Well, this ought to be a doozy. Breaking news from several sources [and one in particular, as you will soon see]: Terrell Owens(notes) has agreed to terms with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals will pay Owens a guaranteed $2 million in 2010, with another possible $2 million in incentives.
Rumors had been running hard about this deal taking place ever since the St. Louis Rams bowed out of the bidding on Monday after showing interest in the 36-year-old receiver. The Bengals had signed Antonio Bryant(notes) to a four-year, $28 million contract in March of this year, but there has been ongoing concern about the veteran's surgically repaired knee. The team's pursuit of Owens would seem to indicate that there's more to that story than we may have heard.
While there are those who believe that Owens has little left to offer based on his sub-par stats with the Buffalo Bills last year, others who have studied the tape think that there may be a few good years left in Owens' body. He can still beat cornerbacks once in a while (though not with the regularity we once saw), and he's still tough after the catch. He caught just 55 passes for 829 yards and five touchdowns in 2009 — all among his lowest career totals for a full season; and the lowest DVOA and DYAR (Football Outsiders' advanced efficiency metrics) of his career — but that doesn't take into account the stat-killing nature of Buffalo's terrible quarterbacks and anemic offensive system.
In Cincinnati, Owens won't have to be the No. 1 receiver he isn't capable of being anymore, but he can be a great complementary presence in Cincy's balanced offense. And he will team with Chad Ochocinco(notes) to provide the first receiver rotation in NFL history with not one, but two reality shows on the air at the same time.
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