Owens takes baggage to Buffalo, signs one-year deal with Bills
Orchard Park, NY (Sports Network) - The Buffalo Bills have signed volatile wide receiver Terrell Owens to a one-year deal worth a reported $6.5 million.
The signing came after he was released by the Dallas Cowboys earlier this week.
"This may not be probably the most ideal place for a lot of people, but I beat to my own beat sometimes," said Owens. "I go to my own thinking, my own intuitions."
Owens spent the last three seasons with Dallas, and played in 16 games in 2008, making 69 catches for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns as the Cowboys missed out on the playoffs. Despite cracking the 1,000-yard mark, it was Owens' lowest output in catches and yardage in a Cowboys uniform, and in any full season since 1999.
Prior to the 2008 season, Owens signed a three-year, $27 million contract extension that ran through 2011. At the time of the signing, Owens said he was a "Cowboy for life", but his days in Dallas were in fact over and now it's time for a new start with the Bills under owner Ralph Wilson.
"I'm very excited to be here," said Owens. "I want to thank the Buffalo Bills organization, Mr. Ralph Wilson. I just got off the phone with him after talking to him briefly and this is an opportunity for me where the story will kind of write itself."
Last season, Owens reportedly clashed with teammates, particularly tight end Jason Witten, a player Owens supposedly felt quarterback Tony Romo favored. Owens was also reportedly at odds with Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. The controversy came on the heels of a list of others in which Owens has been a central figure, including a frosty relationship with former Eagles teammate Donovan McNabb, an accidental overdose of painkillers, and numerous animated touchdown celebrations.
The 35-year-old Owens is a veteran of 13 NFL seasons, having played for San Francisco (1996-2003), Philadelphia (2004-05) and Dallas.
He is coming off the ninth 1,000-yard receiving season in the last 11 years.
A six-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time All-Pro, Owens is tied with Andre Reed for sixth all-time in career receptions (951) and fifth in career receiving yards (14,122). His 139 career receiving touchdowns are second all- time, next only to Jerry Rice's 197.
The Bills had also hosted free agent receivers Laveranues Coles and Joey Galloway, but in the end chose to sign Owens, who is expected to immediately take the lead role in the receiving corps for the Bills and quarterback Trent Edwards.
"It's been a pretty interesting couple of days for myself," said Owens. "I know a lot of my teammates back there in Dallas I've had a lot of support from those guys. It's very unfortunate, but now I must move on. This is another new beginning for me."
Last season, Lee Evans led the team with 63 receptions for 1,017 yards with three touchdowns.
"I'm looking forward to this opportunity," said Owens. "I know I'll help the organization out. I'm looking forward to getting with Trent, Lee and the guys and putting some points on the board. That's what I've done everywhere I've been and it's going to continue so I'm looking forward to plenty of opportunities."