TO a Bill? Didn’t See That One Coming
March 9, 2009 – 9:26 am by Jimmy Shapiro
I’d be lying if I thought TO going to Buffalo was a possibility. I thought TO would want a bigger platform. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk was dialed into all the teams that weren’t interested in Terrell Owens’ services, but I guess the Bills’ silence spoke volumes.
The Bills wisely signed TO to only a one year deal. TO in the past has been on his best behavior during his first season with a new team and played with a monster chip on his shoulder in his first season with the Eagles and the Cowboys. Plus besides the brief run with Doug Flutie and his Flutie Flakes, the Bills have been irrelevant on the national landscape for close to 15 years. Trust me, with TO on your team and ESPN’s ongoing love affair with him, that won’t be an issue anymore.
Trying to analyze TO would be harder than Dr. Melfi trying to analyze Tony Soprano. It almost seems like he’s not happy unless there’s controversy. After his heroic performance playing injured in the Super Bowl for the Eagles, he won over many of his detractors in the media and was on a path to become the most popular athlete in Philadelphia sports history. We know how that ended up.
How much TO can help them is up for much debate. He only had two games last season with over 100 yards receiving, he’s now 35, and corners had much more success bumping TO at the line then in the past. The Bills have been consistently average the last three years finishing at 7-9 each season. However, last year’s season was a step backwards as they started out the season 4-0 and just imploded from there going 3-9 including 0-6 in the AFC East. One person who should benefit and get less double coverage is Lee Evans.
Lee Evans joined Jeremy White on WGR in Buffalo on Sunday to discuss the TO signing.
“I was surprised. I was shocked. It’s definitely a good feeling that they went out and got him. I didn’t know if they were going to try to make a move for him or not. It was surprising, but definitely a good surprise. I’m really, really just anxious to get to working with him.”
On if he’ll see less double teams this year:
“No doubt. No doubt about it. I think that’s one of the logics behind making this move was to have guys with opportunities to make plays. Definitely with him on the other side, it opens it up for both of us.”
TO does come in with a big-time reputation of being a problem:
“Well, he does, but talking to other people around the league and people who played with him, they don’t really say those same type of things. He’s a playmaker so he wants to do what he can to help us win football games. I think that’s the bottom line, if things are progressing right and we’re winning then that has to be the bottom line for everybody. I think the bottom line is winning, and with him coming here he has that in mind and you know we should be able to make it work.”
Bills legend Thurman Thomas joined The Howard Simon Show on WGR on Monday morning to give his thoughts on the TO signing.
“It brings excitement. Yes, I know he can be a headache sometimes, but you know what you got him for one year, take your Tylenol, take your Advil. That’s all you got for a headache for a year. I think it’s a great move and it’s a move that this franchise hasn’t done, really, wow I can’t even remember the last time a player made this big of a splash.”
Listen to Lee Evans on WGR in Buffalo
Listen to Thurman Thomas on WGR in Buffalo
Tags: AFC East, Buffalo Bills, football interviews, Lee Evans, Ralph Wilson, sports radio interviews, Terrell Owens, Thurman Thomas, TO
