T.O. Brings More than Talent (in a good way)

By BisonBoy  |   Thursday, September 17, 2009  |  Comments( 23 )

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We’ve all heard more than an earful about how Terrell Owens will kill the Bills’ team chemistry. T.O. will begin to gripe about his receptions. T.O. will chew out his quarterback leaving him in a pool of tears. T.O. will make friends on the defense and divide his team by making enemies on his side of the ball. And on and on…

One thing that you rarely hear about T.O. is a specific positive effect he can have on young players, particularly under achievers. T.O. is well known for his work ethic. You hear both players and coaches marvel at his ability to work his craft. Other players say they can learn from him but the lesson shouldn’t simply be “work hard”.

Over the last ten years, Buffalo’s top draft picks have consistently underachieved or not maximized their natural potential. Can anyone name a top 3 pick from the Bills that has wildly exceeded expectations? You certainly can point out the underachievers in the Bills drafts classes (i.e. Mike Williams, Willis McGahee, John McCargo, J.P. Losman, etc.). Even the solid picks (Donte Whitner, Paul Posluszny, Marshawn Lynch and Lee Evans) have not risen to the very top at the pro level. Why?

Recent research on what makes people “the best” in their respective fields shows one consistent factor: Hard Work. A freakish work ethic is more than just staying in shape at the pro level. The best players in almost any sport have an unnatural ability/desire to work at their craft incessantly. The 49ers were blessed with two receivers in a row with this characteristic (Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens). Both came for unheralded colleges with less than high expectations in the pros. Both worked harder than anyone around them to become the best in their fields. You hear it all the time around the NFL about the best players. Who works harder at QB than Tom Brady or Peyton Manning? The best receivers are the same (see: Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson). Let’s face it; all NFL players are hard workers in comparison to the average Joe. The elite players leave the rest of the league in the dust.

There is no doubt you have to have the natural talent to rise to the top. Fred Jackson and George Wilson seem to be players on the Bills that work very hard at their craft but neither is blessed with that innate ability needed to be considered the cream of the crop. A number of other players seem to have that “spark” but don’t nurture it the way T.O. has. So, for all the bluster we see from Owens, he does bring one thing to the Bills that former 1st and 2nd round picks should take note of. He outworks all of them. Maybe seeing it first hand will help the diamonds on the Bills come out of the rough. T.O.'s work ethic may just be more important than his contributions on the field.
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CommentsComments: 23  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
bflobob8		08:28 AM
09/17/2009
Good article. I said when T.O. was signed (after i pulled myself up off the floor) that with a team like the bills he can't...
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No.2
Goose		08:56 AM
09/17/2009
There is no doubt about TO's elite physical ability it's his inability to get along in the locker room that hurts him. The...
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No.3
bILZrok		09:39 AM
09/17/2009
WankerBoy -- Is there any evidence to support your hypothesis? In all the years TOE's played in the league since '96, is there...
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