Free agent wide receiver Terrell Owens had dinner with the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff last night and will take a tour of the rest of the facilities Wednesday. He is the second free agent wide receiver to visit the Bengals this week after Antonio Bryant met with them Tuesday.
Cincinnati is in need of help of another big-name wide receiver to play alongside Chad Ochocinco next season. Both players seem to be capable of making a significant impact in the passing game next season; it’s just a matter of which player the Bengals will decide to pursue more.
Both players have proven to be an effective deep threat throughout their careers. However, Bryant is seven years younger than the 36-year-old Owens, which could make an impact on Cincinnati’s decision if it comes down to choosing between the two.
Bryant just turned 29 on Tuesday and could have the chance to be part of the Bengals’ passing game for years to come. Owens will be entering his 15th season next year and most likely has just two or three years left before having to call it a career. From a long-term perspective, it makes more sense for the Bengals to take a risk on Bryant instead Owens—assuming they won’t be able to sign both players.
That is unless they decide to take the same approach of the Minnesota Vikings with Brett Favre.
Before last season, the missing piece of the puzzle for the Vikings’ success was their lack of a franchise quarterback. Since 2007, they contained one of the top running backs in Adrian Peterson, but were in need of a quarterback to establish the franchise around for the long run. As much potential as Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson may have displayed at times, they clearly weren’t fit for franchise role Minnesota was looking for in a quarterback.
When the Vikings signed Favre last season, they knew he wouldn’t be around for the long run. They were willing to pay $12 million in 2009 simply because he seemed to give Minnesota the best shot at reaching the Super Bowl that season.
Despite their loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship, the argument can be made the Vikings would have never been as successful last season without Favre as their quarterback. They knew he would play just one, maybe two seasons at most, but it was the fact that Minnesota was willing to delay their plans for a franchise quarterback in exchange for a better chance at a Super Bowl that makes the Bengals’ situation with Owens intriguing.
The Bengals already proved last season how dangerous they can be in the ground game and on defense. If Owens signs, there would be an immediate improvement in a passing game that finished 26th last season—which Cincinnati needs help in if they’re going to repeat as AFC North champions next season.
From a long-term perspective, it’s no debate Bryant would be the better candidate for the Bengals to sign as a wide receiver to play alongside Ochocinco next season.
Still, it’s tempting for a team in desperate need of a wide receiver like Cincinnati to take the Favre approach by signing Owens for the short-term run—especially if he turns out to be the missing piece to help the Bengals reach the Super Bowl next season.
For more coverage on the Bengals 2010 offseason, click here.
Comments
Finally someone wrote an article mentioning the Vikings success with Favre and the what would happen without him.
I think everyone is stupid for thinking the Vikings would have made it to the playoffs without Favre. 4 games come into my mind: BAL, GB, GB, SF. Those 4 games were all won by Favre. Everyone handed AP the running crown way too early. Look at the Steelers, they won the SB and didn't even make it to the playoffs the following season. What does that tell you?
It is difficult to win in this league. The Vikings knew this and that's why they got Favre. Without Favre, IMO, the Vikings would have been a 7-9 at best. Sidney Rice would not have developed and AP would continue fumbling the ball away.
The league and the Vikings are better with Favre in it.
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