Terrell Owens + Atlanta Falcons: Is it T.O. Time in the ATL?
Terrell Owens
ESPN reports that even Jerry Jones has had it with Terrell Owens’ one-man sideshow, resulting in the Cowboys releasing the star wide receiver after a tumultuous three seasons in Dallas.
While cutting T.O. rids Dallas of mega-locker room drama — after exiting his first team, San Francisco, he insinuated in a Playboy interview that then-49ers QB Jeff Garcia was homosexual; claimed Eagles QB Donovan McNabb was soft while in Philadelphia; and reportedly feuded with fellow Cowboys receiver Jason Witten — it comes with a hefty salary cap hit to the tune of $9 million. But Owens caught 235 passes for 3,587 yards and 38 touchdowns in 47 games with the Cowboys and led the NFL with 13 TDs receiving in 2006, his first season in Dallas. Over his 13-year career, he’s a five-time All-Pro and ranks second in career touchdowns, fifth in career yards receiving and sixth in career receptions.
Falcons starting WR Roddy White hauled in 88 receptions for 7 TDs and 1,382 yards during the 2008 season. In Dallas, Owens posted 69 receptions for 10 TDs and 1,052 yards in 2008. White is 27; Owens is 35.
We’re just asking: Would you like to see Terrell Owens in an Atlanta Falcons uniform when the 2009 season starts? Or is he just too much of a locker room distraction for a team forging its identity behind a new young QB, Matt Ryan, and a WR (White) whose stats have steadily improved over his playing days?
More Owens: Photos: T.O.’s controversial career • Video: T.O. gets heave-ho
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220 comments Add your comment
david
March 5th, 2009
11:41 am
the raiders will take him
Kenny from SC
March 5th, 2009
11:41 am
You folks are crazy. I remember people asking him to sign with the Falcons before he signed in Dallas. The bottom line is he is still a good receiver. Hell, even Moss got another chance in New England.
Sign him and we get to the Super Bowl this year.
Rock Conner
March 5th, 2009
11:41 am
Not no, but HELL no!
clmsntgrs
March 5th, 2009
11:47 am
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
jake
March 5th, 2009
11:48 am
Ridiculous question. The Falcons under Mike Smith (and Thomas Dimitroff) demonstrated the power of teamwork. Everyone was on the same page.
TO isn’t even in the same universe.
Kenny from SC
March 5th, 2009
11:50 am
And by the way with people talking about teams with character staying away from “cancers”, you would think that the Celtics giving Marbury a shot is an example of a team knowing what it’s doing. So I don’t want to read anymore crap about messing with team chemistry. Give #2 another option, period.
Give T.O. a one year deal, and let’s see what happens.
Dwayne Johnson
March 5th, 2009
11:52 am
no way
Mango
March 5th, 2009
11:53 am
HELL YEAH
TO can do what MV did to the team! Turn it to crap!
Mango
March 5th, 2009
11:54 am
You folk IS crazy!
Kenneth I. Farmer
March 5th, 2009
11:55 am
hell yeah
wood
March 5th, 2009
11:55 am
he should just get out football for ever, please falcons leave him where he is please. OUT OF THE GAME.
Randy
March 5th, 2009
11:59 am
You already know the answer Mr unnamed reporter. You’re just trying to stir the pot.
thumper341
March 5th, 2009
12:00 pm
Never! Don’t ruin the Falcons chemistry by bringing him in. Learn from Vick! One really good player doesn’t make a team.
LauryT
March 5th, 2009
12:01 pm
You have GOT to be joking?!! T.O. in Atlanta would be a disaster! We just got rid of one overpaid, worthless thug. Why the heck would we want another one?
David
March 5th, 2009
12:01 pm
T.O. need to hang up the gloves and move on to MTV where he belongs!!
Larry
March 5th, 2009
12:01 pm
Do you really think that the Falcons are that stupid to go and get T.O. and really mess up the Chemistry in their locker room.. Really a total stupid idea
Mrs. C.
