Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Source: Owens agrees with Bengals

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ESPN.com news services

CINCINNATI -- A year after they were featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks," the Bengals have scripted their own reality show.

 

T.O. and Ocho. Two self-conscious stars, one NFL team.

 

 

Owens

 

How will they fit? How will it work? Which receiver will provide most of the drama?

 

And, more importantly, will any of it help the Bengals get back to the playoffs?

 

The Bengals and receiver Terrell Owens agreed to a two-year, $2 million deal, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

 

According to the source, the deal also includes another $2 million in incentives.

 

The Bengals were Owens' first choice, giving him a chance to team with close friend Chad Ochocinco, who has already dubbed the pair Batman and Robin. The Bengals made an offer on Monday, and Owens accepted a day later.

 

Players are required to report for the start of training camp on Wednesday in Georgetown, Ky. Owens is expected to show up when workouts begin on Thursday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had made no announcement.

 

On his Twitter account, all Owens would say was, "Hoping 2 b a Bengal w/in the 24hrs!!" He's expected to sign his deal when he arrives in Georgetown.

 

Already, it's like something out of a reality show.

 

Ochocinco gushed about the matchup on his Twitter feed, welcoming Owens and joking that "all of our games have been moved to pay-per-view, you got to pay to see this."

 

Both of the look-at-me receivers are accustomed to cable.

 

By adding the 36-year-old Owens, the Bengals will lead the NFL in reality show stars. Ochocinco competed on "Dancing With the Stars" in the offseason, and has a dating show called "Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch" currently running on VH1. After Ochocinco's show comes "The T.O. Show."

 

Ochocinco's last show involved eliminating two contestants. Owens' last program had him walking down a runway as part of a fashion show in metrosexual attire -- bare chest under an open jacket with a huge necklace and a wig.

 

In a couple of days, it will be the dancer-and-dater on one side of the field, the metrosexual model on the other.

 

In the middle will be quarterback Carson Palmer, who helped bring Owens to Cincinnati. Palmer worked out with Owens in California and called coach Marvin Lewis, saying the team ought to try to sign him.

 

Walker: 5 Reasons T.O. Will Work

The Bengals forged an interesting marriage by agreeing to a contract with Terrell Owens. This will mark the first time Owens and fellow flamboyant receiver Chad Ochocinco are on the same team, creating a potential circus atmosphere for Cincinnati, writes James Walker. Blog

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Bengals owner Mike Brown went along, even though he knew Owens also brings a lot of baggage. The outspoken receiver has a history of undercutting his quarterbacks, though he was on good behavior last season in Buffalo.

 

Brown doesn't mind. He has a history of providing extra chances to players who have caused trouble, allowing them to extend their careers in Bengals stripes. In the last two years, the Bengals also have signed receiver Chris Henry, running back Cedric Benson, running back Larry Johnson and receiver Matt Jones, all of whom were let go because of off-field issues.

 

"Yes, people can make mistakes," Brown said at the team's preseason luncheon on Monday. "It doesn't mean that they go on the rest of their lives making mistakes. They can get their ship pointed in the right direction. This is a 36-year-old man. He's been through a lot. He's proven as a player and as a person."

 

The question is how much he has left.

 

Owens caught 55 passes for 829 yards and five touchdowns with the Bills last season, his least-productive full season since early in his career with San Francisco. The Bengals are trying to upgrade a passing game that was one of the NFL's worst last season, ranking 26th.

 

The Bengals won the AFC North by relying on defense and their running game. They released receiver Laveranues Coles after his only season in Cincinnati, and went looking for a replacement. They gave Owens a tryout in March, but decided to sign Antonio Bryant to a four-year deal instead.

 

Brown had a one-on-one meeting with Owens and came away impressed. When the receiver was still available as camp was opening, Brown decided to add him, as well.

 

The Bengals could move Bryant to an inside slot position, one they've struggled to fill since T.J. Houshmandzadeh left as a free agent. They could alternate the two receivers at an outside spot opposite Ochocinco, who was regularly double-teamed last season.

 

Agent Drew Rosenhaus, who represents Owens and Ochocinco, didn't return a phone message to discuss the deal.