Terrell Owens is excited to be in Buffalo. But only when it’s mandatory. Owens, who was honored at an Alzheimer’s Association gala Wednesday night in Washington D.C., said he will only participate in the Bills’ mandatory workouts, according to USA Today.

Growing up in Swampscott, Mass., Dick Jauron was a fan of the Boston Patriots of the American Football League. The team’s logo, with “Pat Patriot” snapping a football, was the symbol of an allegiance upon which Jauron reflects with great fondness to this day.

Terrell Owens signed a one-year deal with the Bills for a second, third another chance. Then he promptly skipped the Bills first voluntary workout of the season. And there’s the rub. The Bills workout was voluntary, but the need to repair his image is not.

As it was pointed out earlier this week, we had heard from every possible person connected with Terrell Owens in his new home except head coach Dick Jauron. That changed Wednesday when Jauron broke his silence during a scheduled session with the media.

Back in October, NFL Network reported that the Bills and Dick Jauron had reached agreement on a contract extension that would run through 2011. Neither Buffalo nor Jauron confirmed it, leading to questions in recent weeks about whether the deal ever got finalized.

But it did. No one wants to say when, and no one will say for how much, but this much is known: Much to the disappointment of Bills fans, the deal was signed and will last through the 2011 season, according to league sources.

When the season started, there were questions about whether Bills coach Dick Jauron would be in Buffalo long term. But those questions have dissipated, along with any ideas that the Bills might not be good enough to compete for the AFC East title.