King: Lewis Had To Sooth Owens To Get Him In Cincinnati

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 2, 2010 11:04 AM EDT in Analysis

Even though the Bengals signed Terrell Owens last week and now that everything is truly hunky-dory (when was the last time you heard hunky-dory?), it seemed that Marvin Lewis had a roll to play to get the wide receiver after the Bengals favored Antonio Bryant and not Owens in March. Truth be told, Owens found out that the Bengals offered Bryant a contract first, which wasn't so bad. However, Owens learned about Bryant's offer through a text message before the team could get ahold of him.

And he wasn't happy.

According to Peter King.

"Then, the first thing after we signed Bryant, Carson [Palmer] says to me, "Let's sign T.O. too,'' Lewis said. The organization decided not to, and instead to draft a slot receiver, Jordan Shipley, in the third round. But as time went on, and spring turned to summer, Owens was still out there. He went to work out in Los Angeles with Matt Leinart, and Palmer was there. Palmer told him to lessen his demands, and he'd go to bat for him. "You're not going to make $5 million,'' Palmer said. "You've got to be realistic.''

He took $2 million, plus incentives, and last Tuesday, when he was trying to decide whether to take the Bengals' offer, Lewis called him and apparently clinched it. "My team wants you as a teammate,'' the coach told him.

It just goes to show you that smoothing a player's ego after a feeling of disrespect can be lessened. That, and you know, not having a job.

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Carson did the soothing.

by IFChris on Aug 2, 2010 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

i took king’s article to mean that marvin had to soothe owens immediately after the bryant signing, not to get him here.

i'm going to go america all over your ass!

by Raging Clue on Aug 2, 2010 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

Good story.

TO belonged in Cinci.

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Aug 2, 2010 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

"EGO" is man's greatest fault as well as his greatest strength........Owens should have been pissed about Cincy taking Bryant over him......

any future HOF WR would have been. Love him or Hate him but Owens has always put numbers up and except for last year with Ryan “i should have went to law school” Fitzpatrick and the Buffalo Bills. Chad also had his worst year 2 yra ago with the same QB. Owens is a winner and will help the Bengals this year.

Kenneth Lewis Moore

by lightskin350 on Aug 2, 2010 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

But TO, look at it this way.

It all worked out. Now we have both you and Antonio. And you are ready to roll and he’s not. I think you’re going to love Cincinnati, so just be happy you are hear now.

It’s just so fun to type:

CHAD
TO
BRYANT
CALDWELL
SHIPLEY
(and one of the following: COSBY/SIMPSON/JONES/BRISCOE)

oh, and GRESHAM
COFFMAN

You get the feeling Carson should be able to just close his eyes and throw it and someone will turn it into a TD. Rack em up, let the Defense stop the opposing forces, do it again.

2010 - The Year of the Tiger.

by UpStateMike on Aug 2, 2010 6:07 PM EDT reply actions

Then Benson comes out.

Along with Scott and Leonard…Apparently Scott is looking hella nice so far as well as having Benson with a clear mind waiting to rack up the numbers with the much improved passing game…the O-Line returns from it’s very very good first time as a unit last year. They should be even better this year. I really think this is the first Bengals team without a weakness in any area, and the depth to handle just about any situation. It truly does seem like it may be the Year of the Bengal! This season just can’t get here soon enough!!

by minddrifter on Aug 2, 2010 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

I like King

but I think he can be pretty thick-headed sometimes. He is still hanging on to tired narratives for the 2010 bengals……“not enough balls”……..“I wonder about Palmer”………“Andre Smith blah blah blah”

DUDE WE WERE A RUSHING POWER HOUSE LAST YEAR WITHOUT SMITH, HE ISNT AN INTRICAL PART OF OUR TEAM. HOPEFULLY HE WORKS OUT BUT THE SEASON ISNT DEPENDANT ON HIM!!

Hi fans it Brandon Roy.
And ME.....LaMarcus Aldridge

by Derftron on Aug 2, 2010 10:45 PM EDT reply actions