New England Patriots: Owens To The Pats Could Have It’s Benefits

Aug 11, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; NFL: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Terrell Owens (10) observes pregame warmups against the Tennessee Titans at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

It was recently reported that quarterback Tom Brady was seen working out with receiver Terrell Owens. When I first heard this I was agreeing with most Pats fans out there, in that I whole heartily did not want Owens to come to New England. However I was listening to ESPN’s early morning debate show ‘First Take’ and co-host of the show  Stephen A. Smith said one word that really made me think. Desperation. Desperation is a very powerful thing, and when he said that Owens is desperate to get back into the NFL it made me think that Owens could possibly bring some positive things to the Patriots. When a player is desperate to get back onto a team or back into the league in Owens case, I think he plays at a much higher level than if he were playing on a 4 year guaranteed deal. If he knows he is secure at that spot, then maybe he won’t be as dedicated and won’t play as hard as he should be. As it is, Terrell Owens is a very hard worker on the football field and if you combine that with desperation, then I think Owens could once again be a force in the NFL.

Now obviously Owens is one of the best receivers of all time, and even at this age he is a physical freak of nature. That is not the issue when it comes to Terrell Owens. It has always been about his off the field issues and his whole personality. But if there is one organization out there that has the capability of handling a player like Owens it would be the Patriots. We have seen it multiple times with Corey Dillon, Randy Moss, and even Aqib Talib. The Pats have such a strong locker room that I think they could handle Owens. If Owens steps out of line the Pats will have no problem with letting him go. The beautiful thing about giving Owens a shot is it will not bring any risks for New England. If he is not behaving off the field then the Pats can just cut bait and send him on his way. We saw it with Albert Haynesworth as the Patriots cut him halfway through the season. This would sort of “force” Owens to behave off of the football field because there may not be another team out there that is willing to give him a shot. If he has off the field issues with the Patriots then he will be shipped out very quickly and then he may once again be out of a job.

Now the other reason the Pats should maybe take a shot at Owens is because the Patriots need a receiver like Owens. As of right now the Pats have Donald Jones and Danny Amendola starting at the receiver position. Even at age 39 I would take Owens over Jones. Owens can bring that vertical presence to New England and he is one of the best route runners to ever play the game of football. If Owens is still in shape (which I really think he is) then I believe that he will be able to produce for the Patriots and take some of the pressure off of the inside passing game. Obviously Owens hands are always an issue as that is the one ‘football’ thing that has plagued him in his career. He does not have the most reliable hands in the world and that always can create problems. But I think if you combine his pure receiver talent with his obvious knowledge of the game of football, then he can be a good football player for the Patriots in 2013.