Should the Falcons finally sign Terrell Owens?
Terrell Owens didn't have much of an impact in Buffalo last season. (Mike Groll/Associated Press)
FLOWERY BRANCH – Folks keep asking the question and now is the time to finally address it.
I’ve been getting tweets at AJCFalcons on twitter.com. (Come follow, we have to celebrate going over 1,600 followers!) Folks have been leaving comments on the blog, sending e-mails and my guys at the barbershop keep asking it, too.
Loading ...Some fans don’t think Michael Jenkins is a worthy No. 2 and are not sure that Harry Douglas will make it back from his knee injury. It’s hard to panic in May, but that’s what hardcore football fans do.
Last season, the Falcons got by with Marty Booker, a quiet professional who came to work and did his job, after Douglas went down.
I’ve gently tried to dissuade the masses from this line of questioning and by citing the headache factor.
The Falcons have clearly been dodging any potential headache players in the post Michael Vick-era in trying to build a championship team.
Each time T.O. has been on the market the Falcons have turned their nose up at the one-time Decatur resident.
Does Terrell Owens have any gas left in the tank? He'll turn 37 in December. (Nell Redmond/Associated Press)
In 1996, the Falcons selected defensive tackle Shannon Brown with the 84th pick in the third round and passed on Owens. He went five picks later to San Francisco. Brown never played a down in the league. (Tedy Bruschi was selected just two picks after Brown. He, of course, went on to help New England stack some Super Bowl rings.)
When Owens’ time was up in Philadelphia, the Falcons weren’t interested.
When Owens’ time was up in Dallas, the Falcons weren’t interested.
Now that he’s out on the streets again and presumably humbled, the Falcons – along with the rest of the league – don’t appear interested.
Even the Cleveland Browns have told him to take a hike.
Let’s look at this from both sides. I want to list some reasons why the Falcons should sign T.O. Then list some reasons why they should not.
Then I’ll turn the floor over to you all.
YES: THE FALCONS SHOULD SIGN T. O.
- The Falcons want to surround Matt Ryan with weapons.
- How potent would a four-receiver formation be with Roddy White and T.O. in the slot on one side and Tony Gonzalez in the slot and Michael Jenkins or Harry Douglas on the other side. Mike Mularkey could put
Michael Jenkins scoring against Texas. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
back on his “Inspector Gadget Hat” and scribble away.
- T.O. didn’t cause any problems in Buffalo. You know, maybe after all of these years in the league he’s no longer a quarterback killer. He will turn 37 in December.
- Veteran wide receiver coach Terry Robiskie and Gonzalez could keep Owens in line. Robiskie used to be a Raider, you know.
- T.O. has averaged 14.9 yards per reception over 15 years and can still get open. He needs just 49 yards to reach 15,000.
- T.O. would help the popcorn sales at the Georgia Dome and give the Falcons some “sizzle” and “star” power.
NO: THE FALCONS SHOULD NOT SIGN T.O.
- T. O. is washed up. There’s nothing left in the tank.
- T.O. has thrown his quarterback under the bus in San Francisco (Jeff Garcia), Philadelphia (Donovan McNabb) and Dallas (Tony Romo) and the Falcons can’t risk him turning on Matt
Will there be a McNabb and Owens reunion in Washington? (Associated Press)
Ryan.
- T.O. will be an unnecessary distraction, crying in press conferences and trying to bring attention to himself.
- T.O.’s had a nice run. Maybe he should just get on with his life’s work.
- T.O. is a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time first team All-Pro, but hasn’t done it since 2007.
YOUR TURN . . .
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430 comments Add your comment
Dave in ATL
May 18th, 2010
12:06 pm
What is it about Atlanta sports teams and signing/re-signing older players that just can’t play anymore? Damn… Leave T.O. alone. No good can come of signing him.
PMC
May 18th, 2010
12:09 pm
Considering other issues I do wonder if we will see…
“The Falcons should sign Adam Vinateri” soon.
Atldark
May 18th, 2010
12:09 pm
TD might take a chapter out of the Patriots book and get a star that know its all or nothing and has 1 last chance and then its lights out. T.O is at that point… 1 more chance and as he can see its over so he has no choice but to to get it right this yer with any team… GET er done… 1 year contract
North Ave Trade School Hater
May 18th, 2010
12:15 pm
Not just no but F! no…
rmontgo
May 18th, 2010
12:16 pm
The Falcons do need another receiver to replace Jenkins , however they need a TRUE professional ! That’s what Arthur Blank embodies and it’s what the Alanta Falcons need. This is a TEAM sport and anyone with the attitude THAT I LOVE ME SOME ME should be in an individual sport , this is not the type of attitude that this team needs !!!!!
