Terrell Owens: From the Big D to Circling the Wagons

Perennial egomaniac Terrell Owens has been dismissed from the Dallas Cowboys, marking yet another release which resulted from his antics on the sidelines speaking louder than his play on the field.

Clashing with Tony Romo in the same manner in which he could never mesh with Jeff Garcia or Donovan McNabb before, Owens was once again outspoken about his disappointment in the looks he was getting.

Seemingly the final straw of a season-long tet-a-tet with Romo and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, he was unceremoniously released from Big D.

The Buffalo Bills were quick to jump at the opportunity to sign a top-flight wide receiver, signing the troubled wideout to a one-year, $6.5 million contract, all guaranteed money. This move shows the NFL that the Bills mean business this season, and immediately bolstering a passing game which will now feature Owens and WR Lee Evans, two viable number one receiving options.

Now, Owens will have to take his big-market flash and panache lifestyle to small-time Buffalo.

Buffalo head coach Dick Jauron did what he needed to do from the hot seat. He will likely need to contend for a playoff spot in order to keep his job. If things don't go well with Terrell Owens this season, it won't be the only reason he loses his job. Three straight mediocre seasons have put Jauron under the gun, but the support of the entire locker room for the past two off-seasons has been crucial to keeping Jauron in power.

One has to wonder if the mild-mannered Jauron will be able to tame the ferocious and divisive ego of Owens. As of yet, the locker room is beginning to gel and show signs of chemistry.

The deal may be just right, though; a long history of Owens' beginnings with new teams says that he may remain quiet in Buffalo, as he has rarely displayed his delinquent ego in the first season with a new team, but this is Terrell Owens, and these are the Buffalo Bills. It may take no more than a few games of Owens not getting the attention he feels he deserves to show his true colors.

The trade does, however, shake things up in the AFC East. Now, both the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins will have to face Randy Moss and Terrell Owens each twice a year; four games a year, their secondary will have to cover one of the best receivers in the game. The Patriots, who need to be concerned with their secondary after last season's performance, should also look into picking up a cornerback in the draft. One player who will find a home in the AFC East is free agent CB Shawn Springs, former Washington Redskin who gave Owens a great deal of problems over the years in the NFC East.

Whatever happens, things will surely spice up in the normally stale AFC East this season.