If you're going to war, you want the best possible weapons you can get. If you choose to ignore the options available to you, you're just plain stupid. That mentality is certainly true in combat, and it's also true in football.
For that reason, the New England Patriots should at least look into Terrell Owens.
Owens is a known trouble maker, one who was a cancer to his teams in the earlier stages of his career, but is also a player who has proven to be one of the most talented wide receivers in the game over the last decade.
Rumors of Owens rejoining an NFL team have begun to sprout ever since his agent, the highly-touted Drew Rosenhaus, has been busy promoting the return to health of the former six-time Pro Bowl wideout.
In fact, the rumors have focused in on the Patriots, with reports that Rosenhaus told ESPN's Adam Schefter that one team is "very interested" in bringing in T.O. He wouldn't say which one, although he did say it was an AFC team, and he was reportedly seen on the Patriots' sideline prior to their game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Put two and two together, and it seems most likely that the Pats are that team.
And really, why not give the man a shot? Owens is a proven talent in this league, one who is likely headed to Canton. In 219 career games, Owens has 15,934 receiving yards and 153 touchdowns, and has remained fairly productive throughout his entire NFL career.
Now, of course, there are the potential deterrents that Owens might bring along. As previously mentioned, he's been a team cancer, and he's also coming off of an ACL injury and surgery that is certainly worrisome.
But if you look at Owens' last two career stops, the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, he really hasn't caused much of a stir. Instead, Owens has shown up and put forth decent totals. In 2009 with the Bills, T.O. had 829 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 55 receptions. The next year in Cincy, Owens had 983 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 72 catches. No, those aren't the same video-game-like numbers he put up in the earlier years of his career, but they are still respectable.
So why not give Owens a try? Coming off his injury and factoring in his age and the fact that we're already over halfway through the season, he would likely come at a cheaper price (it's not like the Patriots are cash-strapped, either), so it wouldn't be a financial burden.
If he clicks with Tom Brady, then it's an absolute steal. But, if he does not, then the Pats can simply get rid of him. Treat it like the Albert Haynesworth experiment, really. If it works, great. If it doesn't, just cut him loose. Again, what's to lose?
Some will argue that Owens would mess up the chemistry in the locker room. That notion is simply asinine, in my opinion. It's pretty clear that Owens wants to play football again, so why would he jeopardize that chance? Again, his last two stops didn't prove to be troublesome, and he even co-existed with an equally big ego in Chad Ochocinco.
The fact of the matter is that Owens wants to play football, and he's likely going to put in the work to fit in, wherever he goes. And once again, if he doesn't, just cut him. There's really no solid argument against it.
When it comes down to it, this is war in the NFL, and Owens cold be a game-changer. Why not try?