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Jobu discusses a couple of NFL longshots, Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens.

Wide receivers are always in demand, especially former pro-bowl caliber wide receivers. It seems that, no matter how old or terrible you get, if you used to be somebody, someone else will give you a chance to be that somebody again. Enter Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson and Plaxico Burress. All of these guys have talent, but they are probably just as famous for their controversial personalities or off-the-field antics as they are for their touchdown catches. So what, if anything, can they offer NFL teams this season? In part one, we’ll be breaking down Ocho and Owens, the VH1 Boys… enjoy!

Chad Johnson

Johnson’s attempt to make the Dolphins was cut short by legal troubles. (AP)

That’s right, he’s Chad Johnson again (thanks to his wife)! Ocho has been a hot topic of discussion ever since he has been in the league. It all really started with his fine-inducing TD celebrations (remember the one with the sombrero and poncho?). In fact, Chad would famously put aside $50K every season to pay for all those celebration fines. It was always a bit of a clown move, but you can’t set aside that much money to celebrate all the touchdowns you’re catching if you’re not catching touchdowns, and Chad did a lot of that.

The six-time Pro Bowler out of Oregon State topped 1,100 yards every year from 2002-2007, led the league in receiving yards in 2006 with 1,439 and has caught 67 TDs in his decorated career. He even had his own reality show on VH1! But now, at age 34, what does he have left? After a dismal season in New England in which he 15 passes for 276 yards and 1 TD, he was trying to catch on with the Miami Dolphins, but they cut him loose this past weekend (much to HBO’s dismay, I’m sure) following an arrest for suspicion of simple domestic battery against his wife (maybe she shouldn’t have made him change his name?)

Anyway… Will Chad Johnson catch on with someone else? Will he help a team win anything this season? Will anyone else ever watch Hard Knocks again now that he’s not there to be the center of the show? The answer to all of these questions might be no, but I don’t think so. I think Chad can still help a team out. At 34, He’s running out of years, especially for a speed receiver, but he’s not ancient by any means. I’m not saying he’s gonna go out and lead the league in receiving ever again, but he can contribute if he ever gets his head on straight. I wouldn’t expect to see him until this situation with his wife is settled, which might mean a 2013 return for the man they call Ocho, but we’ll see him at some point… There’s always the MLS too.

Terrell Owens

In our all VH1 reality all-stars part of this post, we now turn our attention to Terrell Owens. Owens, who last played in the NFL in 2010 (he spent last season playing in the IFL), is trying his best to catch on with and contribute to the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks needed to add a little explosiveness to the offense, and the 38-year old wasn’t doing anything, so they signed T.O. to a one year, $925,000 deal.

Owens, also a six-time Pro Bowler, played his college ball at Tennessee-Chattanooga, and has been a pretty well known commodity in this league since his days as a San Francisco 49er, where he was easily one of the best receivers in the league. Once the 49ers made him their number one guy, his star took off. He topped the league in TDs twice and twice racked up over 1,400 yards receiving. Like Johnson, Owens too was known for his lavish TD celebrations (the pom poms are still my favorite, I think), but he was just as well known for clashing with coaches and quarterbacks alike.

At 38 years old, though, what could he possibly have left? For one thing, Owens is a huge physical presence. Even if he can’t quite get up and go like he used to, he can probably still out-jump and out-muscle most NFL defensive backs. He can also flat out catch the ball, and those two things combine to make him a very viable option for any team. In his last full season in the NFL, at age 36 (in 2010 with Cincy), he went for 983 yards and 9 TDs, so maybe there’s something there? Even if he can be his old explosive self only once a game, that could be just what the Seahawks need.

The one big problem I see possibly developing is that hard-headedness coming back to create locker room and on-field issues with young QB Matt Flynn, whom the Seahawks just paid a ton of money for. Flynn has never been a starter in the NFL before, and I could see Owens trying to flex his muscle and get his way. I imagine that the Seahawks knew this going into this contract with Owens, however, and would cut him loose at the first sign of this type of thing though, which is why Owens’ season might be a short one. But maybe he’s finally learned not to be a douchebag… Anything could happen, and it’s worth the gamble.

Martin Stezano

About Martin Stezano

Uruguayan born and American raised with a unique perspective on the domestic and international sports scenes. It will both tickle your funny bone and enlighten your mind. Love it or hate it...just read it.