Q&A: Cincinnati Sports Media React To T.O. Signing

By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season

The deal that sends 36-year-old problem child Terrell Owens to Cincinnati is a terrible one. The No. 1 question on the minds of many is whether he and attention whore Chad Ochocinco can co-exist in harmony.

There's a reason why great players play for five teams in their careers. They eventually wear out their welcome. Sure Bengals owner Mike Brown smartly signed T.O. to just a one-year contract, but Owens was a problem in San Francisco, Dallas and Philadelphia, football-savvy cities where there wasn't an equally attention-starved teammate, an Ochocinco, in the same, small locker room.

Remember when Cedric Benson scored a touchdown against the Bears last year, and tried to rub it in the faces of his former team? Ochocinco, of all people, was the first to hustle over and advise him not to do that dance.

Had Chad found wisdom? Maturity, perhaps? No, he'd found a threat to his sole ownership of the Cincinnati spotlight. Think face time won't become an issue this October?

I haven't done a ton of research the last 24 hours, but I'm pretty sure this is the first NFL team to simultaneously employ two wide receivers and two reality-TV stars (and I use that term rather loosely and I'm not even including Dhani Jones).

So far I think most people disagree with me. I spent Wednesday calling around and getting some good feedback from guys who are truly in the know. Below are a few T.O.-related questions answered by Bengals radio voice Brad Johansen, Cincinnati Enquirer sports columnist Paul Daugherty, WCPO-TV Sports Anchor Dennis Janson and WLWT-TV Sports Anchor George Vogel, who were all nice enough to share their opinions with OGS on Wednesday:

One Great Season: What's the likelihood this blows up in Mike Brown's face?
Johansen: I would say the likelihood is very small. He's giving T.O. $2 million up front, and $2 million in incentives. (The Bengals) want to win, and this adds a winning element. I think the drama king in T.O. has been played out over 14 years. I think he buys into a locker room that wants to win a Super Bowl.

Daugherty: I'd give it about a 60-40 chance of succeeding. They've got him on a short leash. It's only one year. He doesn't have a ton of leverage, especially if Antonio Bryant comes back from the knee thing. It's really on (T.O.) to play well. And it's probably his last good chance to get a ring and it's not even that great of a chance.

Janson: I'd say it's probably 40-60. I think there's more likelihood that T.O. will pan out than he won't pan out. I think there are enough strong personalities in that clubhouse that if he goes astray even just a little bit, they'll rein him in. And Chad, for that matter, and Carson (Palmer), have staked their reputations on him being a good citizen.

Vogel: Based on T.O.'s track record, it's 50-50 this thing blows up. There are signs that T.O. is more interested in winning now. Carson Palmer says Ryan Fitzpatrick told him T.O. was no problem in Buffalo last season. It helps the Bengals' case that it's a one-year contract so if T.O. wants another contract he better play nice in 2010.

OGS: Second chances are great and all, and Mike Brown certainly is the great giver of them, but does it seem like he doesn't give much thought to potential chemistry issues considering some of the guys with checkered-pasts who've signed with the Bengals?
Johansen: He gives great thought to potential chemistry issues. He's got a coaching staff and a locker room in place now that won't allow those types of problems. It's about team first and if you don't want to be about the team, you won't last long in that locker room. And my guess is that T.O. will fall in line with that.

Daugherty: All great teams have a core of player-leaders whose personalities are strong enough to keep everybody else in check. I think they showed that last year. When they won the division in 2005, they won it with a bunch of turds. They had a lot of jerks on that team, but they won the division on talent. But the chemistry this year, I don't think (Brown is) real concerned about that.

Janson: I think he's probably less cognizant of that than he should be. I think he's counting on these guys to be grown men and make their own chemistry. Winning solves all chemistry issues, and they just foresee them winning from the start here. If you're winning but guys are still grousing about catches or touches, they'll tell them to get with the program. Now, if they start to lose, then they could have some concerns. This is a team that used to be so close to the vest and so sequestered. I don't know if Mike's had a belly full of losing or what, but their philosophy has changed significantly.

Vogel: Mike Brown is the redeemer, a football version of Father Flanagan. While it's worked recently, I don't think it works for the long haul. There's more than one reason this team hasn't won a playoff game in almost 20 years. Chemistry and a collection of bad apples is one of them. But the current group was good last year and the locker room leaders swear they can keep a lid on this thing. It will be interesting to see. Don't forget, Adam Jones was added to the mix, too. If Mike Brown thinks he's getting a deal, he can't help himself. If Charlie Manson could kick, catch or throw a football and Mike thought he was getting a deal, he would sign him.

OGS: In the age of sports-as-entertainment, surely this Bengals offense will be an exciting one to watch and surely there will be some noteworthy end-zone dances and post-game soundbites. But do you honestly think T.O. -- the guy who blows up coaches on the sidelines and throws his quarterbacks under the bus -- can check his ego at the door and accept a second-fiddle role in that passing game?
Johansen: T.O. checked himself in Buffalo last year. He was pretty quiet during a situation where there was a lot of turmoil. He was a model citizen. I think that part of his career has passed. He's a guy who still has a lot of passion for football and is now getting a chance to play with one of his best friends in Chad, Now he wants to win a ring and this could be a pretty good place to do that.

Daugherty: I think there will almost literally be a footrace to Marvin Lewis' door on Monday mornings to complain about who got the ball more the day before. This is what makes this so fascinating. It's a great study in human nature. Probably the two most narcissistic men in the NFL are now in the same locker room. It's absolutely fascinating. I can't wait.

Janson: I don't know where that will be necessary. If they're winning, (T.O. and Ochocinco) will probably challenge one another to get better. I could see some crossing patterns involving laterals and so forth. It could be really fun. But it's certainly incumbent upon them to realize they're not there to put on a one-man show, that there are nine other guys out there with them.

Vogel: If T.O. isn't pouting at least once on the sidelines this season, I'll be shocked. But the one-year contract may help prevent a Philly-type, full-blown meltdown.

OGS: Final prediction with T.O. in the lineup?
Johansen: To predict things record-wise is ridiculous this early. I have no idea where they stand win-wise. I don't know how many more wins he gives them, but he gives them a better chance to win each game. They have one of the best rosters in the league and will have a chance to win every game they play, but they also have easily one of the most difficult schedules in the league.

Daugherty: I think they're an eight-win team. I think a lot of the national media thought they were a fluke last year. Losing four of their last five games -- the rest of the league obviously caught up to them. This is the most talented Bengals team since I've been here. I got here in 1988 when they went to the Super Bowl. How that talent gels, I don't know. How they get through that difficult schedule, I don't know. I thought it was probably an eight- or nine-win team and I don't know that Owens changes that much, if at all, especially if Antonio Bryant can play and play well.

Janson: I think he's good for at least one more win, and he'd certainly contribute to a couple more. You know who this really puts pressure on? Carson Palmer.

Vogel: I don't see a huge difference here. I think he helps, but I think the days of a difference-maker are over. Nine or 10 wins sounds right to me.

Comments

[Jason Daters]

without TO-Bengals finish maybe 2nd or 3rd in divison ahead of Hapless Browns. If TO pans out-a chance to win division. Great move by Bengals

[Mike]

5 years ago TO would have been twice as good as he is now, but also twice the problem he is now. I really believe the fact that he and Chad are such good friends will keep them both happy and competitive and this could really pan out well for the Bengals. Now it all depends on which Carson Palmer shows up. At least TO is tall so when half of Palmers throws go over his head he might still be able to get it. But what about the other half that are thrown at his feet?