It's been a rough year for one Terrell Eldorado Owens. After catching 72 passes for 983 yards and nine touchdowns for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010 — his third NFL team in three seasons -- the possible future Hall of Famer was persona non grata in NFL personnel offices. Less the victim of any blackballing and more the recipient of a bill from Father Time, Owens showed in an October workout attended by no NFL teams that six months after knee surgery, he possessed very little of the burst needed to play his position at the highest level.
Owens had received an offer from the Chicago Rush of the Indoor Football League soon after that workout, but no acceptance was forthcoming. Perhaps it was the relatively low stake given to players in the IFL -- $225 per game, plus bonuses for winning.
However, another IFL team has upped the ante considerably, and it appears that Owens and agent Drew Rosenhaus might just take the bait. According to the Associated Press, the Allen Wranglers have offered Owens a package more in his ballpark — part ownership in the franchise and up to $500,000 for participation in the 2012 season, which starts in February. Team general manager and former Dallas Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson made the offer, which is apparently within league rules.
"It doesn't make a ton of financial sense, but it would make it the No. 1 fan experience in Collin County," team owner Jon Frankel told the Dallas Morning News. "The awareness of the team would skyrocket, and I would imagine we'd sell out every game."
Collin County, Texas includes a small part of the city of Dallas, which would also keep T.O. on Jerry Jones' radar should be blow the IFL up with his play. Of course, Owens played with Jones' Cowboys from 2006 through 2008.
"At first everybody thought it was a big joke, but it wasn't a big joke. It's serious," Wranglers coach Pat Pimmel told the DMN of the Wranglers' interest in Owens. "It's real close. I think it will be within the next week or so. He would have never got his agent involved in it if he wasn't thinking about it. He can still play, you know that."
So, would the goal be to get back in the NFL? Possibly. There's another possible reason for Owens' potential interest, and it's the obvious one — money. According to the Courthouse News Service, Owens recently sued the law firm of Greenberg Traurig over some bad investment advice.
NFL receiver Terrell Owens claims his Greenberg Traurig attorney encouraged him to invest $2 million in an Alabama entertainment center that included a gaming hall with electronic bingo, which is an illegal gambling operation in Alabama, and a violation of NFL policy. And, he claims, the attorney gave others, with interests adverse to his, control of his $2 million.
Owens is seeking damages for professional negligence and breach of fiduciary duty, plus an accounting of his investment. He'll no doubt find easier (and quicker) money in the IFL.
Next » Giants receivers don’t have a ton of respect for Darrelle Revis
Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Doug Farrar. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.
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