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Buyer Beware

	Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

For me, the frenetic free-agency period has been nothing but a prelude to the only important signing of the offseason: Terrell Owens.

So far, all we've seen is a collection of the old (Kevin Mawae, Kimo von Oelhoffen), the physically damaged (Jamal Lewis, Drew Brees) and the most sure-to-fail free agents out there, guys Daniel Snyder signed (Antwaan Randle El, Adam Archuleta, etc.).

It's hard to imagine much of the free-agent activity will affect who will make it to Super Bowl XLI in Miami. But T.O., for all his flaws, could be the missing piece for someone to get over the top ... just like he almost did in Philly.

SI.com's Jeffri Chadiha says Dallas is the front-runner to sign Owens. The question is, are the Cowboys one player away from reaching the Super Bowl? Because any team that's not on the brink of at least a conference championship is wasting its time taking on T.O.'s baggage.

The Cowboys were a maddening 9-7 team last year, dropping games they could have easily won to Washington, Oakland, Seattle and the Giants. They have outstanding young defensive players, but they also have key question marks. Their offensive line is ancient and quarterback Drew Bledsoe came up small when it mattered last year. Still, add Owens to the mix and you have to consider Dallas one of the two or three teams with the best shot to get out of the NFC.

T.O.'s other suitors include Denver, Kansas City and Miami. The Broncos and Dolphins are definite Super Bowl contenders if they add Owens, but both teams seem to have only minimal interest now. The Chiefs seem too old in key spots to be a contender, but you never know in today's NFL.

Even though he won't make the most money, Owens is the one free agent we're going to be talking about all season. What's your take on T.O.? Which team would be the best fit for him? Is the team that lands him looking at another Eagles-like disaster?

-- Andrew Perloff

First, For all of Dan Snyder's past mistakes, his most recent signings (Mark Brunell, Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, Marcus Washington, Randy Thomas) were key players on a playoff team last year. Second, who really cares about T.O. He'll likely only play half of the season before Parcells or some other head coach relegates him to the bench for his selfish antics.
-- Tim , Aztec, N.M.

Why would you want T.O. anyway? He has proven he isn't a team player and is a cancer to any team he is on.
-- Mark , Pittsburgh

I think the best situation for any team to sign T.O. to a one-year deal with incentives. Each year TO can go to the team with the best incentive package and voila, he'll be on good behavior and your team will get the best out of TO ... it has to work, right?
-- Sean , PGH

One player does not a winning team make. Dallas has bigger problems than WR and they will only be exacerbated by signing T.O. Being a Redskins fan, I welcome this development! Oh, and how can you write off free agents simply because Snyder signed them? You forget, a Hall of Fame coach wanted these guys.
-- Dan C. , Pensacola, Fla.

I dont realy think T.O. coming to Dallas makes them a insant contender. He is too one-dimensional and the team is not based on him. Bledsoe can't throw that far anyway. Not to forget the big fact that Jones/Parcells dont tend to like grandstanders. That is what T.O is.
-- Dan , Dallas

I only see T.O. in one place next year: the NFC East. He has got a huge chip on his shoulder over how he was treated during his departure from Philly and he wants to show Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb what they're missing. He wants to leave the neighborhood but not the town. Jerry Jones will take the risk and dump him in Bill Parcells' lap with specific instructions to keep T.O. on his best behaviour. It won't be necessary ... for the short-term future. I see Owens becoming a machine in his first year, playing his guts out on the field and acting like a model citizen off to prove to the Eagles' management that they made a mistake.
-- Jay Current , Kingston, Ontario

Terrell Owens is a cancer. He destroyed the chemistry the Eagles built throughout the Andy Reid era. He is a selfish player who only thinks of himself. The team that would be best for him would be the Redskins. Why not sign another player? He can destroy team money 2006.
-- Alex Griffin , Mount Bethel, Pa.

There are only two coaches out there that can whip T.O. into shape: Parcells and Shanahan. Wouldn't it be great to see T.O. explode on Parcells and watch the drama unfold?
-- Chris , Tacoma, Wash.

Why is it that the worst a person acts the more publicity you guys give them? Maybe if you would stop spending all your time on the fools that can't act like humans, then maybe the other players in the league could get some attention. Get off the T.O. bandwagon, there are way too many of them in sports already. Enough PLEASE!
-- M Lynch , Washington D.C.

Even though Owens is a distraction off the field he's a gem on the field he made Jeff Garcia good and Donovan McNabb look great. A team like the Cowboys would be put over the top with a star like Owens. The division was very tight last year and I think the addition of Owens could easily make Dallas the frontrunner in the NFC East and even what I believe a still wide open NFC.
-- Scott Kalnoske , Salisbury, Md.

Who's to say? Maybe Philly would have WON the Super Bowl had T.O. NOT been there. On another note, regarding Dan Snyder, there was a time when Jerry Jones was not so popular.
-- Steve Rogers , Tsawwassen, B.C., Canada

Any incentive-laden deal to T.O. signs is a guaranteed cause for heartburn when he get's up in the offensive coordinator's face for not getting 20 touches a game. Or starts bickering about the QB not passing to him enough, etc ...
-- Rusty , Harrisburg, Pa.

For most players, your risk/reward analysis comes down to talent vs, price. It's a totally different equation with this guy: how do you handicap his arrogance? T.O. will be an aging distraction for any team greedy enough to take a shot on him.
-- Jason , Naples, Fla.

The Packers should pursue him since Javon Walker doesn't want to be here. T.O. mentioned in the infamous interview last year that he and Brett Favre would be unstoppable. I agree. Plus the Pack have the money to sign him ... this makes too much sense not to happen.
-- Jeff , Beloit, Wisc.

