Will Dwayne Bowe's baggage scare teams away?

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Will Dwayne Bowe's baggage scare teams away?


By Gregg Rosenthal
Around The League Editor
Published: Feb. 11, 2013 at 09:59 a.m.
Updated: Feb. 11, 2013 at 10:08 a.m.

Conventional wisdom says there should be three top receivers available in free agency this year: Greg Jennings, Mike Wallace, and Dwayne Bowe.

They each have the skills to be a "No. 1" target but they also have some knocks against them. Jennings is coming off an injury-plagued year. Wallace is a speed merchant that hasn't exactly developed into a complete receiver. Bowe's downside is harder to define.

"I am scared to death of Dwayne Bowe," one scout told SI.com's Peter King. "Like him a lot, but not sure what we'd be buying if we signed him. Too much baggage."

Bowe didn't have the best reputation early in his days after getting drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. His propensity for drops matched his up-and-down effort. (And up-and-down weight.) Bowe has mostly avoided negative headlines the last two seasons, but his reputation for selfish behavior clearly still persists.

I have little doubt Bowe will get paid big bucks regardless. King mentions Jennings, Wallace, and Brian Hartline as this year's biggest receiver targets, but Bowe has the most well rounded skill set of any one of them. He's put up big numbers despite shaky quarterback play, even if Bowe is the master at garbage time production.

The biggest concern here is how Bowe will react to earning big money. He's played his best the last two years while playing for a new contract. He won't get Vincent Jackson money, but Bowe should do very well even if he scares some teams to death.


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