I see what you mean and I totally agree with you about local sports media and hysteria. It's been my observation that sports "journalists" are the even less informed than hard news journalists. This is ironic as sports "journalists" are also the most outspoken and show the most (ignorant) conviction.
It is totally understandable that you wouldn't know that Parcells doesn't attend any free agent signings but the sports "journalists" should as it is their job to know. If they didn't know then they shouldn't have passed it off as some sort of sign.
I have listened to a lot of sports talk radio around the country and watched a lot of local and national sports analysts and I've yet to ever hear one that knew what he was talking about.
Owens is a the top receiver in the league (Harrison gets shut down in physical games too easy) and one of the top 10 players in the league. His signing with one of the most prominent teams in any sport is big news. It is laughable that anyone in sports media would find the situation overhyped.
I've TRIED to listen to local sports media here. I absolutely love sports....Mavericks and Stars especially. But I think the local shows are geared towards 18-25 year old males. Since I'm not young or male, I avoid the shows.
Neither his individual numbers, nor the winning percentage of the teams he plays on supports that theory.
Terrell Owens is a 32 year old rent-a-star with a serious mental disorder that cost him 9 games last year and forced two teams in three years to dump him for nothing (though, the Eagles shouldn't have, IMO). Most gifted does not equal "best". Unless you consider tearing up locker rooms, attacking quarterbacks and creating media sideshows to be critical functions of a starting wide receiver.
Right now, Steve Smith, Chad Johnson, Anquan Boldin, Marvin Harrison, Santana Moss, Hines Ward and Reggie Wayne are all better players than Terrell Owens -- all things considered.