Okay, so the argument for the move would be that the Giants lost in the playoffs and struggled down the stretch because they lacked a true #1 receiver. You do not know about Plaxico Burress' legal issues so Owens could be a possibility. Rather than trading players and picks for guys such as Anquan Boldin or Braylor Edwards all T.O. would need is the green (no, not Mary J).
While all that is true, Owens is still the worst possible route you could go if your the Giants Organization. Let's assume Plax is not coming back because if we knew it was definite, I would not be writing this blog. Owens is a cancer to every locker room he walks into. In San Francisco he called Jeff Garcia gay, in Philly he called McNabb a choke and basically a bad quarterback and leader, in Dallas he jarred at coaches, teammates, and accused the tight end and quarterback of conspiring plays behind his back, just so he wouldn't touch the ball.
Max's argument for the move was if you put Owens on a team with talent and a chance to win, he will feel motivated and play his hardest and keep quiet. To me that could not be more false because everywhere he has been he has been part of the elite NFC teams. Owens was a 49er from 1996-2003. In '96 '97 and '98 the team made the playoffs and in 1997 got all the way to the NFC Championship game. He again made the playoffs in 2002 in which he made it to Divisional Round only to lose to the eventual Super Bowl Champs in the Bucs. So he made the playoffs 4 times in 8 years and won at least one game multiple times. Not bad for a young career...
Max's other point was that Owens can be the missing piece to a team if he fills the void that is what the team lacks. Well when he got to Philly in 2004, the Eagles had already been to three NFC Championship games in a row and had lost all of them. The biggest criticism of the team was that they were stuck with recievers such as Freddie "The Belt" Mitchell and Todd Pinkston. I don't believe Owens helped them win a Super Bowl in that year...
In Dallas, Owens made the playoffs two out of his three years. While Dallas struggled in 2006 with just a 9-7 record you cannot question the talent they had on their team in '07 in which they went 13-3. But once again, Owens who was part of a SUPER-BOWL CONTENDER could not get the job done once again. And this past year, it would be naive to think he was not part of the collapse in Big D.
Right now, without Plaxico Burress the Giants are considered the NFC Favorites. With the additions they made on defense and the healthy return of Osi Umenyoria this team is scarier than last year. Coughlin and Co. are known for bringing in quality guys who are about the team and Owens just is not that. He is a fabulous talent but has never won. Why should his 4th chance be considered seriously? While Plax has his own issues he never created a rift with Eli or his own teammates. I am unsure how Eli could handle Owens if he is screaming after the first drive of not touching the ball. He also led the NFC in dropped passes and struggled the year before as well.
My solution for the Giants receiving core is actually pretty simple: I've gotten over my obsession over Crabtree and Maclin and just convincing myself there is no shot of getting them. So here it is: Draft Hakeem Nicks out of UNC at #29, if he is not there draft Kenny Britt out of Rutgers in the 2nd round. Then, if Torry Holt is released from the Rams, I'd sign him to catch 75 balls 900 yards and 7 touchdowns (not out of the question). But like I said all this time, I think Plax will not serve time and he will be back with the team.
Let's just please get this T.O. to the Giants junk out our heads.
-Matt Soldano
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