The Saga of Terrell Owens to the Cincinnati Bengals

The 144 day long saga of Terrell Owens' free agency is now over, and the star receiver will be wearing tiger stripes in Cincinnati.

At times, it looked like no one would bring in the troublesome receiver. Every time it appeared to be a fit, it just wasn't meant to be. The young teams that are rebuilding didn't want him because they're eager to start their youth movement.

The championship contenders didn't want him because they saw the potential for the locker room cancer to destroy their championship hopes.

Let's take a look at some of the teams that were on the (very) short list of those interested in Owens.

It Couldn't be the Redskins

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ASHBURN, VA - APRIL 15: Washington Redskins Donovan McNabb works out at the Washington Redskins training facility on April 15, 2010 in Ashburn, Virginia (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Reunited doesn't always feel good.

Not everything can be understood.

Donovan McNabb and Owens have apparently gotten past their monumental riff in Philadelphia, but is that to say everything would be flowers and sunshine in Washington? This is especially true since McNabb has a ton of great weapons to throw to in Washington, and Mike Shanahan will implore him to use them all.

Even if the two were so excited to be reunited, they have proven in the past they're one imperfect fit.

It Couldn't be the Seahawks

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RENTON, WA - JANUARY 12: Pete Carroll answers questions at a press conference announcing his hiring as the new head coach of the Seattle Seahawks on January 12, 2010 at the Seahawks training facility in Renton, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty

The Seahawks have some question marks at wide receiver. We all know about Deion Branch's propensity to get injured, and with Nate Burleson being shipped off to Detroit in free agency, it looks as though TJ Houshmandzadeh is the only reliable stand-out receiver on the roster (unless Golden Tates' skill translates to the NFL).

Aside from that, the Seahawks are very much still in rebuild mode, and acquiring T.O. would hardly be the move that put them over the edge.

Unless, of course, that edge is from a bad team to a mediocre one, but that's only if Owens keeps his mouth shut.

It Couldn't be the Patriots

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FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 20: Coach Bill Belichick celebrates after a second touchdown by Randy Moss #81 of the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 20, 2008 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 41-7. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

The number on the back of Randy Moss' jersey says it all.

In all seriousness, the Patriots have a young core of deep receiving talent that they are ready to call upon this season. They've also searched tirelessly for veteran leaders, and have no need for a divisive drama queen.

The past success they had with Moss would never have happened without a strong locker room, which the Patriots don't currently have.

For the Patriots, T.O. would have been more trouble than he was worth.

It Couldn't be the Jets

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FLORHAM PARK, NJ - JANUARY 21: Rex Ryan addresses the media during a press conference introducing him as the new Head Coach of the New York Jets as Owner Woody Johnson (C) and General Manager Mike Tannenbaum look on at the Atlantic Health Jets Training C

If you give a mouse a cookie, he's going to ask for a glass of milk.

In case you didn't figure it out, the "mouse" is Terrell Owens, the "cookie" is a contract in the media center of America, and the "glass of milk" is...well, more media attention.

The milk could also be a young quarterback who's still mentally soft and could easily be eaten whole by said mouse. That would have to be one terrific mouse to be worth the cookie and all the aggravation that came with having a mouse running rampant in the Meadowlands.

They've had no problem bringing in guys with charatcter issues this offseason, but if it looks bad now, how much worse would the outlook be with T.O.?

It Couldn't be the Rams

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ST. LOUIS - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Steve Spagnuolo of the St. Louis Rams directs his team against the Seattle Seahawks at the Edward Jones Dome on November 29, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

The Rams are in complete rebuild mode. Why, then, would they let a 36 year-old Terrell Owens get more time than Mardy Gilyard?

Why would they take a chance on a chemistry killer as a back up?

Of course the Rams need to sell seats, but Steve Spagnuolo knows how important chemistry is to a championship team—not that the Rams are anywhere near a champion—but it's not as if signing Owens would have put them over the edge.

Spagnuolo is sending a message by not signing Owens that selfishness won't be tolerated on his watch.

But the Bengals Seem Like a Good Fit.

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IRVING, TX - OCTOBER 05: Wide receiver Chad Johnson #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals talks with Terrell Owens #81 of the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on October 5, 2008 in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Bengals 31-24. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/

Their TV shows are back-to-back on VH1.

Now, they're lined up opposite each other on the field.

Will the drama of their reality TV shows carry over onto the football field? That much is anyone's guess (but the popular guess, at this stage, is yes).

Carson Palmer must have given his stamp of approval somewhere along the way, though, and has dealt with several other cancerous players in the past.

The Bengals don't have a huge need at receiver, with Ochocinco, Andre Caldwell, and Antonio Bryant already calling Cincinnati home. Owens, however, adds another dynamic to this team in that they can now spread the field pretty well with those four guys and Jermaine Gresham at tight end.

Or are They?

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CINCINNATI - JANUARY 9: Quarterback Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks down at his helmet late in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets during the 2010 AFC wild-card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on January 9, 2010 in Cincinnati

Even with the "hot stove" discussion surrounding his free agency, Terrell Owens may be on the flame-out.

At this point in Owens' career, I doubt there's really a "perfect fit" for him.

It worked out perfectly for Owens because the Bengals are a dark horse candidate (and by dark, I mean black) for a deep run into the playoffs this year.

Does Owens put them over the edge? That remains to be seen. But it's a gamble that the Bengals are willing to take.

They've done it plenty of times before and it's worked out, right? Oh, wait...