| 09 March 2009
Hilarious. Dumbfouning. Insane. Risky.
This weekend's signing is still fresh in my mind and I'm confused as to how it will play out. People in the sports news biz have been commenting that this gusty signing can lead the Bills into the playoffs for the first time in 100 years. I beg to differ, but do agree that the signing will increase exposure, ticket sales, and merchandise for the beleaguered franchise, but at what cost?
The Bills haven't been that far off in the past three years. The problem is that they folded down the stretch last year, when the weather turned on them. Then the offensive line couldn't block anyone, then the defense laid down against their foes. So instead of working on the interior offensive and defensive lines, the Bills opted to take a chance on a guy who will touch the ball 5-7 times a game, create problems in the locker room and effectively split a team in two possibly by week 7. He will sit out training camp (even though he is described as a physical specimen), he will bitch about Buffalo and the surrounding area, Willis McGahee anyone? And he will most likely aliennate his coaching staff and the young quarterback who has trouble getting the ball to recievers when the weather turns.On the positive side, he will change the way teams defense the Bills, it will attract more cover two defense, because the Bills do have two capable wide outs now. Also, throw in James Hardy as a big posession guy and maybe you have an attractive corps. This will also open holes for Marshawn Lynch, provided he can escape his recent gun troubles.
But again, the Bills were 7-9 and not that far away from contending. The risk is, not that you end up firing Dick Jaron at season's end. The risk is that you alienate fans, have a locker room divided and have to blow up your team at the end of the season. Owens blew up the Eagles and it took them two years before they were legit again. The difference is, their leader that stayed was Donovan McNabb, is Trent Edwards Donovan McNabb? No, but he did go to Stanford so I'm sure he could read a book on the subject.
Lastly, the contract was too much. A small market team giving $6.5 million to a guy who has a diva problem who drops a third of the passes he catches? How much will the Bills need to get in ticket sales and merchandise before they even hit their break even point financially? I presume it's in the neighborhood of $2-3 million in tickets and merchandise. Also, why not sign him to a two or three year deal instead of one season. Is the best case scenario that Owens plays well, then gets a decent sized final contract from another team? Why didn't the Bills negotiate for a longer deal that was more incentive laden?
To answer Thrillho's final question, "can you give a team with cancer supercancer?" My answer is a definative "yes." Considering this team is nearing the playoffs anyway and flirting with a move to Canada. A blow up in conjunction with a change in ownership could lead some fans to point to this exact moment as a primary factor in the Bills moving out of town.
Until then, get cha hot sauce ready.
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Comments (1)
Subscribe to this comment's feedTO in Buffalo
I hate TO, I just don't think the Bills have too much to lose. It's a total desperation move. Exposure has been a neglected necessity for a while now, and I guess they feel it's time to roll the dice. I don't think you are going to alienate fans. We survived the Flutie/Johnson years, and the Bledsoe years. We have survived Wide Right, No Goal, Music City Miracle, and OJ Simpson. Buffalo fans are loyal, probably to a fault. That's not a concern of mine.
I do agree that they need to address other issues, but if you've watched Bills games, you can see how one dimensional it came become very fast. This will hopefully open up their offense. I just don't see as big a downside as you do. I think if/when it collapses, we will just be back to square one. Right now we get no exposure, and we suck.... At least they took care of the exposure part.
Also, if we are going to compare with the Eagles and Cowboys, they both had great seasons in Owens first year. Who knows....
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