Source: Bills want to meet with Owens

Sal Capaccio
www.SalSports.com

A source close to the Buffalo Bills has informed me that the team is in the process of trying to secure a meeting with free agent wide receiver Terrell Owens. 

When, or even if, that meeting will take place is not known, but Owens' agent Drew Rosenhaus wrote in a text message to several media outlets Friday that he plans on having his client signed "by the end of the week if not sooner."  Rosenhaus also wrote "there are several teams that are interested in signing Terrell.  I have been in negotiations with these teams. I will not identify these teams at this time."

The 35-year old controversial wide receiver was released Thursday by the Dallas Cowboys. 

Terrell Owens

The fact that the Bills would actually consider signing Owens is interesting enough.  They are an organization that traditionally does not spend their money on big-name, high-priced free agents.  But here's where the story gets really intriguing. 

According to my source, it was Buffalo Bills head coach Dick Jauron who initiated the interest in Owens and relayed that interest to the Bills front office.  Jauron is known to be a low-key coach who values team chemistry on and off the field.  Considering Owens' relationships with his previous employers, it would seem neither the Bills nor playing for Dick Jauron would be a good fit for the flamboyant wideout.

However, the Bills have a glaring need for another solid wide receiver opposite Lee Evans.  Even before the free agency period officially began, the team hosted former Patriots WR and special-teamer Kelley Washington.  Washington was not under contract at the time and free to visit other teams before free agency began.  They recently brought WR Joey Galloway, who was released by Tampa, in for a visit.  Earlier in the week, the team was rumored to be close to signing WR Laveranues Coles.  Coles, who was released by the New York Jets, has since signed a four-year contract with Cincinnati.

Throughout his thirteen year NFL career, Owens has accumulated 951 receptions for 14,122 yards and 139 touchdowns.

My Comments on the situation

**For Dick Jauron to actually want to sign a player like Owens is a telling statement that he is feeling the heat to win immediately.  Jauron has had three straight 7-9 seasons as head coach of the Bills.  The organization hasn't made the playoffs since 1999.  The team went 0-6 against its AFC East rivals last season, and those teams are all making moves to strengthen themselves.  Jauron was rumored to be on the hot-seat when last season ended, but was spared by owner Ralph Wilson.  One has to wonder if Wilson issued Jauron a "playoffs-or-else" ultimatum for 2009 and if Jauron is now trying so hard to save his job that he is willing to make moves completely out of his character.

Dick Jauron

**It's not clear exactly what his market-value is right now considering his past, but Owens' last contract in Dallas was for 3 years, $25 million, including a $5 million signing bonus and a $5 million first-year salary.  T.J. Houshmandzadeh was the top wide receiver available during this year's free agent market.  He signed a 5-year, $40 million deal with Seattle.  Owens is four years older than Houshmandzadeh.  Also, considering all the teams who continue to state they are not interested in Owens (and that list grows every day), he may have to settle for far less than what he wants or sign a heavily incentive-laden deal with his new team.  The Bills have plenty of room under the salary cap if they really want to make a run at Owens.

**Obviously, the two biggest issues for any team that comes with bringing in Terrell Owens are how divisive a force he can be in a locker room and his effect on his team's quarterbacks.  He's had very public battles with Jeff Garcia in San Francisco and Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia.  Most recently, he caused a rift in the Cowboys offense, specifically involving QB Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten.  What would Owens do to the psyche of a young Trent Edwards?  How would Edwards react the first time Owens makes public comments regarding his use in the offense?  Or Edwards' personal life?  The Bills absolutely have to weigh all those factors before deciding to make T.O. an offer.

**Aside from all of T.O.'s antics off the field, what about his skills and production on the field?  He has dropped a lot of passes over the past few years, isn't nearly as fast as in years past, and is much easier to handle physically than he once was.  Owens still has better skills than most wide receivers in the National Football League, but those skills are diminishing more and more, year-after-year.  Are those skills still good enough to help the Bills get to where they want to go?  At the expense of the potential headaches that could come along with him?

**Considering the names the Bills have already brought in at WR, this new Terrell Owens news, and the fact that they already signed a center (Geoff Hangartner) and a cornerback (Drayton Florence) in free agency, I'm much more inclined to believe the Bills are leaning towards drafting a pass-rusher with their first pick in April's draft, as opposed to a tight end.  Both are areas of need.  But they haven't made a play for a free agent pass-rusher, and they continue to try and fill the pass-catcher void with a veteran through free agency.  My guess is they would rather draft a solid pass-rushing defensive end in round one, then wait until round two or even three to draft a tight end they feel can contribute as a pass-catcher.

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