The recent news of Tom Brady working out with Terrell Owens sparked some more thoughts of adding a big-play receiver. Let us know which one you'd want with a vote in this week's Samsonite Make Your Case poll.
The Patriots wide receiver corps remains rather thin with very few proven commodities currently on the roster. The addition of Danny Amendola should help immensely but there are others who lack the slot receiver's track record and as of now may be counted on for production.
But even if the likes of Donald Jones, Michael Jenkins and the cast of youngsters that includes Jeremy Ebert, Andre Holmes and Kamar Aiken winds up making an impact there would still be a need for a bigger target who lines up outside the numbers who might be able to provide some big plays.
And with that came the news this week that Tom Brady was working out with Terrell Owens at USC. Owens was a great big-play threat during his time with San Francisco, Philadelphia and Dallas but hasn't done much in the NFL for a few years. Does he have enough left to warrant a shot?
How about Randy Moss? Patriots fans know all about the impact he can have on an offense, and they know he can do it in Foxborough with Brady. He's still available – should the Patriots take another look?
In this week's Samsonite Make Your Case we'll offer the pros and cons of acquiring either player. In full disclosure, neither Andy nor I believe signing either player would be a good idea but we wanted to offer each side of the discussion.
Pros
! Both Owens and Moss are the quintessential outside, deep threat receivers. They score touchdowns in record rates and have produced at a high level for an extended period of time. That would fill a major need in New England.
Coming to Foxborough may also bolster their enthusiasm a bit – especially TO since he's been out of football altogether. The chance to win a ring to solidify their Hall of Fame careers may be enough to motivate them through one last great season.
With TO working out with Brady clearly there is at least some semblance of a relationship between the two. Brady values his practice time too much to waste it – even at this juncture of the offseason – with a player he doesn't care about. Obviously Moss already has a working rapport with Brady from their years of tearing up opposing secondaries together. So the fear of not having the newcomers fit it quickly is perhaps lessened due to the recent past.
Bottom line is Moss and Owens are gifted players and would fill a huge need for the Patriots.
Cons
!We've been through this all before and it didn't end well. Moss was great but then started to become destructive. Bringing him back would open the door for him to continue that destructive behavior. And in case people don't already know, TO is no prize when it comes to behavior either. Both players could disrupt what has developed into a very tight locker room.
Perhaps more importantly, neither player is a shell of his former self. Owens couldn't find a job in the league last season and Moss was a bit player for the 49ers. They both appear to have lost their speed, and that's one thing a deep threat can't afford to lose.
If this were five years ago, signing them could work. In fact, it did to the tune of a record-breaking season for Moss. But at this point it would be unlikely for Moss or Owens to provide the type of impact on the field that would exceed the potential for disaster off it.
Stick with players who want to adhere to the team philosophy and let the malcontents pollute locker rooms elsewhere.
Now it's the fans turn to cast their vote for this week's Samsonite Make Your Case poll question.
http://polldaddy.com/poll/7017184/
