Terrell Owens: 4 Reasons to Take a Wait-and-See Approach with Owens

Veteran wide receiver Terrell Owens is still unsigned, due in large part because of injury concerns.

If he can't get on the field, he's not going to find a new team, but T.O. believes he'll be ready by Week 2 or 3 of the regular season.

Still, that wouldn't leave much time for him to learn a new offense, and that's not the only concern.

Here are four reasons teams should take a wait-and-see approach when it comes to signing T.O.

4. His Best Days Are Behind Him

T.O.'s best days are definitely in the past. He can still be an effective receiver, but he's not the game-changer he once was.

Still, he had a pretty good year for the hapless Cincinnati Bengals in 2010. After all, he caught 72 passes for 983 yards and nine touchdowns last year.

Still, I wouldn't expect anything near those numbers if he plays in 2011.

3. He's Hurt

The only timeline we have for Owens' return is a prediction he made himself. A torn ACL is no light injury as the rehab is long and grueling.

T.O.'s effectiveness might be limited for some time after he gets back on the field and he also might never be the same. It's tough to tell at his age.

2. He's Old

T.O. is no spring chicken. He's 37 years old and isn't getting any younger.

Coming back from a torn ACL at 37 is significantly harder than at 27. Plus, the likelihood of re-injury is much higher at his age.

1. He's a Potential Locker Room Distraction

The biggest reason to take a wait-and-see approach with T.O. is that teams need to make sure they actually need him.

If he feels unwanted or under-utilized, he will throw tantrums and isn't the best person to bring into an NFL locker room unless he's happy and contributing.

Even then, teams need a strong veteran locker room in order to keep him in line.