March 5th, 2009
12:02 pm
Heck to the No. There is a serious promblem with someone who brings drama to every team he plays with. Such a waste of talent. I can’t understand why someone who gets paid mega bucks to catch a football can’t just catch the ball and shut up.
Dave
March 5th, 2009
12:02 pm
HELL NO ! ! ! ! !
li
March 5th, 2009
12:02 pm
NO
AJB102
March 5th, 2009
12:03 pm
There seems to be something of a pattern here!
dan
March 5th, 2009
12:03 pm
NOOOOO!!!
li
March 5th, 2009
12:07 pm
NOOOO
Stephen
March 5th, 2009
12:08 pm
uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
NO.
JCOPELAND
March 5th, 2009
12:11 pm
I say YES!!! then you can bring Vick back too!!!! that would be perfect
Chris
March 5th, 2009
12:14 pm
Roddy White went to the Pro Bowl and was one of the best receivers in the league last year. T.O. was not. We have a better receiver with far less controversy. Don’t see the upgrade.
FLATS
March 5th, 2009
12:15 pm
HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!THUG A LUG GO AWAY!!!!!!!
Todd Green
March 5th, 2009
12:16 pm
First: Why does anything have to be about Mike Vick. He never had any real Team incidents. You people are simply ungrateful.
Now to the question: Yes, bring T.O. in… If Mike Smith is the coach you think he is, if Matt Ryan is the QB you think he is AND if any of you fans want the team to win, you try and get this guy. T.O.’s issues are always with the QB position. jeff Garcia – punk; NcNabb, almost a punk… Romo and Jason Witten, punk times 7… This guy T.O. is, at any given time, the best WR on the fiend. He has played injured and produced. No one has ever looked at the QB’s in his past being inadaquate.
Inagine T.O. and Roddy lined up on opposit sides with Douglas or Finneran in teh slot AND Turner in the backfield. That will spead defenses thin and widen the field.
IF YOU AND THE TEAM WANT TO WIN, bring him in. Woudl any of you not want a michael Jordan type at his position???
Sluggo
March 5th, 2009
12:17 pm
NO!!! T.O. = DRAMA QUEEN.
Seed Dude
March 5th, 2009
12:21 pm
NO TO
If he becomes a Falcon – I’ll become A Saint
Written from a Lifelong Falcon Fan
Long time Falcon Fan
March 5th, 2009
12:22 pm
Not only NO, but HECK NO. Great player, but I am sure eveyone sees what type of “team” players the Falcons are now using to build this franchise. No longer will you see the T.O. types “ME ME ME” coming into Flowerly Branch. While the T.O. types make good highlight films, they dont win championships. The Falcons are now playing together and winning together as a TEAM. Dont screw up a good thing
Zina
March 5th, 2009
12:24 pm
HELL NO. Let him stay in Texas. They claim to be so big, he claims to be so big, let the BIG stay together. I know there are a lot of FALCONS fans that would agree. T.O. is just bad news and we FALCONS fans have gotten over a lot of bad news and we don’t want anymore.
Dee
March 5th, 2009
12:24 pm
T.O. + Falcons = 0
Don’t you AJC people ever learn? No, no, no.
Dimitroff said he wants younger players that he can mold. T.O. is old, set in his way and is a locker room cancer. Keep him as far away as possible from Matt Ryan.
audi
March 5th, 2009
12:29 pm
yes the falcons should sign owens he will brings fans and is a hard working player,the media makes a big deal out of nothing cause half of them cant do what he does.so go ahead and sign him,i will buy season tickets if he is sign. audi
Kendra
March 5th, 2009
12:30 pm
No way will the Falcon even consider going there. It would be too much like the Mike Vick circus all over again. TO has caused problems on every team he had been on. He would be too much of a locker room problem. The Falsons made way to much progress last season to go backwards. With a good draft and FA, they can probably make it further in the playoffs.