Diehard Falcons Fan
May 18th, 2010
12:16 pm
NO WAY!!!! WE DO NOT WANT T.O.!!!!! OWENS HAS NO CLASS OR DIGNITY!!! T.O. WILL DISRUPT TEAM UNITY!!!!!
No to T.O.!!!!!
Dawg-Hatin' Jacket
May 18th, 2010
12:16 pm
Not only no but hell no! Are you crazy?
gcs
May 18th, 2010
12:18 pm
NO NO A THOUSAND TIME NO!
.
jason
May 18th, 2010
12:23 pm
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A MAN
May 18th, 2010
12:24 pm
ReddJonn68, you sound like the racist, but you know what? I don’t give a damn if you hate all white people or not because I dont rely on other people to determine my success!!!! I get out there and make my own way and I dont blame other people when things dont go my way!! Stop throwing the damn race card for God’s sake and take responsibility for YOURSELF!!!!!
Luv 2 Hate Me
May 18th, 2010
12:26 pm
Sign him cheap with incentives based on performance and attitude.
And 1
May 18th, 2010
12:33 pm
@ SID – Man you rock get MORRUS told. lol
ReddJonn68
May 18th, 2010
12:34 pm
Roethlisberger is one of the biggest distractions in football. I don’t see any thug or murder references used during any blogs I’ve posted on. Keeping it real !!!!!
And 1
May 18th, 2010
12:34 pm
NO 2 TO
D. Orlando Ledbetter
May 18th, 2010
12:34 pm
What happened to Shannon Brown?
Josh B
May 18th, 2010
12:35 pm
Isn’t there some other free agent receivers out there also?
Steve
May 18th, 2010
12:35 pm
If he would mesh with Coach, yes, I would bring him in on a 1 year deal with an option for a 2nd. Would put a clause in his deal that if he becomes a disruption, we can release him with no liability.
McBubba
May 18th, 2010
12:35 pm
Yes!
TO is better than Michael Jenkins
he will demand more respect, which will benefit the other receivers
sign him to a 1 year deal
if he becomes a distraction, cut him loose
you need proven play makers in the playoffs
D. Orlando Ledbetter
May 18th, 2010
12:36 pm
Jimmy – To the cheerleader squad?
Oh we forgot about him spitting on DeAngelo Hall when he came to the Dome with the Cowboys a few years back.
rmontgo
May 18th, 2010
12:38 pm
Enter your comments here
D. Orlando Ledbetter
May 18th, 2010
12:39 pm
(Here’s the official voting so far. I guess “Hell No” should have been a option. NO, he’s too much of a diva is the leader i n the clubhouse)
Should the Falcons sign Terell Owens?
* No, he’s too much of a diva. (34%, 463 Votes)
* No, he’ll poison Matt Ryan’s young career (25%, 340 Votes)
* Yes, the receiver corps is thin after Roddy White. (23%, 304 Votes)
* Yes, you can never have too many good football players. (18%, 236 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,343
Veedub
May 18th, 2010
12:40 pm
Come On!!.. Yall gonna tell me yall are ok with our receiving Core. Jenkins has never lived up to his potential and would not be a second receiver on any other team besides the Falcons. Douglas coming off injury and will be a non-factor. The guys we drafted are not going to step in and step up to be a threat for any team. Teams are going to start doubling Roddy and after that we only got Tony. Bring T.O. in and we are instantly more potent on offense and there is our 12 to 13 win season, guaranteed. T.O. is just like Floyd Mayweather, you hate him but he is just so good at what he does that you gotta watch. TD, prove you are a mad scientist and complete the experiment with T.O.. He’ll give you the outcome you’re looking for in this game!!! SUPERBOWL!!!
hayden thomas
May 18th, 2010
12:45 pm
NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Ken
May 18th, 2010
12:46 pm
NO WAY T.O. is a NO GO!!! Him being queit last season was just an attempt to make other teams think tha he has changed!! This man is nothing but a DRAMA KING!! The Falcons should not provide him with a stage to perform!! His presence alone would be a distraction and then he would proceed to divide the locker room!! Stay gone T.O.!!
