Ko Olina, Hawaii – The man some have preordained the guardian angel for Terrell Owens – should the Broncos acquire the controversial Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver – is balking at such a notion.
Rod Smith said Tuesday he wouldn’t have a problem with Owens becoming his teammate, but he doesn’t plan to be T.O.’s keeper.
“One person can’t influence a grown man,” Smith said Tuesday, his first comments about the issue since Owens met with coach Mike Shanahan on Jan. 30 in Denver.
Smith chuckled when asked if he had heard teammates and media say Owens would be a good fit with the Broncos because Smith is a strong leader who could keep him in line.
“You just can’t expect one person to have that type of control or influence on a person,” the veteran wide receiver said. “That’s just the way it is.”
Would he object if Denver were to trade for or sign Owens?
“I’m for anything that helps the team, and if that would help the team, I’d be for it,” Smith said. “I wouldn’t have a problem with it.”
Shanahan, who will coach Smith and the rest of the AFC Pro Bowl team Sunday in Honolulu, declined to talk specifically about acquiring Owens, maintaining his offseason policy of not talking about potential free- agent targets.
Shanahan said his meeting with Owens was not unusual, and he has had similar meetings with other players in the past. The Broncos are the only team that has met with Owens and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. It essentially was a get-to-know-you session. Owens is likely to have similar meetings with Kansas City, Miami and Tampa Bay.
The Broncos still haven’t decided whether they want to pursue Owens, and there are financial and contractual issues that would need to be ironed out.
When Smith was asked if he thought Owens, shunned in Philadelphia because of clashes with coaches and players, would behave while with the Broncos, he said he was hopeful but unsure.
“You just don’t know how someone is going to react to anything,” Smith said. “You’d hope that all the positives that we have would rub off. You’d have to stay positive.”
Champ Bailey was diplomatic about the idea.
“I love T.O. … I’d love to have his talent,” said Bailey, preparing to play in his second Pro Bowl as a Bronco. “I’d hope that there wouldn’t be any problems.”
Bailey said he is confident Shanahan will make the right call. Bailey pointed to Shana- han’s willingness to gamble on a player with character issues, but also his willingness to dump him. The cornerback was referring to Denver drafting Maurice Clarett in the third round last April. The running back was released in August after failing to fit in with teammates on and off the field.
“Our team will get players like that in here,” Bailey said. “But they’ll also get them out of here, too, if they don’t do what they’re supposed to.
“If T.O. came here and did what he was supposed to, it’d be great. If not, he’d be gone. That’s the way it works with us.”
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denver-post.com.
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