SANDERS on SPORTS

Terrell Owens signs with the Bengals for one year worth 2 million dollars.  It is also reported that the contract is riddled with incentives that would increase that amount.  A quick run-down of what’s good, and what’s bad about this.

The Good:

T.O. and Ochocinco, no one can say it won’t be entertaining.

They are good friends, very similar personalities.

The Bengals have good leadership at important positions that impact these two directly, QB (Carson Palmer) and Head Coach (Marvin Lewis).

A marketing dream.

Fits the scheme and image of the Bengals.

T.O. signed cheap, about 1.5 million less than market value.

The Bad:

The risk, will he eventually melt this franchise down too, remember you have two of them now.

The age, he’s 36, 37 in December. Get real, the Macarena thinks this guy is old.

How does the balance work in terms of percentage of the offense each of them contributes. What if Ochocinco has 8 TD’s and T.O. has 1?

Is T.O. prepared to accept that he is not the best receiver on his team, never mind the NFL.

Do fan expectations jump to high after adding a very marginal player at a need position.

T.O. has had the benefit of VERY good quarterbacking with the exception of Trent Edwards in Buffalo. Pro Bowl QB’s have been throwing to Owens for 15 years, Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, and Tony Romo. Guess what folks, his numbers aren’t that great, and they are probably a bit inflated because of the caliber of his QB’s. Bengal fan, you’re not getting a superstar, impact player. Your getting a show, a personality, a marketing scheme. Ochocinco is your guy, and trust me, you still desperately need big production from Cedric Benson and the run game. If this thing stays fun, and your winning, maybe T.O. will leave the NFL on a high note. But if it follows the obnoxious pattern of his career to this point, you won’t win anything and your franchise will be left rebuilding in the wake of T.O.’s latest tear down job.