Owens signs one-year deal with Buffalo

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y., March 7 (UPI) -- Wide receiver Terrell Owens, released this week by the Dallas Cowboys, says he is "excited" to join the Buffalo Bills, who have signed him to a one-year deal.

The deal is reported to be worth $6.5 million.

"I'm very excited to be here," Owens said at a news conference in Buffalo. "I want to thank the Buffalo Bills organization, (team owner) Mr. Ralph Wilson. I just got off the phone with him after talking to him briefly and this is an opportunity for me where the story will kind of write itself."

Owens, 35, has a history of friction with teammates and flamboyant on-field behavior during 13 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (1996-2003) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2004-05) and Dallas, where he played for the past three seasons before he was given his release Thursday.

In 16 games with the Cowboys last season -- in the first year of a new three-year, $27 million contract -- he caught 69 passes 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns. It was his lowest yardage total since 1999 and came amid reports he clashed with teammates and coaching staff, reportedly because he felt quarterback Tony Romo passed him over for other targets.

Owens has gone over 1,000 yards receiving nine times, has made the Pro Bowl six times and is a five time All-Pro. He is tied for sixth place with Andre Reed for career NFL receptions with 951, and he is No. 5 in career receiving yards with 14,122.

He has 139 career touchdown receptions, second only to Jerry Rice, who had 197.