ReddJonn68
May 18th, 2010
12:46 pm
First of all A MAN hate is a word my grandaddy didn’t let us use in his house. Second of all I am a responsible man, my oldest of 4 boys just got accepted into UGA on an academic scholarship. Keeping it real !!!!
Perigrine Falcon
May 18th, 2010
12:47 pm
ReddJonn68, Don’t want Roethlisberger either! We need team players like Michael Turner, Matt Ryan, John Abraham, Tony Gonzales, etc. One thing about it, the current staff, from Blank to Smith, is about character, chemistry, and building a quality team. Go Falcons!
WonderDawg
May 18th, 2010
12:50 pm
I say get him. It will give Roddy more one-on-one situations, not to mention the catches TO himself will get. Smith and co can keep him under control.
Come on, TD, get TO!
Dennis
May 18th, 2010
12:51 pm
Why would we want to voluntarily infect ourselves with cancer?
Randy_O
May 18th, 2010
12:54 pm
I loved watching TO and he is certainly entertaining. However there is a cost to the team and the organization and after the problems we had in the past with bringing in entertainers and not focusing on football we will have to have another house cleaning.
Clowns are fun to watch on other peoples football team, no to 81 or 85. Steve Smith hugh YES!!!
scbird
May 18th, 2010
12:58 pm
284, the Falcons also missed the playoffs, partly do to Jenkins dropping passes and provided “no” threat at all opposite Roddy White…I’m all for the team, and character, and all that, but it’s time to get that player or two to get in a position to win also. Yes, T.O. runs his mouth at times, but he wants to win…Playing it conservatively will get us at 8-8 or 9-7 every year….Not sure about you guys, but I want more….He will show up in shape and ready to go…
WonderDawg
May 18th, 2010
12:59 pm
What do you think, DOL. Could TD and Smith could convince TO that “there is no ‘me’ in ‘team’”? At this point in his career, it might could work . . .
Time
May 18th, 2010
1:02 pm
On his supposed struggles with these supposed great QB’s. McNabb is a loser in the big game that throws up on the field. Deserved to be thrown under the bus. Romo, when TO was there, was more concerned with keeping Jessica happy than winning. Deserved to be thrown under the bus. And the great Jeff Garcia? He’s quietly known as one of the worst locker room guys the league has seen recently. Evidenced by the fact that even though he played the position pretty well, NOONE wanted him and he went from team to team to team.
One thing that is unquestioned about TO is his work ethic and desire to win. People are crazy if they think a one year deal with incentives is going to cause mass cancer or whatever within the team. Bottom line is, with a deal such as that, he either performs and acts right or the Falcons simply cut him no strings attatched.
It’s low risk with a potential high reward. Absolutely no reason why not to give it a try unless you actually believe Michael Jenkins will ever get it done as a #2 WR.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
May 18th, 2010
1:04 pm
Dawglasville — You are right about using the word “Thug.” He’s not been in any criminal trouble. Just drama, drama, drama and QB killer.
What? — Coach did close rookie minicamp.
ReddJonn68
May 18th, 2010
1:05 pm
Look the question about TO is really addressing a major problem. We need more production on the offensive end to help rest the defense. God bless Jenkins, but in 7 yrs he’s played with some decent backfield’s which usually leads to the ability to grow at WR. I’ll give him props on his blocking, but thats part of the job. Roddy has shown steady growth over the years. Get Matt another weapon if not a WR someone like Harvin or Cribbs to run bubble screens or even reverses.
Dawglasville
May 18th, 2010
1:05 pm
For the record Roethlisberger is the biggest thug playing today.
We need football players like Paul Warfield, Earl Campbell, Larry Csonka, Walter Payton, Mel Blount, Michael Haynes. We don’t need media queens like Chad Johnson or T.O.
Ace
May 18th, 2010
1:05 pm
we will never sign TO, he is a cancer AND he is washed up. we have an awesome team, why would we risk it? ATL4life, you are an idiot, it has nothing to do with race. do you watch football? TO is no better than michael jenkins, they both drop way too many passes, except jenkins doesn’t demand the ball and then drop it. this is not the TO from 5 years ago, the guy is done, he’s no jerry rice, he can’t play until hes 40 years old. WE DONT NEED HIM
TruthSeeker
May 18th, 2010
1:14 pm
It’s intriguing. TO still had respectable numbers playing for a Buffalo team that really struggled to throw the football. He would probably find some new life playing in Atlanta with a QB who can stretch the field. And he usually on his best behavior with a team during his first year in their locker room, so if you give him a one-year deal you probably wouldn’t have to worry about him causing any headaches.
