My way of thinking, Sunday night’s pre-season opener between the Cincinnati football Bengals and Dallas Cowboys was less a football game, and more a budding love story.
Zoosk The Love God has spoken. I mean, c’mon, all the signs were there … the chemistry … the adoring glances. Making passes. Palmer and Owens sittin’ in a tree, P-A-S-S-I-N-G.
Look, I’m burdened with two curses – one, the ability to smell rotting human flesh from miles away … and two, a very powerful Jedi instinct … and my Skywalker bone tells me new Bengals WR Terrell Owens will be Carson Palmer‘s main, go-to guy this year. And it has nothing to do with Palmer’s ill feelings toward el-Chadco.
True, it’s my assertion after el-Chadco’s shameful behavior of 2008, Palmer wants nothing to do with him. But while Palmer doesn’t personally like el-Chadco, the Bengals signal-caller would never let that get in the way of advancing the team. BUT … all things equal … e.g., both receivers are wide open, for the same amount of yards (if this scenario is even possible), my Skywalker bone says Owens gets the ball.
Bengals' Hoochocinco slobbering with envy at Owens TD catches.
But the Palmer-Owens love story goes deeper.
Personal feelings aside, Palmer simply prefers big, strong, YAC-type receivers (TJ, Slim, Owens) over the sideline route runner (el-Chadco) variety. Simply, Owens is Palmer’s kind of WR. Whether Owens is Palmer’s primary receiver, or not, look for the new guy to get more looks, more balls, more catches, more TDs.
So, what happens to Batman and Robin’s relationship when after Week Four Owens has 35 receptions and 5 TDs, to el-Chadco’s 15 catches and one touchdown? Does el-Chadco target his frustration toward Palmer or Owens? Make no mistake, if Owens out stats el-Chadco it will be an issue.
Fans, be prepared … if things don’t go just right, say bye-bye to Batman and Robin … and hello Turner & Hoochocinco.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I think there will be an issue if Owens far out stats Chad. If the stats are pretty even, Chad will keep quiet. But if its 50 catches to 20 there will be trouble.
I agree Owens is more Palmer’s kind of guy. Owens is a power receiver who goes over the middel and fights for the ball and can run after the catch. Chad is the prototypical speed guy. Owens will have more catches than Chad.
There’s no doubt the last few years TJ was here, he was Palmer’s main “middle of the field” guy, which didn’t impede too much on Chad’s turf. But Owens can do a lot more than TJ ever did. Basically Owens can do everything Chad does, and more. So, if Owens starts catching a lot of deep routes, Chad probably won’t like it too much. It will be interesting to watch it all unfold.
If Owens gets more balls but the team is winning Ocho will be too afraid to spout off. But if the team is losing all bets are off.
DTB,
Agreed … if the team is winning, it’ll be 53 happy campers (at least publicly).