear in mind, Wilson pushed for the signing of a big-name free agent this offseason to bolster season ticket sales in a struggling economy and make the Bills a headline once again.

Now that Mr. Wilson has his big name, what happens to his beloved team? Will the Bills benefit from T.O.'s notoriety, or will they succumb to the team chemistry cancer that is Terrell Owens?  The Bills have never managed an ego like Owens'.  The last time they dealt with selfishness they were coming off a fourth consecutive Super Bowl loss and had a team full of disgruntled future Hall of Famers in Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, and Bruce Smith.  The team has not won a playoff game since their departure.

With T.O. in the mix, the Bills will undoubtedly have one of the most prolific receiving corps in the NFL.Owens joins Lee Evans, Roscoe Parrish, Josh Reed and James Hardy at the wide receiver position, an early Christmas for quarterback Trent Edwards.  Like the Bills' division rival Patriots, the young QB should operate out of a four or five-wide set more often than not.

But a high-flying offense hasn't been seen in Buffalo since the K-Gun in the '90s, and still doesn't fit the blue-collar mold Bills fans have come to embrace.

The city of Buffalo has never been home to super-agents and movie star athletes (excluding O.J. Simpson, an exception to EVERY rule), never offered the biggest contracts or welcomed self-promoters.

Buffalo is chicken wings and Labbatt Blue, not filet mignon and Don Perignon. We're blue jeans and snow boots, not Armani and Jimmy Choo.  Our broadcasting heroes are Rick Jeanneret and Van Miller, not Ryan Seacrest and Howard Stern.  Beef on Weck is served at fancy affairs, Pepsi and Coke are referred to as "pop" and six inches of snow is a "dusting." 

Tailgaiting takes the sting out of a negative-10 degree wind chill factor and season ticket holders are construction buddies and next-door neighbors. You won't see Jessica Simpson or Justin Timberlake in the luxury boxes. People go to see the game, not be seen at the game.

Bills fans will embrace Owens and what he brings to the city this offseason, give him a chance and hope for the best but it won't be long before they realize he just doesn't fit in. Owens' personal work ethic is unquestionable, he is the most fit 35-year old in the NFL.  Unfortunately for the Bills, Owens' team concept is non-existent. His thirst for a championship remains unquenched due to his refusal to take a supporting role for the good of the franchise.

It's no small wonder Owens didn't land in Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Green Bay or New England. The team concept is more important in football than in any other professional sport and those franchises are well aware of the emphasis of team over individual. Buffalo has always subscribed to the team-first mantra, but with this move they have fallen into the trap of pursuing short-term success over long-term prosperity.

Like every Western New Yorker, I hope Terrell Owens catches 120 passes and scores 25 touchdowns this year.  I hope he leaves after helping Trent Edwards become a better quarterback and in the process gathers a small-town cult following who have no choice but to display his likeness on a breakfast food box, found on the shelves of your local Tops and Wegman's supermarket bearing the name, "T.O. Toaster Streudels."  I hope he makes appearances at Sabres games, Chicken-wing eating contests, Mike Fucillo car commercials and Hunter's Hope fundraising events.

If T.O. can find success in Buffalo, help our team and our community, then we'll embrace him with open arms.  But if history is any indication, we're in for a long season.