Casey
March 5th, 2009
12:31 pm
We actually have a decent corps of wideouts for a change! We need defense!
Charles
March 5th, 2009
12:32 pm
Not no but hell to the NO!!!!!!!!!!! Ignorant fool.
Loel
March 5th, 2009
12:33 pm
falcons, No action with free agents, lost five players from the so-called “good chemistry team”, have low first round and additional low picks; still need major talent, no longer can supprise teams. Now, give Owens one year contract and go with it…period.
Jack Franklin
March 5th, 2009
12:34 pm
NO
Sev
March 5th, 2009
12:34 pm
Yeah… don’t think so.
For all the idiots who think ATL should give him a one year deal… what fantasy world are you living in? Do you clowns TRULY believe an ego the size of Terrell Owens would even consider accepting a one year deal? And if for some bizarre reason he actually DID sign for one year, by mid-season he would be disgruntled and ticked off that he hadn’t been offered a multi-year extension yet.
As for the claims that if “Atlanta signs T.O., they go to the Super Bowl”… where the hayell does THAT come from? 13 seasons… one Super Bowl… and he missed the four games prior to that game due to injury… so it’s not like he led them thru the playoffs to the big game.
Highly overrated and too much of a jackleg for a young team like Atlanta to need to deal with.
dee
March 5th, 2009
12:36 pm
SEXY CAN I. YES YES YES TO can play ball anywhere he damn well pleases
FALCON FREDDY
March 5th, 2009
12:37 pm
WHO THOUGHT THIS STUPID QUESTION UP? THE AJC SHOULD FIRE YOU!
Denise B.
March 5th, 2009
12:38 pm
I would love to see him on the field…. I would be at more games to just watch him play!
Blake
March 5th, 2009
12:39 pm
hahahah NOT JUST NO But @#$$ no, he is a QB killer, if we want the Falcons to start moving in the wrong direction quick, yes bring him on, but he has some serious issues. The Falcons would be nutts to bring him in, no he is better suited for Oakland. He and AL are both co-co for coco puffs.
ESR
March 5th, 2009
12:40 pm
NO, NO and another NO. The Falcons are finally getting to a level of cohesive playing and forming a real team. Who needs this QB killing loudmouth, overrated egotistical mediocre on a good day player. Why do you think Dallas fired him? Because he was so good and a team player? Heck NO.
aaron kopper
March 5th, 2009
12:42 pm
NO WAY! a true athlete is more than just athletic skill – he also has to have presence. he has to be an example to his team, to the fans, to kids, etc.
haven’t the falcons learned from the vick mess??
athletes should be held to a high standard. TO is not what we need. we need someone who’s not arrogant (yes they exist).
Ruel
March 5th, 2009
12:43 pm
T.O. would work in the ATL. He lives there, and the is use to the environment. This would be a situation that would bring the Falcons to the next level. I know that some people might relate him to the Mike Vick situation, and drop a bomb on the idea. But T.O.has never had off the field issues.
Dave
March 5th, 2009
12:46 pm
T.O. is a disease to a team and not a cure. The Falcons are on the right track. We all saw that last year. Please do not bring him here. I would not even sign T.O. to the pracitice squad. He is that toxic. Has any team every won a Super Bowl with T.O. ???
robby faircloth
March 5th, 2009
12:46 pm
never, never!! T.O. better not be who the Falcons are becoming.
Kris In Loganville
March 5th, 2009
12:47 pm
Terrell lived in Lithonia for years-and the Earth didn’t shatter because of it. He may have some personality quirks, but he is experienced and focused when he gets on the grass. The Falcons could use a little real star power and TO might be the catalyst to really push the team to newer heights. Its an idea worthy of consideration at least.
Kendra
March 5th, 2009
12:48 pm
Ruel, no he hasn’t off the field issues in the sense of felonies. He has had off the field issues and behind the scenes issues in regards to the teams he has been on and some of the players on those teams. He causes locker room and chemistry problems. Philly and the Cowboys come to mind.