Terrell Owens Signs With Seahawks

 

 T.O is back in the NFL, this time with the Seattle Seahawks. Terrell Owens signed a one year deal with the Seahawks on Monday after a workout.

Owens

    

    The 38-year old WR is 2nd all time in receiving yards to Jerry Rice, 6th all time in receptions, and also the only player in history to score a touchdown vs all 32 NFL teams. 

    But he did not play last year, after a knee surgery, and has had a long road back along with embarrassment. Owens hosted an open workout earlier this year with an invitation to all teams. Not one team showed up. But he is now a member of the Seahawks, and the future Hall of Famer's sixth team will be Seattle.

     Owens started his career in San Francisco, and he played there for seven years. He spent two years with the Eagles, including a trip to the Super Bowl. Dallas was his next home, then Buffalo and Cincinnati for the next two years. 

     But what overshadows Owens so much is the controversy that comes with him. He doesn't get in trouble with the law, but numerous times has been in the news for infamous things. With the 49ers, Owens had many touchdown dances, including one vs his new team, Seattle, where he pulled a sharpie out of his sock and signed the ball after a touchdown.

     His time in Philadelphia brought the most controversy. In 2004 he stated on a radio show that if he could do the 2004 season over, he would have not signed with the Eagles. He referred to the Eagles as a classless organization, and trashed his quarterback Donovan McNabb, saying if Brett Favre was the starting quarterback, this team would be undefeated. In 2004 he appeared in a sexually suggestive skit for Desperate Housewives before a MNF game. In 2006, he tried to kill himself with pain killers, though he denies this. In a game vs the Falcons, he spit on DeAngelo Hall's face. While with the Cowboys, he cried during an interview in which he responded to the criticism on quarterback Tony Romo. Though he also would publicly trash Romo for not throwing him the ball.

    The list goes on and on. But all Owens did bring is media attention to your team, as well as a very good receiver. At this point in his career, it is unclear just how well he will do in Seattle. He will bring the media attention, and could possibly bring a decent WR. But, the team already has a very young receiving corps. 

    The oldest receiver is recently signed Braylon Edwards, who is 29. Sidney Rice (25), Ben Obamanu (28), Ricardo Lockette (26), Golden Tate (24), Kris Durham (24), Deon Butler (26), and UFA sophomore star Doug Baldwin (23) are the returning receivers. The team also added receiving TE Kellen Winslow Jr in a trade with Tampa Bay this off-season. This team appears to be adding as many weapons as possible for presumed starter Matt Flynn. 

     But could adding two veteran receivers who have not performed at an elite level in recent years a good move? Probably not. Braylon Edwards was the third pick by the Browns in 2005. He has been nothing but a bust. Only one season, in 2007, did Edwards post numbers a top 3 WR should put up (80 rec, 1,289 yds, 16 tds). But he was shipped to the Jets in 2009 and didn't do much better there. He played in 9 games for the 49ers last year before being waived mid season. Not to mention he has not been an angel off the field either.

     When Owens last played for Cincinnati in 2010, he had a very good season with 72 receptions for 983 yards and 9 touchdowns. But it has been a whole year.

     Overall, one veteran receiver is okay to add right now for Seattle. Rice has had more then enough injuries, and this unit is still young. Obamanu has been reliable, Lockette showed good signs last season, and if Baldwin can avoid a sophomore slump he will be big. Tate could be poised for a breakout year, Butler will try to get back to his old self before a tragic knee injury in 2010, and Durham should see more time this year. 

     The addition of a veteran who will demand playing time could stunt the growth of these receivers. And some of them really need a year to get back on track (IE: Tate, Butler). In my opinion, either Owens or Edwards needs to be cut after the pre-season, because all you are doing is log jamming this position and I don't see it ending well. Either one is okay, but not both.

     I think Owens will end up sticking around, and I believe he will be less of a distraction this year and make this team. And I think he is the better option over Edwards. 

     Seattle's receiver chart should look like this:

1. Sidney Rice
2. Terrell Owens/Braylon Edwards
3. Doug Baldwin
4. Ben Obamanu
5. Deon Butler
6. Golden Tate/Lockette/Durham

     And that just shows how hard this is bringing in Owens and/or Edwards. All those players have a case to be #2. And letting them grow on the field seems like a better idea then letting them sit behind Owens.

    This could end a number of ways for Seattle, but the chance it ends badly isn't a small percentage. The risk may outweigh the reward. This is Terrell Owens, after all.

