Guess who’s back in the NFL?
A simple headline on Seahawks.com sums it up: "T.O. brings his production, personality to Seahawks"
The former Eagle is headed to the home of grunge to try and reinvigorate a career that appeared over after Owens couldn’t even keep a job with an arena team.
The Seahawks, a team with a wide receiver depth chart that has guys like Deon Butler, Anthony McCoy and Golden Tate on it need a big target besides Sidney Rice and a veteran for quarterback Matt Flynn to target.
Owens is all of those things but the Seahawaks seem to think he could be even more despite being 38 years old.
The 6-foot-3, 224-pound Owens had a tryout for the coaches earlier in the day, and reportedly ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds. Considering that Owens is 38 and sat out last season after having knee surgery, that’s fast no matter whose thumb was manning the stopwatch.
Part of the Seahawks’ interest in Owens is the fact that they’re still looking for a bigger receiver to replace split end Mike Williams, the team’s leading receiver in 2010 who was released last month. Part of the intrigue is Owens’ past production, which includes 12 seasons with at least 60 receptions, nine seasons with at 1,000 receiving yards and eight seasons with double-digit touchdown catches.
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Unlike Donovan McNabb, Seahawks.com seemed to forget to mention all the quarterbacks Owens has also feuded with over that time.
Well they did sort of address it:
As productive as Owens has been, at times his off-field and even on-field behavior has overshadowed what he brings to an offense. He comes to the Seahawks with the understanding that his focus needs to be on football.
What? No mention of front yard sit-ups or popcorn?
Seattle didn’t reveal the terms to the deal with the former Eagles star receiver.
T.O. hasn't played in the NFL since the 2010 season with Cincinnati, when he caught 72 passes for 983 yards and nine touchdowns. Owens sat out the entire 2011 season following surgery on his left knee and failed to receive any offers.
Owens initially made his return this spring playing for the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League. He had 35 catches for 420 yards and 10 touchdowns while playing eight of 11 games, but was released and lost an ownership stake in the team in May.
Owens, a third-round draft choice by San Francisco in 1996, has started 201 of the 219 regular-season NFL games he has played in his career. He has 1,078 receptions for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns -- the second most in league history.
Owens could be on the practice field Tuesday morning when the Seahawks return from their off day. Get your popcorn ready.
