The folks in Western New York have embraced receiver Terrell Owens like Scott Norwood, if he had made that kick.
And the borderline bizarre adulation that the folks in Buffalo are heaping on Owens won’t come without a price.
Whether they realize it or not, Bills fans are validating all of Owens’ past petulance and passive-aggressiveness, empowering the player’s poisonous alter ego, and possibly creating an even more brash, arrogant, loud, and proud version of T.O.
We’re already seeing it. Expanding on his comments from earlier in the day regarding his belief that Commissioner Roger Goodell has treated quarterback Mike Vick unfairly, Owens bluntly tells ESPN that Goodell “needs to go sit in jail for 23 months.”
(Actually, Vick only sat in jail for 19 months. He was relegated to the modest trappings of a $750,000 home in Virginia for the final two months of his prison term.)
Look, Owens has the right to say whatever he wants to say. Our point for now is that, with the folks in Buffalo buying into what quickly is becoming a personality cult, this is only the beginning.
So if you thought Owens was bad when he was in San Fran or Philly or Dallas, put those three experiences together, multiply the aggregate by ten, and that’s what will unfold in his latest new home.
“So if you thought Owens was bad when he was in San Fran or Philly or Dallas, put those three experiences together, multiply the aggregate by ten, and that’s what eventually will happen in his latest new home.”
Overreact much? C’mon. T.O. will be on his best behavior, quit thinking worst case scenario just because his initials are T.O.
Mike Florio is the true definition of a “Player Hater”.
All you write about is T.O., Brett Favre, and Mike Vick.
Yet you seem to always be tearing them down.
If T.O. wants to pop off a the mouth, then so be it. And if you have to write about it, does it always have to be negative?
T.O. is trying to promote the T.O. show on VH1. He’ll say damn near anything right now to get some press to attract attention to his reality series.
It’s reporters like you who cause this Owen’s hysteria. He’s a good player and the people of Buffalo are excited. You already posted his comments on Vick, which weren’t that way off base if you ask me. This post has no new news contained in it. So why post it? TO says Vick served 23 months, but he actually served 19? WOW..And a Scott Norwood reference obviously the traffic has been slow on the site, with outrageous comparisons like that.
Yes we are……Nobody likes Buffalo anyway. We don’t care. Never have, never will. It’s our turn.
And the Bills reside in our division. How exciting!
TO Meltdown: Part 4…opens Sunday, Sept 13, 2009.
He’s playing in Buffalo, it isn’t a football town, it’s a hockey town. If he could shoot the power play from the point it would matter what he thinks, or says.
When you look in Webster’s New Collegiate under the word TURD is a picture of Terrell Owens. He may be the worst team football player with real talent that I have seen in my 40 years of watching the NFL. Hopefully it will be remembered when he starts lobbying to get into the HOF. Because he just does not belong.
Owens bluntly tells ESPN that Goodell “needs to go sit in jail for 23 months.”
He might just inadvertently blow Vick’s chance to become reinstated!
Florio, you worry too much.
Who cares it Buffalo its not like they can win a super bowl anyways. And who cares if TO is speaking his mind on something, ive always thought TO personality has been blown out of proportion. He honestly doesn’t have that much personality. Did you watch his show? My diarrhea has more charisma than him. No one would think he was such a diva if he wasn’t a hall of fame wideout, and he was just some bench player. Anyways who cares about TO he has a few good years left so let him have his fun. And I agree with him on Vick, Goodell is a retard that is ruining the league. I wouldn’t be suprised to see them playing touch after the lockout.
Bizarre adulation? Buffalo is one of the most rabid, football-crazed fanbases in the league. Of course we, the fans, were going to go nuts over this guy.
Even if he does blow up this year, it’s not like he’ll be destroying a franchise on the brink of greatness.
I think Buffalo is just mediocre enough for this to work.
Dear TO,
Please shut up. You toolbag.