Even though his skills are declining, he’d still be a good fit for that No. 2 receiver slot, which has been a gaping hole – more like a crater, actually – for several years now. That said, I don’t see Blank pulling the trigger on it. If he wouldn’t bring him in when he was one of the elite players in the game, it’s hard to imagine him bringing him in on the downside of his career.
PMC
May 18th, 2010
1:22 pm
Maybe we can get Art Monk or John Taylor?
PMC
May 18th, 2010
1:23 pm
Is it time to get Jerry Rice?
Perigrine Falcon
May 18th, 2010
1:24 pm
I just don’t see TO as a upgrade, even without the personality issues. He’s older then Jenkins, probably slower than Jenkins, and will drop some passes also. I don’t think the Falcons see this as a upgrade either.
jay
May 18th, 2010
1:25 pm
yes the falcons need t o so they can sell tix and help ryan develop even more and then atlanta will be excited
Ben
May 18th, 2010
1:25 pm
While his attitude has been a problem, he does still have skill. I think the front office will make the right decision because ultimately they want a winner year in and aer out, not a one season run team. TO might give a boost to thw WR corp, but at what cost. I do not mean his attitude, I mean the way he plays. If it matches up with what TD and Smith are attempting to do, ok get him. If not, keep moving without him.
I agreed his numbers suffered due to the QB in Buffalo. I also agree I do not want a negative presence in the lockerroom. I personally think TO wants a SB ring. Atlanta would give him a chance to get one if he did his job, and that job includes being professional and working hard. If he is in shape, his age is less of a factor.
If it were up to me, sign him to a 1 yr deal. If he can’t cut it in any fashion, cut him and eat the money. Then again, it’s not my money. Mr. Blank?
johnny5163
May 18th, 2010
1:27 pm
No. T. O.
Paddy
May 18th, 2010
1:29 pm
As I have been told by more than one sports executive; Signing someone else’s aging super star is usually the worst decision you will make as an employee of a pro team in your career. And one with the baggage of TO is a no-brainer. If he plays this year it will not be in Atl. TD has proven to be much smarter than that. The decision on this player for most teams is an easy one, NO THANKS TO.
Blue Fender
May 18th, 2010
1:31 pm
DOL, just let me know when I can poke the hornet’s nest again. Oh…
HELL NO!
BamaBoysEnt
May 18th, 2010
1:34 pm
Sign him or don’t sign him. Who cares. The Falcons are like all Atlanta sports teams…they bring in players past their prime who will give them only one good year and they don’t want to pay anybody. Forget T.O. There are other free agents out there. Work the heck out of the draft…you don’t have to pick in the order you are assigned…move up. We need top tier players, bottom line. Atlanta scores enough points to go deep in the playoffs. Build a solid defense.
ryan
May 18th, 2010
1:39 pm
I think this year Mike Smith is on the hot seat with no playoff wins yea the went to the playoffs in his first year But they have to do something on offence to make an impact. There defence is a lot better with spoon and Robinson. The Falcons need make some noise i mean look at the Jets.
mike g
May 18th, 2010
1:41 pm
maybe this wouldnt be a bad idea but Blank would have to control him to the point to where he is only helping the team. If he cant control him self then we do not need any more distractions.
Matt
May 18th, 2010
1:45 pm
Don’t even need to see your list of pros and cons. He’ll only be here 1 yr. As long as he’s catching TDs I don’t really care. As long as he’s willing to sign on the cheap side and realize coming in he’s the 2nd option at WR I don’t see why not. If he becomes a problem then release him. The guy produces. Would you not want Barry Bonds to come to Atl for those last couple of years he was playing?!?!?!?
We need playmakers, bottom line.
Super Bowl Champs
May 18th, 2010
1:48 pm
Brees has Shockly,Colston,Meacham,Henderson,Moore,Roby,Harper,Arrington,
oh and BUSH and he throws to them all on the same drive and they score TDs.
Ryan has White,Gonzo,Jenkins, oh and FINNERAN. If Ryan throws to them all on the same drive, Jenkins drops the ball and we punt.