There are only a couple of coaches who can put T.O. in his place and actually, Gibbs is one of them. But not only does Washington not need him, he is not a team player, which Gibbs demands (ask Coles) and they don't need him. They signed the right free agents to the team and I hope that they go all the way so that idiots like you can eat your words. Yes, Snyder has a fat check book and it has not paid off early on, but look at the most recent crop of FAs like Moss and Brunell and look who made the playoffs ...
-- Tim , Douglas, Wyo.

I don't care who T.O. and his oversized ego sign with. Yet another Redskin-hater in the press. It must have killed you to see them in the playoffs, hopefully we will cause you more pain this year as Gibbs leads them deeper into the playoffs.
-- Jason C. , Silver Spring, Md.

Give it a rest people. T.O. is a hard-working player who speaks his mind. He is a model citizen in the community. No drug arrest, spouse beating, rape etc. He just handles work place problems differently than you or I would. Oops, you do not know cause no one is pointing a camera and mic in your face when you get peeved off at the office.
-- Denzil , Winnipeg, Canada

In response to Andrew Perloff's question about the best place for T.O., I would suggest: 1) Hell, and if they don't have a team 2)Toronto Argonauts. Basically, any place but the NFL. I don't think I can stomach another preseason where 75 percent of the stories coming out of camp are about his latest infractions.
-- Mike Nichols , Pittsburgh

I have to be honest and say that I hate TO for all the disrespect he shown to all players. From his celebrations to his off-field drama. But this thought in my head tells me that the guy is 33, went through a lot of drama last year, and got put where he deserved to be by the Eagles. Maybe, just maybe he realizes now that he doesn't have much time left to be an NFL elite/Hall Famer so he might just be on his best behavior for his final years. If that's the case, whoever signs him will get a good deal. If not, have your VCR ready to record the drama.
-- Tai , San Jose, Calif.

I'm a Giants fan and I'll say the same thing that I said when the Eagles signed him: "YYEEEESSSSS!! YIPEE!! HOORAAY!" Now if only the Redskins can sign him two years from now when the Cowboys get rid of him.
-- John W. , Red Bank, N.J.

What we need is for the owners to all get together, and agree not to sign T.O. for this year. Yes I know it's collusion. However it would put all athletes on notice, that if you act like an egotistical moron and misbehave that you can be fired and suffer unemployment just like anyone else in the workforce. Think T.O. might change his attitude when he has to sell his house cause he is not making any money?
-- DJ , Kansas City, Mo.

You should not discuss the Redskins in any article about T.O. The redskins are a class orginization and T.O. is a mental defective. The cowboys deserve him. How about an article about how the Giants' draft of Eli Manning was and will be a disaster.
-- Jack Farina , Hamilton, N.J.

I find it hard to believe that the Redskin's fans continue to bury their head in the sand and pretend (i) their owner isn't a cry baby, rich kid that doesn't seem to know anything about football, and (ii) their resurrected coach cares a great deal more about turning left on a race track then today's football. Send T.O. to Dallas and we'll see how well he does against Clinton "Toast" Portis and the rest of the NFC East.
-- Ray , Austin, Texas

Seriously, don't you think "sure-to-fail" is a little harsh? I know some Redskins fans are paranoid but why must every negative thing about the Redskins be prefaced with "Dan Snyder ... ". With other teams, it's the GM or head coach that takes the blame. What's the deal with the media attributing every Redskins' move to Snyder.
-- Chet Sladin , Washington D.C.

As a Chiefs fan I am begging Carl Peterson to get Owens. The Chiefs haven't had a star receiver as long as I can remember and adding Owens would relieve pressure on the other parts of the offense. And if KC's cleansing of the defensive backfield pays dividends ... the Chiefs will be a force to reckon with.
-- Nick , Reading, Pa.

The Redskins fans are hostile cause deep down, they know that talent is not the same as chemistry, and they don't have a QB.
-- Riggo , Laurel, Md.

Dan Snyder has signed many over the hill free agents in the past, but he's made two very smart decisions that have already paid off: hiring Joe Gibbs and Gregg Williams. Moss, Portis and Brunell didn't hurt, and Randle El is going to do more for the Skins than T.O. will for whoever takes his bloated ego on-board.
-- Ryan Jaarsma , Grand Rapids, Mich.

T.O. is a stud and I can think of at least six teams that should sign him (Dallas, New England, Chicago, Cincinatti, New Orleans, San Diego). Dallas has one year left to make a run at the Super Bowl. NE + TO = SB. Chicago, Cincy and San Diego are so close that T.O. would put them over the top. New Orleans needs to sell tickets.
-- Mike , Los Angeles

I think that the Redskins signings will work out because at the positions these guys are going to be playing, there will be other players to cover for them (Archuleta by Sean Taylor, Randle El by Santana Moss and so on and so forth). But I really do think that T.O. shouldn't get more than a one-year deal with a club option for the second.
-- Pete K. , A-town, S.D.

Try living in Washington and not being a Redskins fan! Sometimes its like I watched a different game than everyone else around me. Can they not see the problems with their team? I'd love for Snyder to sign T.O. just to listen to the whacky defenses local fans would use when discussing the signing.
-- Chad , Manassas, Va.

Anyone that thinks that T.O. is not a game-changer does not know football. When it comes down to playing on the field he is the best WR out there. He goes at 200 percent every play unlike others (Randy Moss). Redskins fans are mad that Gibbs would not allow T.O. on his team. Because had Snyder had his way he would have been signed an hour after his release. They are also very afraid that he will go to Dallas because neither Springs nor Rogers will be able to cover him. Oh, and by the way what did Randel El do to deserve a $31 million contract. He did not have 40 receptions last year and only one touchdown catch. Sorry Skin fans but a second receiver he is not.
-- Karl , Springfield, Va.