It's the Cincinnati Bengals' Turn to Cancel T.O. Show

I’m an avid Coach fan. Most of my friends know this and mock me because of it, combined with the fact that I absolutely hate Seinfeld. I’m a one of a kind, I know.

For those that need refreshing, Coach was a sitcom that started in the late eighties and ran for about a decade. It was based on Minnesota State coach Hayden Fox, played by Craig T. Nelson, and his life as a coach and divorced/single father.

There’s a scene from season one that fits perfectly with the theme of this column, so bear with me. After dealing with all of the troubles his star running back Carter Fredrickson brought him throughout the episode, Fox ultimately decides to suspend Carter for the season’s final game, ending his shot at the school rushing record and putting victory in serious doubt.

Here is a shortened version of what Fox says to Fredrickson before heading for the tunnel without his best player:

“You are one of the special people. You have talent…but you’ve got one problem: you’re an ass. And I don’t want you out there on the field with the rest of my players because they believe in the team concept and you don’t. You believe in you…and I don’t care about your talent anymore, son. The bottom line Carter is, you just aren’t worth it.”

That brings us to present day television and Terrell Owens, or reality’s Carter Fredrickson. When asked by teammate and fellow diva receiver Chad Ochocinco who is to blame for Cincinnati’s 2-11 failure of a season, Owens told Ocho and the 40 people that actually watch Versus’ The T.Ocho Show, that it’s on the coaches.

“You start with the owner, you start with the coaches,” Owens said. “And obviously we as players, we are a product of what the coaches are coaching us throughout the course of the week. We have to go out there and play the game but…the coaches have to put the players in the best position.”

Much of that statement is correct, but maybe it has a lot to do with the all out fallout of Carson Palmer’s career. Or Ochocinco having the worst season of his career. Or the front seven generating zero pass rush. Or, it might even have something to do with a few untimely drops by Mr. Owens himself, but he’d never own up to that.

The point is, no player or coach should ever throw one of his own under the bus for all the world to see and hear. Knowing the two’s personalities, I’m shocked someone in the Bengals organization didn’t step in and put the kibosh on this show before it began production. Based on what we know from the past, it’s a safe bet that Versus will cancel the show after one season.

If the Bengals are smart, they will follow the network’s lead and sever ties with Owens. Just as San Francisco, Philadelphia, Dallas and Buffalo did. Owens has been on five teams during his 15-year career and never once has a stint ended amicably. Why do teams continue to waste their time and resources on him?

The day you sign him will be all honky dory, he’ll tell some jokes and flash that big smile. Fanfare will increase as will ticket sales. Then the team will stink and Owens, inevitably, will divide your locker room and ruin your season with one senseless, degrading and selfish statement, pointing the finger at everyone but himself.

He did it to Jeff Garcia in San Francisco and Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia, then ran himself out of Dallas by spreading the plague in their facility.

It’s a wonder he made it this far without saying something dumb. The Bengals have lost 10 straight games and his quarterback, always the one to feel the worst of Owens’ wrath, has stunk throughout all of 2010. It could be because for as bad as Palmer has been, he has done a good job of finding T.O., and to him, nothing else matters.

With three games to play, Owens has 72 receptions, 983 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s on pace to have his best season since 2007 in Dallas when he recorded 81-1,355-15. Dallas went 13-3 that year and locked up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The postseason began and ended on the same afternoon, however, as the Cowboys lost to the New York Giants in their opener.

He wasn’t worth the trouble then, and with his gaudy numbers doing nothing to help Cincinnati actually win games, he certainly isn’t worth it now.

The Bengals need a complete makeover of the roster and, yes, the coaching staff. There are bigger issues to address talent wise, but owner Mike Brown and whoever the coach may be should start by ridding their product of the disease that is Terrell Eldorado Owens. Addition by subtraction. It’s simple math, just ask the 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys, Bills, VH1 and (soon) Versus.

He’s special. He has talent. But he’s an ass.

And he’s just not worth it.

For more, visit my website at www.pointbartemus.com, a sports forum. Or contact me at [e-mail].