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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Should the New York Jets Sign Terrell Owens? Fan's View - Yahoo! Sports

The New York Jets are noted for making bizarre business decisions that have little to do with winning football games.

Need proof? Take a look at their decision to be featured on HBO's reality show, "Hard Knocks," in 2010, or their trade this offseason for Tim Tebow.

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson desperately wants his team to make a splash and beat the New York Giants as the "talk of the town," which means he does whatever it takes to land the Jets on the covers of the sports pages in the Big Apple.

On the heels of Terrell Owens getting booted from the Dallas-based Indoor Football League Allen Wranglers for contract violations, now would be the perfect time for Johnson to add to the Jets' offseason circus.

Owens showed flashes of brilliance in his IFL career, catching 35 passes for 420 yards with 10 touchdowns. He avoided injury and looked sharp in his short run with the team.

Perhaps the Jets can catch a little lightning in a bottle by signing the 38-year-old to a modest contract for a reasonable amount of money that wouldn't be too costly to the team.

Owens is a six-time Pro Bowl selection, five-time All Pro and part of the NFL's 2000s All-Decade team. He's just five seasons removed from his last Pro Bowl appearance, so I'm guessing he has some gas left in the tank. He is a legend who competed on the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, and he maintains one of the most chiseled physiques in the game.

After a full season away from the NFL, you'd have to think Owens will be more motivated than ever to prove he can still perform at a high level. He's also definitely still in game shape.

The New York Jets lost Plaxico Burress, and rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill may not be ready to jump into the limelight as the go-to target behind Santonio Holmes.

Enter Owens, a proven playoff-savvy veteran who shines when the lights are brightest.

He would be the darling of the New York media, sure to consistently provide entertaining quotes that would fill the back pages of the local newspapers.

With Tim Tebow and Rex Ryan already donning the green-and-white, adding Owens to the mix wouldn't be any more of a distraction to the already wacky mix.

In fact, it would take some of the pressure off the rest of the players who have been constantly asked Tebow-related questions throughout the offseason.

The New York Jets could at least sign him and let him compete for a spot, and let him go if it doesn't work out.

Besides giving the team a boost in the wide receiver department, it would also be great public relations for the Jets, as it would show they are willing to give a second chance to an athlete who is obviously struggling in his life.

The New York Jets can give this sad chapter of Terrell Owens' football career a happy ending.

Should the New York Jets sign Terrell Owens? Let me know in the comments.

Eric Holden is a lifelong New York Jets fan. Follow him on Twitter @ericholden.

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