The Buffalo Bills decided to roll the dice on Terrell Owens and sign him to a $6.5 million, one-year deal on Saturday.

By Bryan Mongeau-Eastmond staff writer

NEW YORK (RushPRnews) 3/09/09- You weren’t alone if you were surprised by the Buffalo Bills’ decision to acquire Terrell Owens after he was gracefully shown the door in Dallas.

“Wow! was my first reaction,” Lee Evans said when he first heard the news. “I know we were looking at some different receivers out there. When he was cut by the Cowboys, I didn’t know if we were going to make the move for him or not. We did and it worked out. I’m very excited for everybody.”

No question that Ralph Wilson Stadium will be selling a little more popcorn now that T.O. will be around. “We got one of the premier playmakers in a playmakers league,” Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon said.

But subconsciously you can’t help but wonder when exactly all hell will break loose. Because it will. It’s only a question of time.

Although the six-time Pro Bowler only needed two days to find a new home and make his move from America’s team to North America’s team, Buffalo is playing it safe by signing the NFL’s most unappreciated superstar to a one-year-deal worth $6.5 million.

This will be his fourth and latest stop on the sign me and get rid of me tour bus. Since Cowboy’s owner Jerry Jones released the 35-year-old receiver along with his oversized ego last week, teams have been reluctant to show interest and with reason.

Before you sign the dotted line, a big red flag should appear next to Owens’ name. Let’s face it. It didn’t work in San Francisco. It didn’t work in Philadelphia. It didn’t work in Dallas. Three strikes and he was out (of a job).

As for now, Owens expressed his interest for playing with his new team. “I’m looking forward to getting together with Trent, Lee and the guys and putting some points on the board,” Owens said. “That’s what I’ve done everywhere I’ve been, and it’s going to continue.”

Owens’ offensive production speaks volumes and will open the passing game with safe passes and the occasional bomb. He’s coming off the ninth 1,000-yard receiving season in the last 11 years.

The Bills were in need of a receiver to take the pressure from Lee Evans. With two solid wide outs, this will open the door for the play action pass and make quarterback Trent Edwards’ life a lot easier.

But hiring Owens is a direct antithesis to making Edward’s life a lot easier. The Bills will look to run the ball with Marshawn Lynch. The Bills will have game plans and packages designed to get the ball in the hands of other receivers. This might not sit well with the league’s drama king.

Football is a team sport. No one is supposed to be greater or above the team. It says so right here in my coaching for dummies handbook.

Someone needed to stop T.O. and give him a reality check. Someone needed to draw the line and put this self-centered athlete on time out. Someone needed to step up and show Owens that his performance on the field is only half the battle. The other half helps measure just how valuable you are to the franchise that signs you. T.O. met all expectations in Dallas, yet he was still released. Call it tough love.

But did Buffalo give T.O. enough time to reflect and realize the errors of his ways?

That he can’t always be the focal point on every offensive series? Did he have a sufficient amount of time to comprehend the notion of teamwork? The chatter and these questions are back.

But then Buffalo came to the rescue which begs the question will T.O. return the favor and salvage some of the respect that the Bills enjoyed in the early 1990’s?

The Bills might be looking for a quick fix and a playoff berth by signing a big name player for one year as did the New York Jets. We all know how that ended.

Photo courtesy of the National Football Leugue

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