Signed, the other 31 teams’ fans.
yea, we’re creating a monster…. who gives a f–k what he says or does, come opening day if he catches TD’s he’s alright in my book….
if we don’t make the playoff’s AGAIN and blows up the locker room AGAIN, he’s still ok in my book…..
we can’t lose with this signing…..
As a fan of the Jags, a team that might (I’m an optimist) battle Buffalo for a last wild card spot, I’m very glad to see the cancer named Owens in Buffalo…
Oh..wait.. hold on..
Yup..Got my popcorn ready!
IVE GOT MY POPCORN!
Florio, what you and the rest of the national media doesn’t understand, is that NO ONE in Buffalo cares. For once in the last 10 years this team is relevant. You have talked more about the Bills in the past 2 months than the past 6 years I’ve been following this site.
What’s TO going to do, yell at the coaches? I would say 75% of Bills fans would like that. The coaches stink. He’s bringing excitement. Fans finally believe the Bills will be relevant again. If they’re not, what’s the worst that will happen, we’ll have a losing season? Oh wait we’ve been 7-9 the past three seasons. Maybe a new QB? This will be what, QB number 25 since Jim Kelly??? Oh how about a new coaching staff? It’s not like that will matter because Ralph Wilson is cheap and will only hire cheap, dumb coaches. (Greggggg Williams, Mike Mularkey, etc. etc.)
Look, this probably will end bad here, but it doesn’t matter. TO is bringing excitement, good or bad. It can’t be much worse than the past 9 years of misery. He’s at least taking our minds off of the Bills moving
Bwa Ha Ha:
Buffalo a hockey town???? Are you an idiot?? Buffalo is by far a football town first you douchebag. I can’t believe you would even hint at that. Go listen to WGR with the rest of hockey fans you tool.
Holy F*ck!!!! An athlete has an opinion about something…oh what a monster!!!! oh the travesty!!!!
“Actually, Vick only sat in jail for 19 months.”
The point is the same and it’s not a bad point: a 4 or 6 game suspension is pointless and nothing but a weak concession to those who will protest his involvement (whenever it begins) for a week or two and then go away anyway. Either suspend him for an entire year or let him play now.
As for Buffalo fans, they were a 5-8 win team without TO and they’ll likely be a 5-8 win team with TO — at least it might be in some way worth watching with TO as he’ll likely make it more interesting both on and off the field.
A $750,000 home does sound quite modest for a star pro athlete actually.
I think I could make the argument that Dick Jauron has been bad for Buffalo …. TO just got here
What’s up with the Buffalo hate? Seriously. Every article I’ve ever seen you write about the Bills is negative. Did you come here and get your dumb self-righteous ass mugged or something?
Don’t you get it? As pathetic as it sounds, T.O. is the last glimpse of hope. For us, and for Ralph Wilson. So the hell what if we’re treating him like a king. What’s the worst that could happen? We miss the playoffs for a 10th straight season?
I know I, and hundreds of thousands of other Bills fans, have gotten our popcorn ready.
LEAVE THAT MAN ALONE.
i saw this story reported on espn. the reporter said Goodell would probly hand out some consequences to T.O. for saying Goodell “needs to go sit in jail for 23 months”.
T.O. might be suspended a game or 2 or three.
So your statement that “Owens has a right to say whatever he wants to say” may be a little off the mark in Roger’s world.
Florio…..good job, keep it up as there are plenty of us who do have the intellect to understand what it is that you are saying in regards, to Buffalo fans elevating someone like T.O. to almost god-like status. The one poster was also correct, Buffalo is a hockey town and fans know very little about football and even less about quality reputable athletes who are role models. It is obvious that none of these Bill’s fans are the one’s who didn’t want TO living near them…..so see there are a few intellects living in Buffalo. You are so right that TO will FEED off of this “love” and push the envelope further than he ever did in San Fran, Philly or Dallas…….get ready for an implosion of epic porportions…..pass the popcorn please!!!!
