Terrell Owens: Gives Bills a Boost On and Off The Field

It is no surprise to anyone that the Terrell Owens to Buffalo move was done in part, if not primarily, for financial reasons. 

Is it any surprise that today is the first deadline for Bills season ticket holders to renew their seats, and Saturday they made their biggest free agent signing since Takeo Spikes?

Last season, the Buffalo Bills kicked off their five-year regional experiment with Toronto. With little fan interest and overpriced tickets, the Rogers Centre had trouble selling out the game.

I think it is safe to say tickets to that game will go much more quickly with T.O. on the program.

Owens' jersey will no doubt be a top-10 selling jersey this coming season. I can see the "North America's Team" t-shirts hanging on the Bills store walls now. 

It does not seem unlikely that there will be some "I love me some me," and "Get your popcorn ready" t-shirts being sold in the Ralph Wilson Stadium parking lots this fall either.

But does Terrell Owens offer more than an economic boost to the Buffalo Bills?

I think it is safe to say he makes the Bills' offense better (could it get much worse?) Owens and Evans, on paper, look like a top-three receiving tandem in the NFL. 

No one can question Owens talent on the field throughout his career. But are his best years behind him?

With his first reception in a Bills uniform, Terrell Owens will pass the Bills' all-time leading receiver, Andre Reed, in career receptions. When you start chasing the top five guys in receptions, it says that you have had a great career. But it also says that you are much closer to the end of that career than the beginning.

T.O's best years are no doubt behind him, but that is not to say he doesn't still have great years left. Buffalo is different from any other destination T.O. has arrived at.

And Owens is, for the first time in his career, starting over with a new franchise as an aging superstar.

So why Buffalo? Why the Bills?

Strictly talking X's and O's, why does Owens want the Bills and why does Buffalo want T.O?

Terrell Owens gives the Bills a desperately needed second receiver to compliment Lee Evans. The Bills offense has been more predictable than a Full House rerun over the last few seasons because teams don't have to respect anyone other than Evans catching the ball. 

Owens instantly makes Lee Evans a better receiver because no self-respecting defense is going to double-team Evans and allow Owens to beat them deep.

The tough decisions opposing defenses will have to make regarding the Buffalo passing game will no doubt strengthen the running game as well. That could not be more important, with Marshawn Lynch probably facing a four-game suspension due to his off-the-field legal troubles.

Owens has managed to keep his name off the police blotter throughout his career, despite being a lightning rod of controversy on it.

He has had highly publicized rifts with all of his former quarterbacks. But Trent Edwards is in a very different position than other quarterbacks Owens has played with. Edwards is playing for his football life.

After a promising rookie outing, Edwards won the starting job over incumbent starter J.P. Losman at the start of last season. 

Six weeks into the season, it was a no-brainer that the Bills coaching staff had made the right decision. Ten weeks after that, fans weren't so sure.

There is no question that the Owens-to-Buffalo move puts more pressure on Bills' quarterback Trent Edwards than anyone else. 

If he can't get the offense moving with weapons like Owens, Lee Evans, Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, and Roscoe Parrish then he will find himself out of the NFL before you can say "get your popcorn ready."

Mild-mannered head coach Dick Jauron won't call players out for lack of effort or poor execution, and Terrell Owens will hold his teammates accountable. 

For all of his griping in the past, Owens has been consistent in wanting to win football games. He hates to lose, maybe as much as anyone who has ever played the game.

Owens' personality will not disrupt the team's personality because the Bills have no personality. The Bills have nestled themselves into football mediocrity recently, with three straight 7-9 seasons. The Bills don't even suck enough for the media to pay attention to them.

In his past stops, Owens has had to "fit in" to a team, and "learn to get along" with teammates.  In Buffalo, Owens brings a swagger and arrogance this city has not had since Jim Kelly and company led the team to four straight Super Bowls. 

What the Bills need more than anything is superstar talent, media attention, and confidence. Owens gives them all of that.

For the first time in his career, Owens will play for a team that needs to become part Terrell Owens more than it needs Terrell Owens to become part of the team.

How will the Terrell Owens experiment work for North America's Team? You better get your popcorn ready if you want to find out.