With Terrell Owens available on the NFL Free Agent market, the Indianapolis Colts need to step up and sign a quality No. 2 receiver for Andrew Luck to throw to.
Owens could have been the difference between winning and losing Super Bowl XLIV in 2009.
Owens could have been the difference between winning a few playoff games and going "one and done" in the 2010 postseason.
I've advocated for this signing for three consecutive years now.
The Colts have ignored my pleas and for three consecutive years, the team has failed to sport a productive No. 2 wide receiver.
"Don't fix what ain't broken" has been their philosophy.
The same Bill Polian mentality that cost Indianapolis two potential championships (2009-10) and thankfully, the same nonsensical mentality that contributed to the acquisition of Andrew Luck after a horrendous 2-14 season in 2011.
Andrew Luck is said to be the best NCAA prospect since Peyton Manning; maybe better.
It's been assumed that the Colts are in rebuilding mode.
My question to team owner Jim Irsay: Why settle for that?
Drafting Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen and signing Griff Whalen was a start.
Don't stop now.
Who will be Andrew Luck's No. 2 option at the wide receiver position?
Austin Collie?
I wouldn't mind seeing him play the slot; but unless you're realistically expecting him to be a Pro Bowl receiver, I think that Andrew Luck deserves better than that.
15,934 receiving yards and 153 touchdown receptions later, future Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens remains available as a quality target to throw to.
Ask Jerry Rice.
Put aside the fact that Owens is the second most productive receiver in the 92-year history of the NFL, his football I.Q. may be second to none amongst the remaining active receivers in the league today.
Andrew Luck has been touted as one of the most intelligent quarterbacks to ever enter the NFL.
Unless you expect Austin Collie to be a Pro Bowl caliber receiver for many years to come (which he won't be), then signing Owens to a modest one-year contract would be worth its weight in gold if for no other reason than to allow Andrew Luck to learn from one of the most productive and intelligent players in the history of the sport.
The learning experience could prove to be invaluable to the league's No.1 draft pick.
Not only that, but the addition of Owens could help Indianapolis reach the level of offensive productivity needed to remain competitive.
Seeing as their defense is likely to struggle, the team would benefit tremendously from an offensive weapon that could produce, block and take away coverages to free things up for other players.
If marketability is of importance to an owner, I promise you that Owens would sell more jerseys than Reggie Wayne will.
Owens has no qualms with entering camp for just the opportunity to compete for a spot on a team.
I promise you that if Owens steps foot in Indiana, he will beat out Austin Collie and the rest of the Colts weak wide receiving corps to earn the No. 2 spot on the roster.
I promise you that if Owens starts Week 1 as the No. 2 receiver in Indy, he will put more points on the board than Reggie Wayne will.
Worst case scenario is that he doesn't impress the team enough in camp to earn a starting role.
Even then, his knowledge of the game would be more than worth the cost of a one-year contract at the league's minimum salary.
Unless Jim Irsay wants to continue to take the "don't fix what ain't broken" approach that has done wonders for the organization in recent years.
REALITY CHECK.
There's a lot broken in Indianapolis.
Now its time for the Colts front office to step up and finally fix it.
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