The TO No-Show

Unlike the revolution, TO’s workout was televised but no NFL scouts showed up. So why did zero teams show up to Terrell Owen’s workout? The same reason 40 year old women don’t participate a debutante ball. There’s just nothing new to see. Like seventeen year old debutantes parading at the ball for society to see and be in awe, workouts are usually for younger athletes coming out of college to show their talents, skills and speed, not for men one month away from 38 to show they’ve still got some gas in their tanks. It’s an opportunity and a stage for draft hopefuls to perform at a top level for perspective NFL suitors. So when a guy who has been in the league for more than 14 years and played with five teams holds a workout, what’s new to see?  His body of work speaks loudly.

A free-agent receiver, Owens remains unsigned after tearing his ACL and having surgery in April. He did some drills, caught passes, didn’t run a 40 in a televised workout, produced by his agent Drew Rosenhaus, viewed on ESPN and NFL Network and unattended by NFL teams. The question is not whether Terrell Owens can still play. The question is: can you play with him? Unfortunately for Owens, even a great workout can’t undo a bad locker room reputation. A workout video may remind folks how fast you run, but folks will never forget how much you ran your mouth. 

Whether a team takes a chance on Owens this season or next, it’s time for him to realize his football career is heading for the exit. After being drafted in 1996 in the third round out of University of Tennessee Chattanooga by the 49ers, Owens has put up impressive numbers in the NFL and is a strong contender someday for the NFL Hall of Fame, but his personality has always been his own Achilles heel, more so than a torn and repaired ACL. As all great athletes know, there comes a time when you have to leave the game behind.

For Owens, the glory days are gone, replaced now with the get real years. Whether he’s hungry for a comeback because he needs the money, the attention or just misses the game, clearly it’s time for Owens to hang up his cleats and get ready for next season’s Dancing with the Stars.  Hopefully, he’ll be a much better dance partner than he’s been a teammate.