COMMENTARY
Terrell Owens and T.O. both arrive
The all-world receiver and A-list celebrity carries the heavy load of two personae
Published: July 25, 2009, 11:37 pm
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PITTSFORD — Terrell Owens emerged from a green Range Rover at about 8:25 a.m. Saturday and, adhering to his custom in recent years, made sure 15 minutes later he was the last player on the field for the first day of training camp. Let's face it, he wouldn't be T.O. without making a grand entrance for his beloved cameras and adoring fans.
We've had four months to digest the fact that he's playing for the Buffalo Bills this season, but it's still strange mentioning them in the same sentence. They are unlikely partners who answered the other's cry for attention, Paris Hilton visits Camp Pittsford, rolled into a No. 81 jersey and somehow landing at St. John Fisher College.
The reality of it all seemed so ... so surreal.
If we learned anything on the first day, it's that the all-world receiver and A-list celebrity carries the heavy load of two personae. Terrell Owens is the guy with 951 career catches, 139 touchdowns and 14,122 yards receiving. He's the tireless worker who approached his first practice with his new team in blue-collar fashion, making it clear his arrival was no joke. That much cannot be discounted.
T.O. is a sideshow.
He arrived Saturday wearing shiny new cleats that appeared as if the bottoms had been submerged in chrome, allowing the morning sunshine to glisten off his feet and add sparkle to his pass routes. He brought a twinkle that for years was missing from this team, a self-indulged glitter usually frowned upon in our town.
Owens caught all but one pass thrown his way on the first day, including a long bomb for a touchdown in the afternoon session. All told, it was a solid performance all the way around. He signed autographs. He flashed his megawatt smile. He cracked a few jokes and said all the right things. He came through for fans looking to be entertained.
"I'm used to it," he said. "Everywhere that I've been, it's always been that type of reception. I can remember when I was in Philly that we had a big crowd. It was a little bigger than this, but every time I touched or dropped the ball, there was an eruption one way or the other. It's just the T.O. following, I guess."
I guess so.
The Bills had more national media standing along the sidelines for the first day of practice than any time in recent memory, certainly since Doug Flutie and his act. Bills coach Dick Jauron sounded like he welcomed the attention. By golly, he almost said a few things that inspired confidence. Not quite but almost.
It's easy to get swept up in the euphoria surrounding T.O. and the freshness that comes with a new season. Every team is optimistic at this time of year. They haven't made mistakes or wasted timeouts or lost games. The Bills are no different in that regard, but they sounded more upbeat than usual with their superstar in place.
Trent Edwards said he expected to be playing deep into January. Lee Evans suggested having another weapon like Owens in the passing game was bound to help the entire offense, especially in the red zone. Owens liked what he saw in his new teammates and was convinced the Bills could win.
"The sky is the limit," he said.
It all sounded uplifting, but you had to wonder Saturday if the shiny new shoes, like the arrival of the sculpted receiver wearing them, have blinded people of the obvious. T.O.'s arrival disguises a flawed team riddled with questions about its offensive line, its coach, its quarterback and, yes, its diamond-studded diva.
Perhaps all the what-ifs will snap into place, and the Bills will regain entry to the national landscape rather than fall off the map. Or maybe Owens is an ideal fit for an offense that has been desperate for two good receivers since Eric Moulds was sent packing a few years ago. Maybe he'll help open up the running game.
You never know, but let's hold off on the Super Bowl parade. There's a greater chance the Bills will be much the same with a little more flair. Not everybody is buying into the eternal hope that comes with Terrell Owens or the circus that comes with T.O. He's one player, one piece. He could solve a problem or two but to suggest he's the solution would be grossly inaccurate.
Presumably, people around here know better. Buffalo isn't San Francisco, Philadelphia or Dallas, but it's not a city of bumpkins, either. Bills fans have been conditioned over the years to approach every season with caution no matter who lands on their doorstep wearing a big smile and skin-tight Spandex.
The Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999 and have had three straight 7-9 seasons. If that doesn't matter, this does:
Buffalo has a revamped offensive line that is expected to include two rookies, left guard Andy Levitre and right guard Eric Wood, in the starting lineup. Right tackle Langston Walker switched to left tackle. Brad Butler moves to right tackle. Newcomer Geoff Hangartner, who started only eight games last year, is the center.
Jauron still hasn't shown he can coach on Sundays, and Edwards still hasn't proven to be a reliable starter at quarterback. The Bills will start the season without running back Marshawn Lynch, who was suspended for the first three games. Owens should help, but does adding him amount to winning the division?
The Bills' defense was ranked 14th last season but was shaky after a 5-1 start and doesn't look much better. The Bills had problems stopping the run in the second half of the year and did little to address the issue. Linebacker Keith Ellison remains in the starting lineup a year after they attempted to replace him. Paul Posluszny has plenty to prove at middle linebacker. Aaron Schobel must bounce back from his injury and earn his money.
And, yes, Owens needs to perform. He'll learn soon enough that fans don't care about his reality show. They're not worried about his Twitter or where he lives or what he does in his spare time. Simply, they're not concerned with T.O. The only thing that matters is Terrell Owens catching the ball on Sundays.
That's the reality. Now, kick back and enjoy the show.
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