    

Donavan McNabb Waived By Vikings

    Donovon McNabb was waived by the Minnesota Vikings Thursday. The 13-year veteran will look to sign somewhere for his third team in the last two seasons.

    McNabb was brought into Minnesota to start while rookie Christian Ponder was groomed. But due to very bad play, McNabb was benched in week 6, and Ponder took over. McNabb then asked to be waived, and had his wish granted today.

"This was the best decision for both parties," said Vikings coach Leslie Frazier."He was a great player and has been a great player for our league for a long, long time. Have a lot of affection and love for Donovan."

   Donovon McNabb was a Pro Bowl QB in Philadelphia since being drafted 2nd overall out of Syracuse in 1999. He led the Eagles to a Super Bowl in 2004, but lost to New England. After the Super Bowl year, injuries have derailed his career, and led him to where he is today.

McNabb while with the Eagles

    After 2009, the Eagles gave the reigns to Kevin Kolb (who lost them later that year to Michael Vick) and McNabb was traded to the Washington Redskins for a second round pick and a conditional 3rd or 4th round one as well. But it was one of the worst seasons in McNabb's career and he was demoted to third string which caused public criticism of coach Mike Shanahan.

    He was traded to Minnesota for a 6th round pick before this season, and once again it did not work out and he was benched. Then waived, and we are where we are today.


 
The Cowboys, Bears, and Texans are all said to be possible landing spots for McNabb.   

    This appears to be the end of McNabb's career. It will be best for him to retire at season end in my opinion, and make his case for a Hall Of Fame berth. His numbers and career record deserve an entry I think, but the case against him also has its points. But if my vote counted, I would vote McNabb in on his first ballet attempt.

Carson Palmer On Move as NFL Trade Deadline Passes

    Mike Brown the owner of the Cincinnati Bengals finally caved in. After saying repeatedly that Carson Palmer will not be traded, other teams still sent offers for the two time Pro Bowl quarterback. Oakland was one of these teams, and when Jason Campbell went down with a season-ending injury last Sunday, the Raiders had a new urgency to grab Palmer, and a deal went through.

Carson Palmer

    The Raiders (4-2) have sent a first round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and a second round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, that could turn into another first round pick if the team wins a playoff game in 2011. In return Carson Palmer will be suiting up in the Silver and Black and be Oakland's newest starting quarterback.

    The only other quarterbacks on Oakland's roster are Kyle Boller and Terrelle Pryor. Boller has not started a game sense he was with Baltimore back in 2007. He has had some starter experience, but not nearly enough for the Raiders to trust him at the reigns. Pryor is a rookie from Ohio State who was suspended the first 5 games and was only reinstated Monday. He is a long term project that may not even play quarterback in the future.

    The free agent pool is also quite empty as the best option is David Garrard, but Garrard now needs surgery and will not be able to play for anyone during the 2011 season.

    So the Raiders offered a 1st and 2nd rounder for Palmer, and Mike Brown, the owner of the Bengals, accepted. The Raiders play Kansas City this weekend, and after that have a bye. Week 9 the team plays Denver at home, and Palmer is expected to make his debut in that game. Kyle Boller will most likely start the game this Sunday. Palmer has been working with trainer and former NFL QB Ken O'Brian and apparently is in "top shape."

    Is this a good move? Yes it is. But maybe not for the price. While I do believe that this move helps the Raiders, and puts them in a better situation then they even were with Campbell, I think they gave up way to much. A first and second round pick that may possibly become another first rounder is just to much for Palmer. The Raiders need to improve all across the board, and giving up two picks that could be used on players that would be the future of the team just for Palmer will be a bad move in my books.

Will Palmer be worth the price?

    Unless Palmer gets them playoff wins for years to come, I don't see this being what the Raiders expect. Oakland does not have a solid offensive line and has worse receivers then Cincinnati had. The Raiders have just given up to much here for a player who will not give them what they are hoping for. While Palmer will play well, he will not be worth the picks they gave up.

    After this move, the Raiders only have picks in round 5 and 6 of this years draft. The first rounder traded for Palmer, the second rounder to New England for other picks that led to Joe Barksdale and Taiwan Jones. The third round pick was used on Pryor in the supplemental draft, and the fourth was used to trade for Jason Campbell. The seventh round pick was used to acquire linebacker Aaron Curry, a former first round pick, from Seattle. However the Raiders will most likely gain some compensation picks in late rounds after heavy losses in free agency.

