Terrell Owens has signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks. His few fans are elated. His many more detractors are cringing in horror and already yelling about it on the Internet. But it's important to keep in mind -- for individuals on both sides of the argument -- that his contract does not automatically equal a roster spot.
Peter King at SI.com takes a moment to act as the voice of reason.
Not to rain on the T.O. parade, and I have no idea if he's going to make the team, but slow things down a bit. Since Jay Glazer reported Monday night that T.O. had signed with Seattle, I've been reading which dates he's going to oppose former teams and how high he might put his already Hall of Fame-contending numbers. Seattle signed him to compete for a roster spot in training camp after being out of the game for 19 months. He's 38. The contract's not guaranteed. He's gone to the right place because only Doug Baldwin, Golden Tate and Sidney Rice are near-locks for roster spots -- and Rice might not be ready to start the season after two offseason shoulder surgeries. But he's hardly a roster lock.
Regardless of how this shakes out, this is a no-risk situation for the Seahawks. If Owens proves to be trouble in the clubhouse or is truly as washed up as many believe he is, they're only out the league minimum. If he sticks and proves he has something left in the tank, the Seahawks get to make the other teams look like chumps for not giving him the time of day for the past two years.