Bwa Ha Ha:
Buffalo is by far a football city. Yes – its probably the best hockey city next to Detroit but also the best football city next to Pittsburgh and Green Bay. Buffalo is a GREAT city to be in if you like sports – ESPECIALLY BILLS FOOTBALL. And I’m a Dallas fan.
Maybe Goodell will suspend TO, the ultimate failure. Failed in SF, failed in Philly, failed in Dallas, failed at taking his own life…. will fail in Buffalo,
Screw Vick, TO, Dungy and anyone that supports the piece of shit known as Vick.
the only reason Florio posts about the bills is because he knows Bills fans are the most rabid and will keep his traffic up on this website
bills play 2 games – 1 exhibtion and 1 reg seas in toronto this year – they’ll really appreciate his support of the dog killer there! too!
Bwa Ha Ha:
Buffalo is by far a football city. Yes – its probably the best hockey city next to Detroit but also the best football city next to Pittsburgh and Green Bay. Buffalo is a GREAT city to be in if you like sports – ESPECIALLY BILLS FOOTBALL. And I’m a Dallas fan.
the fans of the Dallas Cowboys do not support this message.
Since this somehow turned into a hockey discussion. Detroit isn’t even that good of a hockeytown. The best hockeytown in the USA is Minneapolis.
Stupid article.
she-ho a man? guess again.
You all need to stop being dumb ass bitches wow T.O. says something and then you stupid ass fuc%s make it out to be a big deal. How about you do this with all others then like favre,moss,romo,big ben the rap-est the list goes on. Just because someone says vick should be aloud to play wtf is this breaking news. I also think vick should be aloud to play be it on any team and he would be excellent return man he is not gonna play QB anymore. He served his time he should not have to sit out any games.
anorris
Well, if you guys are football fans, you really have a lot more in the way of problems with this guy. Enjoy the explosion, tool
and that monster would be… the bride of frankenstein.
Buffalo is the best football city next to Pittsburgh and Green Bay? I think I just threw up a little.
And even worse than that, Buffalo’s the best hockey city next to Detroit?
There are so many things wrong with both of those statements. I’m gonna ignore the football one because this is a football site so even the dimmest people that post here can point out the inaccuracy of that.
However, the hockey comment…first of all, Detroit isn’t “Hockeytown” anymore. Those days are long gone. Great hockey town for sure, but it’s not the best by any means. Truthfully, that honor rests squarely with Minneapolis-St. Paul. The Minnesota Wild have sold out every single game since they entered the NHL, yet have only made the playoffs 3 times. That’s dedication. That’s something that teams outside of Canada just don’t do.
Boston’s a great hockey city more because of college hockey than because of the Bruins. Philly’s not exactly a hockey town because it will always be a football town first, but Flyers fans are known to be some of the most die-hard fans in the league. Chicago, Pittsburgh, New York, and even San Jose would also be at the top. Buffalo has great fans, but it’s hard to call a team that spent several years ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance until very recently the second best hockey town in the country.
And I’m gonna end my rant there because chances are 99% of the people here really don’t care.
Some Dizzy guy said: “…the only reason Florio posts about the bills is because he knows Bills fans are the most rabid and will keep his traffic up on this website”
Bills fans are rabid? Seriously, all 3 of you? Buffalo is a dead market. I feel badly if you live there, but really, it’s Cowgirl fans who are rabid.
I travel the country and meet NFL fans everywhere, mostly of the Girls, Steelers, & the Pack. Never met a fan of the Bills outside of Buffalo. Sorry.
Signed,
A Pats fan who loves Niagara Falls
this is by far the dumbest item you have ever posted. the big nbc money must be going to your head. it ranks up there with dead terry bradshaw. i know it’s a slow time. why don’t you come up with one of those exciting josh cribbs items.
TO’s gonna blow a gasket this year because he has another Jeff Garcia in Trent Edwards-can you say noodle arm?
Sorry BUF another non winning season for you!
