Owens Sent From 49ers to Ravens

Terrell Owens is now Coach Brian Billick’s problem -- and the star receiver the Baltimore Ravens have never had.

The tempestuous four-time Pro Bowl receiver was traded to the Ravens by the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday after a paperwork error prevented him from becoming a free agent.

Owens, who quarreled with coaches, teammates and opponents during the last few seasons, was given permission by the 49ers to seek a deal after his agent failed to file a document voiding the final years of his contract.

He gives Baltimore, which surrendered a second-round draft pick, the top receiver it has been lacking for years, even in the 2000 season, when the Ravens won the Super Bowl.

Billick said he was impressed by “comments across the board” about Owens’ productivity and work ethic.

“The profile we got was of a player that, given his level of proven productivity and his desire to win, seemed to fit the Raven profile,” Billick said at a news conference in Owings Mills, Md.

Billick also said he wasn’t worried about Owens’ difficult relationship with the 49ers.

“However he treated people or dealt with people before is not of concern to me, because the Baltimore Ravens weren’t a part of that,” Billick said of Owens, who has also been involved in a series of on-field celebrations and off-field conflicts.

Owens, 30, was due to become a free agent Wednesday. But he failed to file papers by Feb. 21 voiding the last three years of his contract, and the NFL ruled that he still belonged to San Francisco.

Unless Baltimore agrees to renegotiate his contract, the mix-up could cost Owens millions. General Manager Ozzie Newsome said the team had been negotiating an extension.

Owens is scheduled to make $17.7 million in base salary over the next three seasons, including $5.3 million next year -- a relative bargain for one of the NFL’s best receivers.

Owens had been hoping to land a signing bonus of more than $15 million from Baltimore, Philadelphia, Atlanta or a handful of other teams with the salary-cap space to sign the star receiver.

Newsome said Ravens’ linebacker Ray Lewis played a role in urging Owens to come to Baltimore. The two were in the Pro Bowl this year.

Owens has spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the 49ers, who drafted him in the third round in 1996.

He and Indianapolis’ Marvin Harrison are the only receivers with more than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns over the last four seasons. Last season, Owens had 80 catches for 1,102 yards and nine touchdowns -- his lowest totals since 1999.

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