Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, Marvin Harrison, Barry Sanders and Terrell Owens. Which one of these is not like the other?  I know what you are thinking. “Barry Sanders, obviously.”  Well, you are wrong (you are technically correct, but that is not the direction I’m taking this).  Owens is the answer I am looking for. All the players mentioned are considered to be top 10 all-time at their position, and all but one have undoubtedly helped their respective organizations.  Only Owens has the reputation of locker room cancer. Only Owens has the history of controversial comments, actions and self-inflicted scrutiny.  He is outspoken, selfish and arrogant.  Oh, and one more tag to place on “T.O.”  Overrated.

Are you still with me?  Let’s take a moment to go over the stats.  His career best 100 receptions in 2002 is good for the 51st best single season reception total.  What about Receiving yards in a season?  Owens must be near the top.  Nope.  The year 2000 proved to be his best yardage year with 1,451.  That total places him at 37, safely behind superstars David Boston, Brett Perriman and Rob Moore.  Hardly the career bests you would expect out of a self-proclaimed future hall of famer.  There is, however, one stat that T.O. has been known for.  Drops.  Owens has made a career out of crying for the ball, but he has consistently finished in the top of the league in targets per year.  Obviously, the more a player is targeted, the more opportunities he has to drop the ball.  With that said, Owens is the only player to be at the top of both categories year after year.  Sure, “2″ makes plays, but how much worth does a player have when he is deactivated because of “conduct detrimental to the team”?

A star was born when he made the catch part 2 in the 1998 playoffs. Terrell had all the makings to be a force, all the physical tools without the brain. He has marketed himself exceptionally well, if he doesn’t mind what kind of reputation he has created.  He has turned every fan base against him, while trying to make money and a name.  The trade, arbitration, un-trade then re-trade .  He went from great to goat in Philly, while seemingly throwing everyone in the organization under the bus.  “2″ would have blamed Vince Papale for the Super Bowl loss given the chance.  The next year, after just 7 games, he was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, then showed his abs off for the world to see.  What a spectacle. T.O. shouting LOOK AT ME!

In 2007 Owens joined the Cowboys, in what seemed to be a perfect fit.  It wasn’t the start the Cowboys or Owens had hoped for. Owens was injured early in the season, and the details of what followed are a bit sketchy. Police and emergency response teams were called to the home of Owens, after his publicist found him lying unconscious  Owens has denied all reports of attempted suicide, and a few months later fired his publicist.  Things started to look up for The Boys when 81 returned, but the season ended with no championship, not even a playoff win.  He was the first to say “give me the ball more; we would win if I had the ball more“…LOOK AT ME!  “Witten and Romo are roomates, it’s so unfair”…LOOK AT ME!  The man never put any loss on his shoulders.  “If I had beaten the press today”, or, “if I hadn’t  dropped the ball, we might have won.”…JUST LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME!  He has been fined and suspended for his celebrations.  Penalized for his antics, costing his team. Don’t worry about the team…LOOK AT ME!

That brings us to today.  Still no ring.  Still hating his QB.  Still calling out his teammates.  Rumors out of Dallas are he might be gone before the start of next season.  The trade for Roy makes it a feasible outcome.  Dallas gave up a ton for Williams, but getting rid of Owens makes sense if the team wants to move on without distractions.  Terrell’s big play ability is still there, in stints.  He struggles to get off the line and beat the press with any consistency, and he’s not getting any younger.  While I don’t envision Owens going Pacman in the near future, I do see him in a new uni come summertime.  It might just be too late for T.O. to not only salvage his reputation with the fans, but other organizations as well.  Maybe it will be the Cowboys looking for a trade partner.  Maybe 2′s buddy Drew Rosenhaus looking for the newest sucker G.M. to bite on the bait.  Who will be LOOKING AT T.O. now?  Hopefully…NO ONE!