ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- When Trent Edwards heard the Dallas Cowboys released wide receiver Terrell Owens, he sent a one-sentence text message to Buffalo Bills general manager Russ Brandon. It read simply, "What about T.O.?"

Five days and a media whirlwind later, the Bills quarterback was still digesting that his team had taken a chance on the talented but controversial wide receiver.

"I was excited. I was very surprised that it happened," Edwards told reporters in Orchard Park on Monday. "I respect football players that have such a passion and desire to win football games."

The Bills signed the 35-year-old Owens to a one-year, $6.5 million contract on Saturday, hoping to fill a void at wide receiver.

"On the field, he's going to create, or need, a lot of attention by the defense," Edwards said. "That's going to take a lot of pressure off of Lee. I think he's going to help a lot in terms of raising our competitive level off the field, too."

Owens is among the NFL's career leaders in catches, yards and touchdowns. He's coming off his ninth career 1,000-yard season in which he caught 69 passes for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Cowboys.

(March 10, 2009)