Big deal, Bills fans also made a big deal out of Drew Bledsoe and Rob Johnson. The last time they made the playoffs was ten years ago. At this point, Bills fans will hang their hats on anything, even a scumbag like Owens.
And you wonder why Dallas took a 9 mil acp hit to cut this clown.
maybe the bills should sign marvin harrison and shaun alexander if they really want to go “all in” cuz T.O. has about as much left in the tank as they do. Why why why does the carnage that T.O. caused in San Fran, Philly and Dallas not matter to these fools that insist on calling themselves football fans. T.O. didn’t bring a championship, much less a SB to those cities and they had a lot more talent, so why would a bill’s fan think it will be different for them???? Buffalo doesn’t deserve an NFL team when you have fans that are “rabid” in more ways than one. Move the team to Canada, Mexico, Iraq……..Bills and Packer fans are the most rabid fans for sure…….now will someone take them to the vet for their shots!!
I can’t wait until the Bills beat the Patriots on the opening MNF for everyone to see.
Hey Facts Domino, your successful at what??? Internet tough guy?
Florio’s hate list:
T.O.
ESPN
Favre
Vick
T.O.
ESPN
ESPN
T.O.
Emmitt
Favre
ESPN
Roethlisberger
T.O.
T.O.
ESPN
T.O.
ESPN
ESPN
No matter, the Bills will still finish 3rd in the division this year and like last year, TO will watch the playoffs from home.
I feel bad for the Bills and the city. Ever since “4 in a row” they have been my favorite NFL underdog. At this time most Bills fans seem to be blissfully unaware or in denial about what is going to happen. History just keeps repeating itself and people just keep saying it’s going to be different this time or there are no such places as San Fran, Philly and Dallas or that was the media doing pushups in the driveway and calling Terrell’s QB gay or whatever.
Must be taking cues on accurate reporting from MSNBC, they haven’t gotten anything correct in a while either Florio. TO said he thought a 4 game suspension would be too much after already serving prison time. You failed to mention that in your “commentary”. But that makes you the same as the local drunk that calls in to talk radio shows. Remember “real men of geniuses” out there, this is an OPININION sight and Mikey F. doesn’t have journalistis ethics on his agenda…
All you pathetic haters are really going to look stupid when T.O. shreds opposing D’s this year. All of the candyass QB’s that he supposedly destroyed also happened to have the best years of their careers while he was with them, without exception. None have had any measure of success after he left. Watch Romo ride the pine before seasons end.
Florio, your stupid rant about Buffalo’s “bizarre adulation” with T.O. just shows what an ignoramous you truly are. I suppose the Bill’s would get better production and behavior from T.O. if they treated him like you and the rest of the talentless hack media morons do. What a fool you are. You just don’t get it, do ‘ya?
Florio, what you apparently fail to realize is that TO feeds off any attention, not just adulation. Media attention, negative or positive, is the same thing as Bills fans en masse showing up to support their team and a future Hall of Famer. What you and many also ignore, is that the Bills training camp is always extremely well attended and its just because of Owens that people like you are now noticing. If anything, its sites like ESPN and PFT (yes, your obsession with Owens now puts you on the same level and focused infatuation with only certain headline players) that make Owens a “monster”.
I guess you retards don’t realize that Goodell’s hometown is about an hour from Buffalo. He’s admittedly a huge fan of the Bill’s. You’ll be disappointed if you’re waiting for him to come down on T.O. for talking smack about him and Vick.
I hope this post is a joke, Florio. This is a football site, not a gossip column.
To quote the old Raider saying: “Just Win Baby”. And if the Bills don’t, T.O. is just the right guy to shove this whole organization off the cliff and we can start over…..AGAIN!
How are you any different than owens? By using sensationalist articles to get traffic and attention, you’re fundamentally the same as this guy you’re condemning. Get off your high horse, go spend 19 months in a federal prison — since you seem to think that Vick had it so easy — and while you’re there, learn to write REAL articles about football.
