Updated Aug 7, 2012 - 12:20 pm
Plenty to like about the Seahawks signing Terrell Owens
T.O. is a G-O.
Thanks in large part to a sub-4.5 40-yard dash and a positive physical exam on his reconstructed knee, Terrell Owens will be a Seahawk, and I really like the deal for five reasons:
1. First and foremost, Owens signed a one-year deal for the league minimum. Therefore, all the leverage is clearly in the team's corner. If T.O. displays any of the dysfunctional behavior that has been a part of his past, he will be sent packing. I understand "trust" and Pete Carroll have not always been synonymous along the way, but Carroll's guillotine on malcontents in Seattle speaks for itself.
 Terrell Owens has never been afraid to go over the middle, something the Seahawks likely will not ask Sidney Rice to do much of. (AP) |
Jay Buhner said it perfectly a few weeks back when describing the selfish competitiveness a professional athlete must have: "You have got to be greedy, greedy for success." The best I played with -- Marvin Harrison, Peyton Manning, Corey Dillon -- they wanted their yards, wanted their touchdowns, wanted their touches. And as long as that individual hunger falls under the team umbrella, success often follows.
3. This is Owens' last shot. As sad and shallow as it may be, football is his refuge and realistically the only option he has to make a significant income after blowing through tens of millions of dollars (see also the "Dr. Phil" episode in early May). The man who is second only to Jerry Rice in career receiving yards is desperate, broke and motivated, while at the same time in impeccable physical condition. Rice and Franco Harris weren't running 4.4 40s when their careers ended in Seattle.
4. Owens is one big dude. A wideout with a huge catching radius like Owens is quarterback's best friend. Unlike Antonio Bryant, Mike Williams, Plaxico Burress, and even Braylon Edwards, Owens has also been incredibly productive when given the opportunity in his most recent years. A torn ACL sidelined him in 2011, but with three different teams from 2008-2010 he averaged 65 receptions and over 950 yards. Remember that Doug Baldwin led this team with 51 catches and 788 yards last season.
5. Lastly, Carroll was very clear after Sunday's scrimmage that the Seahawks would be doing plenty of evaluating of their personnel. The signing of Owens clearly shows this receiving group needs help. Ricardo Lockette has a tight hamstring and tighter hands. Kris Durham has lacked separation and suddenness and got banged up once again in Sunday's scrimmage. Sidney Rice will see very little contact on his surgically repaired shoulders all preseason. Baldwin has a tweaked hamstring. Golden Tate is not a legitimate outside receiver down-in and down-out.
The Seahawks need a boost, need an edge, need a threat at receiver, and taking a flier on Owens may be the best medicine for a group that is hamstringing this offense today.
Related: John Schneider: Signing Owens a 'no-brainer' after workout
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fairmontdave wrote...Pete Carroll is insaneAugust 7, 2012 12:18 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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seahawks_155 wrote...Other then Rice, Baldwin and TateAugust 7, 2012 4:39 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Younghawks79 wrote...Gotta have faithAugust 7, 2012 8:50 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Newton wrote...Maybe Pete Figured something out ?.August 7, 2012 5:20 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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hawhetton wrote...Why not?August 7, 2012 5:58 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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hpygolkyone wrote...My Two Cents...........August 7, 2012 6:01 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Chawks425 wrote...I agree!August 7, 2012 7:14 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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snot wrote...TO = GO HawksAugust 7, 2012 8:04 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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gb1118 wrote...F.O.August 7, 2012 8:11 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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flipper wrote...TOAugust 7, 2012 8:44 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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HPD 5-0 wrote...The guy is a physical beast, no doubt.August 7, 2012 9:12 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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dori monson fan wrote...surprised no one is mentioningAugust 7, 2012 9:45 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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San Diego Seatowner wrote...Pete should remove the T and O from his twitter deviceAugust 7, 2012 10:31 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Derrol_o wrote...SD SeatownerAugust 7, 2012 8:51 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Danny O'Neil is the son of a logger, a graduate of the University of Washington and has been a working journalist in Seattle since 1999, first at newspapers and since 2012 at 710 ESPN Seattle. He is married to Sharon Pian Chan, associate opinions editor at The Seattle Times. They live on Capitol Hill with their wrinkled, smelly dog.
