Hell No, TO! Why Terrell Owens Won't End Up on the Patriots This Season

Every diva needs a reality check; the 2010 offseason has been just that for Terrell Owens.

Unlike previous seasons, teams haven't been too eager to sign the oft-troubled receiver. That hasn't stopped him from grabbing the occasional headlines, though—if anything, the lack of interest has sparked media curiosity.

That's why when T.O. spoke with the Associated Press on Tuesday, people listened.

Owens compared himself to LeBron James and said he'd be willing to take a pay cut and a lesser role to join forces with Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and the rest of the Patriots team to form a legitimate contender.

First, let's get this TO-LBJ stuff out of the way: The difference is night and day between the levels of interest in these two guys, so James' pay cut is a bit more admirable than Owens, who will probably take a "pay cut" where ever he goes.

LeBron has hit his prime, and could have taken a max deal; Owens is approaching the end of the road, and won't be getting top dollar any time soon.

Besides all that, there's one small (read: gaping) hole in Owens' theory: The Patriots need veteran leadership, not a divisive drama queen.

Yes, Owens was on his best behavior last year. Yes, the Patriots had success in converting Randy Moss from a "diva receiva" into a humble man who embraced the Patriot way.

Yes, it's a good sign for T.O. that he's willing to check his ego and take a pay cut and a decreased role to join a solid team (I'll believe it when I see it, though).

Yes, the Patriots need depth at receiver...or do they? They lacked a third option in the passing game last year, but even with Wes Welker out for a few weeks, the Patriots have great youth in Julian Edelman, Brandon Tate, and Taylor Price, who all look ready to go for 2010.

Do the Patriots want to take a step backward in the development of those key young receivers to take a chance on an aging one with character issues?

This is an important time in the growth of New England's locker room.

There are just too many rolls of the dice in signing T.O. that it's almost inevitable for the dice to come up snake-eyes at some point.

Owens remained quiet throughout 2009 despite a flurry of controversy and dismal play, but is that indicative of the real Terrell Owens or just the one who was under a one-year contract so that he would stay quiet?

Former Patriots LB turned ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi agrees that the cohesion and veteran leadership of the Patriots' locker room in 2007 was conducive to bringing along the troubled Moss.

That leadership, however, has become a thing of the past as the leaders from that era have come and gone.

The Patriots are still searching for answers in that regard; Owens clearly isn't it.

T.O. is the only guy that can find the "I" in team.