Currently, here are the receivers on the roster that are playing well in camp:
– Golden Tate
– Ben Obomanu
– Doug Baldwin
– Deon Butler
– Ricardo Lockette
Braylon Edwards has looked good as well, but has only played in a few practices. Sidney Rice has been wearing a red jersey as he recovers from shoulder surgery. I wrote earlier about the challenge of even getting the roster down to six receivers.
Edwards was logically brought in to challenge for the split end spot opposite of Rice, and raise the level of competition for Obomanu, Tate and Lockette. Antonio Bryant was brought in for a similar reason, and was not up to the challenge, so he was released today. If Edwards is showing promise, why bring in Owens? It has to now be asked whether there is concern in the front office about Rice’s health.
The team may be looking for two starting receivers, and don’t feel comfortable grabbing both from the current crop. It’s true that this group loses much of it’s luster without Rice. He is a unique talent. Not only did he have surgery on both shoulders, but he had concussion issues as well.
You have to also ask why the team wouldn’t give Baldwin a shot on the outside before turning to a player like Owens. Baldwin is a terrific route runner and the team’s best receiver outside of Rice. Moving him outside would allow Butler to slide into the slot. Of course, all of this is still a little premature, but the news is concerning.
Carroll has said he is proud of the locker room they have built, and that the team is strong enough to have some big personalities in it. Owens would challenge that, and it’s not clear the reward is worth the risk. One of the best parts of this Seahawks squad is that they are talented and easy to cheer for. Owens has been a distraction all over the NFL. Do you really want Lockette learning from him? Here’s to hoping sense returns to the shore of Lake Washington tomorrow, and Owens is sent back from whence he came.