Ummm… besides Florio “saying” the fans are creating a monster, where is ANY evidence in this article of any adulation? Any?
TO is pimping his new TV show. There seems to be no comprehension of this at all.
TO = boisterous. So, when he makes an outrageous comment, why the surprise?
The last line of your article is the worst line of them all. Times 10, just because you say so? Is times 10 even remotely possible? He’d have to do something more outrageous that ask for the ball or accuse his QB of favoring his TE to meet that requirement, right?
Florio, lately you are either getting lazy or just don’t care now that you got paid. You are reaching so deep to find vehicles to espouse your hateful views you don’t care what the premise. You even find the need to post the same old lines when one of your colleagues even mentions the words TO, Vick or Favre.
Seriously, move on to a new topic. Anything.
As a strict vegetarian and avid Bills fan that usually shies’s away from opinions regarding boisterous athletes, I feel compelled to speak out about Michael Vick and Terrell Owens spirited response. America’s legal system and cultural threads should determine the young mans fate and no where in the constitution does it relegate the “law” of the land to the whim of a commissioner. The President of the United States Humane Society has seen it fit to welcome Mr. Vick as a teammate against the abhorrence that is animal cruelty in our society, and my guess is most athletes agree with T.O.
Mr. Goodell, right this ship and cement a hopeful agreement that understands the risks but holds sacred the belief that each citizen deserves a sincere second chance. Free of any double jeopardy.
Some of you guys are right that the media tend to instigate assumption of any arrogant, self-centered player. This is T.O. were talking about. He doesn’t need the media to make himself noticeable. If the media kept away, T.O. will find a way to instigate any type of problem to draw attention to himself. He will play nice for a while, only if he’s getting the ball and Buffalo wins games. T.O. is a great talent and any team would want his services, but IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE LOCKER ROOM WITH HIM to hear his tirates about who didn’t me the ball, the shut it. There are 53 players on a team. T.O. is one 1/53. Some have more weigh than others (talent-wise), but a loud-mouth T.O. will destroy the chemistry of any team. In reality, no body wanted T.O.; he took the only offer. Why Buffalo? They are still a building team. Plus there is Pittsburg and New England as the top contenders. No SuperBowl for you, T.O!
While I do not wish it to the Bills’ fans, Buffalos’ management is going to get exactly what it deserves. Since it is well documented that T.O. was a headache when he was with S.F.,Philly, and Dallas why would he be any different now? Answer: He will be the same but with the bonus of having diminishing skills. While I don’t know the exact number he dropped more than his fair share of passes last season. There is a reason why he wears out his welcome everywhere he has been and unfortunately he will do the same in Buffalo. When will GMs around the league realize that while talented T.O. is not worth the grief?
“All of the candyass QB’s that he supposedly destroyed also happened to have the best years of their careers while he was with them, without exception. ”
Yeah, maybe in Fantasy football. But in the real world of the NFL, none of TO’s teams have ever won a championship, whether he was putting up good stats or destroying the team chemistry.
The man’s a solid talent, not great, and that’s because he lacks the intangible that is leadership and an understanding of team. He’ll never be great because of that lack.
What he does for Buffalo this year is draws the double teams away from Lee Evans. Evans is going to have a really nice year until TO gets sick of playing second fiddle. Will that be in October? November? Who knows?
Lame story. People are sick of hearing about T.O.-related garbage from the other 200 million articles written about him in the past 2 months; find a new schtick.
At any rate, best of luck to the Bills in 09-10. Although I’m from Pittsburgh and am not a Bills fan by background, I still like to see them do well…maybe it’s just respect for another rust-belt city.
Florio, one word: Jealous. You should go to jail for 23 months.
TO owns you.
Wow. Everybody is out of conbtrol.Quick – Florio, post another Brett Favre story and watch everybody just lose it!
This post seems absurdly out of place and biased. Save the editorializing for your SportingNews column, Florio.
Madbillsfan.
