...without the Montana.
So...I was right about one thing from my last article, so far: Terrell Owens went to one of the teams that I said he would go to...the Buffalo Bills. (This time next year, my other prophecy will have come true as the Cowboys reflect a sub 8-8 record.)
But how will Owens fit in with the Buffalo Bills?
Naturally, with a wide receiver of his caliber, the team will improve. Lee Evans has been a solid presence catching the ball over the past couple of years, but has been unable to be truly effective partly because of the lack of other talented receivers or tight ends to help distract defensive backs.
I mean come on...Roscoe Parrish? An "okay" receiver by league standards, but an opposing defense could post any 3rd rate defensive back against him and then double team Lee Evans.
Add Terrell Owens into the mix and the Buffalo Sauce at receiver just got a little spicier. It will be very interesting to see how these two players compliment each other. TO is leaps and bounds more talented and larger in size than Evans, so he immediately becomes the # 1 target for the Bills.
The double team will now have to spend time trying to shut down Owens, leaving Evans free to make some big plays down field. It could make for a very exciting offense. If Evans is making big enough plays often enough, then opposing defenses will have to counter by loosening the coverage on Owens and all hell could break loose for them then.
Strong #1 and #2 WR combos like this in the past have proven very effective. It's not since Andre Reed and James Lofton have the Bills had two strong receivers and I would definitely put the talent level of these two over the Reed/Lofton/Beebe combo that so dreadfully ruined the Houston Oilers for eternity.
Quarterback aside, I expect the Owens/Evans (and sometimes Parrish) combo to be in the caliber of the Jerry Rice and John Taylor effectiveness...just without a Joe Montana or a Quarterback who's even close to the talent of Joe.
That may be the only real drawback to this whole deal for Owens. He's never had such a strong # 2 to help keep the double teams away, but by the same token, he's never been on a team with Quarterbacks of the level of mediocracy that Trent Edwards and JP Losman are at (If Losman doesn't get signed somewhere else.) In all honesty, these guys are bad. A guy who is used to being thrown to from Steve Young, Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia and Tony Romo, Owens is truly up for a challenge with his new leader.
Owens became overtly disgruntled in the past with Pro-Bowl and MVP contending tossers, imagine the press conference after Game 7 when Edwards has thrown 8 interceptions and only 6 Touchdowns. He may bust out in tears for a different reason.
Things could work out. Perhaps, Edwards will come out flinging and surprise a few folks. It could happen. Anything can happen. After all, the Cardinals did make it to the Superbowl last year, so you never know.
It will be fun to see and Houston Texans fans will get to see it first hand this year when the Texans take on the Bills in one of their away games. Expect Mario to come up with 2.5 sacks, Fred Bennett and Demeco Ryans to have picks...and a Texans victory.
You heard it here first!
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