T.O. Opens Rift In Bears-land

If for no other reason, we want Terrell Owens to sign with the Bears so we can talk about him all the time. Admit it: This is pretty fun.

After news that the Cowboys cut Terrell Owens Wednesday night, the immediate local reaction was obvious and swift, and preternaturally divided. Rarely does a local sports issue manage to polarize quite so completely. Usually, things are pretty cut and dry around in Chicago. Not with Owens.

The Chicago Tribune is probably the clearest example of the divide facing Chicago's sports fans. Its two preeminent sports columnists, Rick Morrissey and Bears analyst David Haugh, couldn't disagree more about T.O. Morrissey is demanding, with his editors' exclamation points in his headlines, that "The Bears must pursue Owens now!" Haugh is calmly explaining why Owens is a bad move financially and philosophically for the Bears, and even if his argument rests largely on the usual complaints about T.O.'s attitude, it is slightly more convincing than Morrissey's Rick Santelli-esque rant. (Not as much fun, though, that's for sure.)

Out in Blogfrica, Da Bears Blog gives five reasons why he wants T.O., and they do sort of make sense. (For example: "1. Who cares about his attitude? If he's complaining about the Bears passing game, he's probably right. Think about it. If they're not throwing him the ball, who are they throwing it to?" Good point.) Windy City Gridiron is less sure, so it asked its readers for a poll, and what do you know: 54% favor signing T.O. We told you people were split on this.

At the end of the day, it seems the Bears aren't going to even consider Owens, which is sad, but not altogether unexpected. We're probably working ourselves up over nothing. But you have to admit: It's pretty fun. Imagine if it wasn't entirely hypothetical!

Eamonn Brennan is a writer, editor and blogger hunkered down in Lincoln Park. You can also read him at Yahoo! Sports, FanHouse, MOUTHPIECE Sports Blog, and Inside The Hall, or at his personal site, eamonnbrennan.com.