Before news broke of the San Francisco 49ers' trade for Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, a Hall of Famer was campaigning to re-join the team — Terrell Owens.
Owens joined 95.7 The Game on Tuesday morning and stated his case to return to the team that drafted him into the NFL, and his willingness to do so for the veteran minimum. Owens felt the 49ers offense, other than tight end George Kittle, lacked receiving targets with playmaking ability and experience.
Of course, that was before Sanders was shipped from Denver to Santa Clara.
"I would love the opportunity to try out or work out for the 49ers because I know I would be able to help them," Owens said on the "Joe, Lo and Dibs" show. "Like I said, to come in and play 50, 60 snaps is unrealistic, but when you think about third-down situations, three- and four-wide packages, you think about red-zone situations, that's where I would be definitely advantageous."
Owens clarified that he didn't believe the 49ers wideouts can't play but that they just lack the experience he possesses. Sanders, a 10-year veteran, immediately becomes the team's most experienced receiver.
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"As the season progresses, Jimmy (Garoppolo) is going to need some of those guys to really take the top off the defense. You're not going to be able to rely on George Kittle to bail you out every time because, as the season tightens up, and the division tightens up, and you start to get in the playoffs, they know who their bread and butter is, and that's number 85. So they're going to defensive scheme, going into these games, to take him out."
Owens has not played in an NFL game since 2010, but he didn't sound too concerned about the possibility of retaking in-game hits after being away for so long. He also felt he would serve as a good mentor for the 49ers' young group of receivers.
Owens was asked what he would have expected as far as salary, had the 49ers been interested.
"I wouldn't be expensive," he responded. "Just give me the veteran minimum. I don't need anything more than that."
In 2018, Owens campaigned via Twitter for general manager John Lynch to bring him in. That obviously did not happen. The former NFL receiver has since been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and, this past September, was inducted into the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame at Levi's Stadium.
Owens said that each time he runs into Lynch, including in September, the former receiver tells him, "I'm ready."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Owens below.
Note: This article was nearly complete when news of the Sanders trade broke. It has been edited to reflect the deal between the 49ers and Broncos.
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