Terrell Owens: Return to the NFL Likely, Which Teams Should Target TO?

Terrell Owens has just put a timetable down for his return from a torn ACL injury.  In an interview with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, Owens said he will be ready to return "in a month or less."

We all knew Owens would be attempting a comeback to the NFL.  It's just not in him to not play football.  As long as a team will have Owens, I believe he will be in the league.

We're talking about a guy who is No. 2 all-time in receiving yards and touchdown receptions.  A guy who has handfuls and handfuls of big games, including one of his best on the Super Bowl stage with the Philadelphia Eagles.

We're also talking about a 37-year-old wide receiver trying to come back from injury to the league's fast-paced passing game.  Though, he is the same guy who had a 222-yard game for the Cincinnati Bengals last year at age 36.  And he remains the physical specimen he has been his whole career.

Assuming Terrell Owens can still play at a high level like he says, where does he fit in?   Who needs an aging star, but also potentially a game-breaking wide receiver?

First of all, I think Terrell Owens did about as good of a job as he could have in Buffalo and Cincinnati the last two years.  Not statistically, but he proved he can be a contributor on the field and avoid being a distraction off of it.

Still, after 13 seasons where he put his own quarterback in the line of fire numerous times and stirred up trouble, his track record isn't great.  Many teams will want to stay away the same way they did with Randy Moss this offseason, ultimately sending another all-time great into retirement.

Although, in Owens' defense, his question mark has never been effort on the field as it has been with Moss at times in his career. 

If a team takes a chance on Owens, it knows what it'll get: a winner.  You may hate Terrell Owens for his antics, but he gives it his all and competes with the best of them.

So, there's a big physical receiver on the market who has checked off just about every individual achievement a receiver can have.  One thing is missing for TO, and he knows it.  He is lacking the illustrious Lombardi Trophy.

The teams that would be best off signing Owens mid-season are those in the thick of the playoff hunt, which should unfold even more over the next month.

Teams that are in the hunt after four weeks that could use Owens to help the passing game are: Washington, Tampa Bay, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco, NY Jets, Tennessee and Oakland.

You can already cross Tampa Bay off. The Bucs are very happy with their young connection between Josh Freeman and Mike Williams and wouldn't likely drive a stake between them. 

There is likely a bridge burned between the San Francisco franchise and Owens after he spurned them earlier in his career. 

The Jets, as lackluster as their passing game has been, seem content on going back to "ground and pound," and either way, just paid a lot for their core of receivers.

Washington, off to a surprising 3-1 NFC East division lead, lacks a larger, physical wide receiver and is always willing to make a splash via free agency.  It is hard to say if the Redskins would take the chance of muddling their chemistry after they just cleared their roster of Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb.

The Chicago Bears need help at receiver, as always, especially after their Roy Williams project seemingly fizzled.  I don't think you could put Terrell in a locker room with already maligned quarterback Jay Cutler, though. 

St. Louis may be 0-4, but the Rams very much believe they can come back in the NFC West.  Mike Sims-Walker has not been what they expected him to be for Sam Bradford at this point.

Oakland is 2-2, but the Raiders have looked very good up to this point and could use a possession receiver to balance out their speedy receiving corps.  They have never had a problem bringing in guys with questionable character.

And that leaves Tennessee, who I feel is most in need of a receiver. 

The Titans are off to a hot start under new quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who is a veteran quarterback certainly able to deal with Owens.  They are in a tight race in the thin AFC South with Houston and just lost star receiver Kenny Britt for the year. 

The question here is if they would compare a TO signing to the Moss fiasco they brought on last year.

At the end of the day, there are 32 teams out there, and I am sure Owens will find a home, even if it isn't ideal for him.  He just went to Buffalo and Cincinnati—it would be just another stop for the great receiver to extend his career until he can go no more. 

Eventually, a winner will trust his character, and he will get his shot at a ring. 

Will it be in the next month?