Surprise teams in '09?

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

That's really a misconception of how TO's cancer spreads (and I don't deny he is one). TO has a huge work ethic, and he always starts out by giving good praise to HIS quarterback. That's why his first year is often so good. Now in Dallas with Parcells, the injury thing came up, but that was Parcells not really wanting "the player". Everyone in Buffalo is going to give TO whatever he needs. TO also develops a click around him of players who see him as a hard working athlete who has gotten a bum rap. Buffalo has several players who will line up on that side with him. TO's cancer only starts to eat away at the team as they get so close, but never quite over the top, and he starts sending out messages of "if only I had gotten the ball that one more time we could have won that game". And by the 3rd year the teams are left with a locker room that has two camps, one supporting the QB, the other supporting TO. Of course the media feeds all of this and blows it up causing the cancer to really spread.

I say all that to again make the point that TO's presence this year will be amazingly positive for Buffalo. They may even get to the 2nd round of the playoffs, I doubt they make it to the AFC Championship, but if they can take on NE they may very well have a shot.

Good analysis, we shall see come season kickoff time!
You certainly make a point about how he plays when he starts a new team.
However, when he started in Dallas, they went 9-7. The year before he got there, they were 9-7. When he started in Phily, they went 13-3, the year before he got there they were 12-4. Both Phily and Dallas were pretty good teams before he arrived, and did little to make them better. Also, keep in mind that Owens got hurt at the end of his first year in Phily, and did not make a playoff start, but came back for the S.B. The eagles won without him in the playoffs beating Minn. 27-14, and beating Atlanta 27-10. When he came back, they lost 24-21. Not saying there is a direct correlation here, just pointing out the coincidence...or is it?