Former Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens is still hoping an NFL team could pick him off the free-agency market just in time for training camp, the veteran said during NFL Network morning show 'NFL AM' on Wednesday.
The 39-year-old Owens is still pushing hard to prolong his football career after he was cut by the Seattle Seahawks during last summer's training camp.
The six-time Pro Bowl wideout said he hasn't received an offer from an NFL team, but is still optimistic that he will eventually get a chance to play next season.
"Nothing as of right now," Owens said during the morning show chatter. "So I understand the process. Obviously teams are really taking a closer look in evaluating their younger players. Being a free agent, I understand that later in the months as training camp starts, they'll start looking for veterans."
Owens, who covered 15,935 yards on 1,078 receptions with 153 touchdowns over 15 seasons, believes his playing style fits with teams running a west coast offense such as Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs.
The veteran has great relationship with Vikings wideout coach George Stewart and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid - his former head coach during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles - and yet he still hasn't received a phone call from these teams.
Owens believes his bad reputation earlier in his career is making things tough for him to negotiate for a contract. Yet, he stressed that he's already a changed person and team should start looking on what he can bring to the team than making decisions based on his checkered past.
Although he thinks he's still very much capable of playing at a high level, T.O. didn't rule out the possibility of retirement if he ends up without a deal this upcoming season.
The Bottom Line - Painful Truth
There's no doubt T.O still has the ability to catch a football even from a sloppy passer, but how productive he will be this season is another question. Moreover, the brutal nature of the game is simply pushing Owens out of the business.
The wear-and-tear of 16 weeks of hellish football is too much for a 39-year old wideout to handle. Sure, he may not get another starting job or respectable playing time, but NFL teams right now would never pick an old man over an inexperienced youngster. It's a high risk, high reward sport. Sadly, Owens is not worth the risk at this point of his career. it might be time to say "Bye-bye, T.O."
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