Breaking news courtesy of David Hale . . .

by MaconDawg on Dec 18, 2008 10:01 PM EST

from the Macon Telegraph. Jeff Owens is coming back next season. Merry early Christmas, Bulldog Nation.

A healthy Jeff Owens is the best commitment for 2009 that we could have hoped for. With Ricardo Crawford and Brandon Wood still not apparently ready to anchor the middle, and Kade Weston suffering from an interminable series of injuries, we really needed our best run stopper back. Plus it's impossible to overstate Owens' leadership ability. Good for you, Jeff, and . . .

Go 'Dawgs!!!

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Not just a run stopper

He would have been our best pass rusher last year. As I said when it happened, Jeff going down was the injury this team could least afford. Having him back is possibly the most important news we could hope for going forward.

by SG Standard on Dec 18, 2008 11:02 PM EST reply actions

Now

If we could just get Charles Johnson back. Then maybe we’d have a good defense again.

I kid. But not really.

by blackertai on Dec 19, 2008 1:40 AM EST reply actions

ANOTHER Christmas present!

— While Owens said he’s excited about the opportunity, he also wanted to get a commitment from his line coach, Rodney Garner, who has been rumored as a candidate for new Auburn coach Gene Chizik’s staff.

“I told him what I was going to do, and I asked him what he was going to do,” Owens said. “He said he’s staying.”

by blackertai on Dec 19, 2008 1:42 AM EST up reply actions

This is great news!!

There is no doubt in my mind that JO drawing double teams in the middle last year freed up the ends to get around and rush the passer. Not to mention his leadership which we sorely lacked this year.

Now if we can just get Stafford and/or Moreno to come back we will be in good shape.

by RocketDawg on Dec 19, 2008 10:46 AM EST reply actions

Smart Decision

Good decision for him to return – players coming off an injury like that are way undervalued in the NFL draft because teams don’t know how he’ll come back. Now he can come back and play a full year and show his skills for the ‘10 NFL draft. I wish him luck in all games other than against UF. He’s on his own for that one.