Yesterday we showed some numbers indicating that while everyone knew that Brett Favre was in poor form last year, he was even more ineffective than people thought down the stretch in 2008.  We’ve got negative vibes about another aging star with a new address as well.

Everyone understands why folks in Buffalo are excited about the Terrell Owens joining the Bills.   Buffalo isn’t ordinarily a destination that high-profile free agents flock to.    Owens has enjoyed some very productive years in the league and tends to play well while keeping his head on straight in his first season with a new franchise.  But is T.O., who will turn 36 during the season, still an elite receiver?   

My pal Norm Hitzges (I’ll be on the radio with him on the Ticket in Dallas next week, details to come) points out that Dallas is pretty thin at wide receiver, yet had very little interest in bringing Owens back.  While some of that is due to his coach-killer persona, the numbers suggest that TO is a guy in decline.

In his last 20 games with the Cowboys, TO caught 5 or fewer passes in 17 of those 20 games.   And while had had the occasional big play, he failed to consistently gain yardage.   In fact, he had fewer than 40 receiving yards in half of those 20 contests.   He simply has not been an elite receiver.  And there’s a good chance that he won’t be worth the headaches that he brings upon his club.

If T.O. isn’t putting up numbers, will he blame the QB and offensive coordinator while ignoring his declining ability to get open and his dropped passes (10 drops last year, only 3 others had more)?   If so, he could become a divisive force for the fourth franchise in his career. 

The NFL is a league where chemistry and continuity matter a lot.  The addition of a negative force with a big mouthpiece can really hurt a team.  Football bettors should keep a sharp eye on the situation in Buffalo.