Your attempt at an insult missed just like Norwood. Wide right……
Buffalo didn’t CREATE the monster they are just FEEDING the monster so the headline should change. They know what they are getting and are happy letting TO be TO for now. If they win everybody is happy if they loose everybody was going to loose their jobs anyway. Don’t let the TO show distract you from the fact that their coach sucks and their QB is below average.
Buffalo is the Mayberry of the markets.
The bozo, Mayor Pike gives Owens a key to the city. Andy and Barney escort his dumb ass around town. Floyd offers a haircut with a buffalo shape. Howard offers free tax service. Goober offers a tune-up. Aint Bee and Opie organize next year’s T. O. football camp!
Otis shares some ‘shine. Thelma Lou makes herself available.
T.O. finds a cast and show that deserves him.
Roll on like that, Mr 81!
Bwa Ha Ha says:
July 26, 2009 6:25 PM
He’s playing in Buffalo, it isn’t a football town, it’s a hockey town. If he could shoot the power play from the point it would matter what he thinks, or says.
————————————————-
Buffalo not a football town? Tell that to the 60,000 fans who show up on sundays in december to tailgate at 9 am in 20 degree weather.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3560252679_c36651749f.jpg
after a decade with no playoffs, TO is welcome if he can help the Bills win…..he is a Bill now, and until he leaves or acts like a dick (see Mcgahee, Willis) he is one of our guys, and we love him. period.
Now he’s got his own cereal.
http://www.wkbw.com/sports/bills/51442692.html?video=YHI&t=a
Go ahead & poison that locker room too!!! GO FINS 2009!!!
c’mon florio give the buffalonions a break.
what else have they got to adulate? Bowling? chicken wings? snow?
They haven’t had a star player in buffalo in any sport since…well since never.
OJ Simpson was their only true star player, and he’s now wearing pinstripes instead of shoulder pads.
TO is a star. A broken petulant star, but nevertheless still a star, and it’s all bills fans have got, so let them roll with it.
Being from Buffalo and in the thick of the TO marketing campaign I have to chime in. Most Buffalo Sports fans with a head on their shoulders know what could potentially happen with TO, we also know that even if he drops 50% of the balls thrown his way he has the ability to draw double coverage and loosen up the line… and so on. Being a life long Bills fan optimistic thoughts become fleeting with one 5-8 season after another. The front office knows that the locker-room at One Bills Drive and sub-zero chemistry by 12 week of the 2008 season. I call it the TO marketing campaign because as of today thats all it’s been. All the Bills really have to lose is 6.5 million and if we go 5-8 again that 6.5 million could be viewed as a marketing campaign that the Bills got on the cheap. This is one of the most important seasons of TO’s career, he’ll be 36 when he hits the market. He needs to put up big numbers not for the Bills but for his 2010 contract that will probably not be with Buffalo.
fernandochachas says:
July 26, 2009 8:26 PM
I can’t wait until the Bills beat the Patriots on the opening MNF for everyone to see.
——————————————
In what year? 2031?
The ‘REAL 81′ will outshine T.O. come Sept 14, 2009.
You may have some good moments this year, but your season will start 0-1.
Buffalo is better than Dallas.
2brauneyz,
Considering the lack of jobs in WNY and the despora of WNYers to all 4 corners of the country because of it…I find it funny that because you’ve never met a Bills fan outside of Buffalo.
And Dallas fans are only fans when their teams are winning.
All I can say to Florio….
If we are creating a monster, I say, “Feed Me Seymour!”
Buffalo is a football town….people only think it is a good hockey town b/c everyone was excited when the sabres had 2 good seasons…..before that no one cared about hockey……nor will they again soon when the team sucks again this year……TO gives Buffalo fans what they need……hope…..it doesnt matter what he says or how he acts….he represents our hope for this season
so i guess write your articles…..it is your job to write on relevant topics…..i suppose buffalo fans are happy to have something relevant happen to us once again