Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Associated Press
CINCINNATI
Bengals owner Mike Brown is trying to produce his own reality show.
Terrell Owens. Chad Ochocinco. Together in Cincinnati.
Brown said on Monday that the team has discussed a contract with Owens and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. The Bengals passed on the chance to sign the 36-year-old receiver after a tryout in March, but have given it more thought now that he remains a free agent.
If Owens accepts the offer, the Bengals would lead the league in reality show stars. Receiver Chad Ochocinco appeared on “Dancing With the Stars” in the offseason, and has a dating show called “Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch” currently playing on VH1. Right after Ochocinco’s show comes “The T.O. Show.”
While Ochocinco eliminated two contestants in his recent show, Owens donned a metrosexual look for a fashion show — bare chest under an open jacket and a wig.
What they’d do together in a locker room would get some attention, too.
Brown noted that Owens caught the winning 57-yard touchdown pass in Dallas’ 31-22 victory over the Bengals in 2008.
“I think that I would rather have him line up on our side of the ball than the other side of the ball,” Brown said, at the team’s annual preseason luncheon. “I can remember playing Dallas a few years ago when he caught a pass across the middle that won the game for them.
“So I’ve seen him do it. I’ve seen him do it against us. I’d like him to be here and do that against somebody else.”
So would Ochocinco, who is a close friend and lobbied unsuccessfully for the Bengals to sign Owens in March. Instead, they chose receiver Antonio Bryant and gave him a four-year deal.
One change since then: Cincinnati’s quarterback has joined the lobbying effort. Carson Palmer has been working out with Owens in California, and excitedly called coach Marvin Lewis about making a run to sign the receiver.
“Carson was really impressed with a lot of the things that Terrell was doing,” Lewis said. “Carson’s comments to me — I guess the word is they resonate well.”
Ochocinco has resumed his Twitter lobbying to sign Owens. Last March, he dubbed the two of them Batman (Owens) and Robin. He thinks Palmer, who wears No. 9, has more sway with the front office.
“im out of the loop now, i expressed my beliefs on why he should be here and that’s all i can do, (No.)9 has the real power,” Ochocinco tweeted.
The final say rests with Brown, who has a history of giving chances to players with trouble in their past. He repeatedly brought back receiver Chris Henry, who was arrested five times and died last year.