In the end, after all the driveway sit-ups, after all the ESPN interviews, after all the locker room fights, the Terrell Owens saga ended with just 14 words.

The Philadelphia Eagles today announced they have terminated the contract of WR Terrell Owens.

And with that one-sentence statement released by the Eagles today, one of the most tumultuous relationships between player and team in the history of sports has concluded.

Terrell Owens is no longer the problem of the Philadelphia Eagles organization, a fact I am sure the franchise is happy about. T.O. is now an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with any team he chooses. Or, perhaps more accurately, with any team that is willing to risk signing him.

But anyone who thinks weve heard the last of Terrell Owens has another thing coming. Unless he signs with a team in the AFC West (which is possible, considering the Broncos and Chiefs are among the teams most rumored to be interested in his services) the Eagles will have face T.O. again on the field at some point.

And you can believe that the hype leading up to an Owens-Eagles match-up will be covered more heavily than the first moon landing.

What would the nightmare scenario be for Birds fans? Ill give you a hint it involves a star, the Presidents home state, and the most vile sports organization in the history of the world. T.O.s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has met with Cowboys coach Bill Parcells about a contract over the last few weeks, and owner Jerry Jones has made no bones about the fact hed love to have a player of Owens caliber on the Boys.

Owens in Dallas. The thought makes me want to scoop out my own eyes with a melon baller. But its a real possibility.

And make no mistake, Owens is going to a have a monster year in 2006. Hell be playing on an incentive-laden contract with a chip on his shoulder and doing his best Im a good boy routine. Whatever team takes a chance on Owens is going to have a motivated, super-talented, team-first player on their hands, a guy who can single-handedly take them to the Super Bowl.

Its going to look a lot like the happy marriage we experienced with His Majesty in 2004.

Unfortunately, to the victors go the spoils. And whatever team does have the cajones to take Owens into the fold is going to have an impossible brat on their hands in season number two, much like the Eagles did last season. T.O. will be coming off a highly productive season on what will probably be a contract that is far below what he would have gotten from the Eagles, and will once again demand a new deal.

How that team chooses to handle the situation is up to them, but Im giving fair warning that its going to happen. So whoever is thinking about bringing him aboard better prepare for that contingency. If its Dallas, then Im rooting for it to happen. Anyone else, God be with you.

Anyone who believes Owens days as a premier wide receiver are over is fooling himself. T.O. is still the most talented wideout in the game, and he will make whoever signs him immediately better next year. Heaven help us if he faces the Birds in 2006. Playing an angry Terrell Owens is not a good thing.

But for today, Owens is no longer the Eagles headache. After one year of unsurpassing glory followed by a year of incredible heartache and agony, Terrell Owens will be somebody elses blessing/curse in 2006 and beyond. Having been through the roller coaster ride that is T.O. on my roster, I wouldnt recommend it to anyone. But someone is going to take a chance on him.

Heres hoping the Birds wont have to face a ticked-off Terrell Owens in 2006. Otherwise hell have us all reaching for that great big bottle of Excedrin one last time.