    This is the kind of move you would expect Al Davis to make, giving up to much for a player not worth the price. Davis is now deceased, but apparently Raiders have not changed.

    Oakland was right to make the move for Palmer, but should not have given up as much as they did.

   Oakland was not the only team making moves this week, as the Eagles and Lions made a deal to swap running backs. Detroit will receive Ronnie Brown from the Eagles for Jerome Harrison and a 2013 7th round pick.

Jerome Harrison

    Detroit needed a back who can run the inside and be a goal line rusher, after the rookie they drafted, Mikel Leshoure was placed on IR in the pre-season. Jerome Harrison does not fit that role, and will head back to the Eagles where he was traded to last year from Cleveland. He will be the backup to LeSean McCoy and could see more playing time then he did last season.

    Detroit gets Ronnie Brown who is an inside rusher and is a great pick up for the Lions. They have a more powerful back and can fill in for Jahvid Best any time, and will be a good replacement for Leshoure for the rest of the season.

    Overall a fair trade for both teams here. Both improve their running back depth.

Eagles Sign Star CB Nnamdi Asomugha

Nnamdi Asomugha

    Star cornerback and the most sought-after free agent Nnamdi Asomugha had many teams, it appeared, in the sweepstakes for his services, and on Friday, the Eagles won by giving Asomugha a 5 year, $60 million deal, with $25 million guaranteed. This, coming the day after the team traded back up QB Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals for a second round pick, and young but promising corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

    Asomugha is a shut down corner who spent his first eight seasons in Oakland. He was drafted in round one out of Cal by Oakland in 2003. He is a four time pro-bowler, with 11 career interceptions. That number may seem low, but it is because he is such a great defender that teams rarely throw the ball his way. He eliminates whichever receiver he is up against in the passing game. Asomugha is regarded as maybe the best corner in the NFL. He also was the top corner on USA Today's all decade team of 2000-2010.

    It looked like at first that Asomugha was headed to New York to play for the Jets. Along with arguably the other best corner, Darrelle Revis, they could have made the best pass defense in NFL history together. But apparently he declined the Jets offer, as well as offers from the 49ers, Bucs, and Texans. Now the Jets must look to re-sign Antonio Cromartie, who may be upset that the team ignored him for Asomugha, and may look to re-sign elsewhere. That leaves former first round pick Kyle Wilson, who is coming off a bad rookie season to start along side Revis.

    But in the end, Asomugha signed with a team many people did not know was pursing him, the Philadelphia Eagles, who now pair him up with Rogers-Cromartie and Asante Samuel. That may not be as good as it could have been in New York, but this still makes it the best CB group in the NFL, and has people talking that the Eagles may be the NFC favorite.

Rogers-Cromartie

    The Eagles allowed 31 passing touchdowns last year, a franchise worst. But with these additions of Rogers-Cromartie and especially Asomugha, that number should be much lower after this year.

   Philadelphia also added underrated DE Jason Babin. And as a replacement for Kolb, QB Vince Young.

   Bottom line, the Eagles are in it to win now. And they are sure in the makes of it with these big signings to really strengthen their defense. The offense will be fine once DeShaun Jackson ends his holdout, and once he is back this team looks ready to win the NFC East. I wouldn't say these moves make them the NFC favorite, but it really helps. Michael Vick will need to have a season like last, and the defense must play better. If all that happens, the Eagles are not a team to take lightly at all.

Michael Vick Leads Eagles to Huge Victory Over Redskins

    The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Washington Redskins Monday night by a huge score off 59-28, marking the most points scored by a single team ever on Monday Night Football. This was almost all because of the phenomenal play of #7 for Philly, Michael Vick.

     

    Perhaps having the best game of his career, he passed for 333 yards and four touchdowns. They were caught by receivers DeShaun Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, and running back LeShaun McCoy. Newly acquired running back Jerome Harrison added a rushing touchdown, but Vick ran for 2. 

     

    In all, Michael Vick scored 6 total touchdowns, passed for 333 yards, completed 71% of passes. He ran for 80 yards as well.

     

    Vick really had a great game in front of a national audience. He reminded us that his legs still work, his arm still strong, and that even though people hate him and he was in jail for dog fighting charges, he can play. I think people need to forgive him, and realize he has changed.

      

    Vick is back and here to stay for more years to come, and Philly has a true quarter back for a few more seasons.