Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens is no stranger to sports news or any news for that matter. If Owens was judged by his numbers alone, he would definitely be wearing a yellow jacket after his fifth year as a retired NFL star. Owens is third all-time in receiving yards behind Jerry Rice and Isaac Bruce (14,951), third all-time in touchdown receptions behind Rice and wide receiver Randy Moss of the New England Patriots (144), and has caught over a thousand passes (1,006).Unfortunately, Owens will always be known for his antics on the field, sideline, and of course, his driveway. The odds are stacked high against Owens being successful as a Bengal and it's not because of his play, but his personality. Other than Las Vegas, bets are on that Owens will cause some division among the team.
Respected betting sites, such as SBRForum.com, have articles with all types of bets going against Owens (for fun) -- from getting suspended by the league or team at some point of the 2010 season to crying in front of the media to getting into an altercation with fellow wide receiver and friend Chad Ochocinco.
"Yes, people can make mistakes," said Bengals president Mike Brown in a preseason luncheon, according to NFL.com. "It doesn't mean that they go on the rest of their lives making mistakes. They can get their ship pointed in the right direction. This is a 36-year-old man. He's been through a lot. He's proven as a player and as a person."
Against popular opinion, I believe Owens will not blow up the Bengals, but he will help propel the Bengals to excellence. Now, Owens will get fined a couple of times, along with Ochocinco, because of the touchdown celebration contests they will have, but his foundation will appreciate that.
Some NFL experts believe that Owens will be motivated to play well because of his incentive-laden contract. Owens will earn a base salary of $2 million, but to receive an extra $2 million, he must achieve all six bonuses. Each incentive will pay Owens $330,000 -- 60 catches (1) to 100 catches (2), 900 receiving yards (3) to 1,300 receiving yards (4) and 10 touchdown catches (5) to 14 touchdown catches (6). Owens will definitely achieve three out of the six incentives -- the lower numbers -- but it will benefit the team, as well.
With Ochocinco, wide receiver Antonio Bryant and rookie Jermaine Gresham lined up, along with running back Cedric Benson as a terror from out the backfield and a solid field general in quarterback Carson Palmer, the game will open up for Owens to do well and perhaps, even at the age of 36, Owens could experience the best year of his outstanding NFL career.
TV SoundOff: Sunday Talking Heads




