Terrell Owens has been a polarizing figure in the NFL for a long time. But whether you love him, hate him, or love to hate him, T.O. is one of the greatest wide receivers to ever step foot on the gridiron.
Last year, in his first year of eligibility, Owens was denied entry into the NFL hall of fame. This year, he is once again a finalist.
The main reason he didn't get into the hall of fame on his first try was because of the many off-the-field antics he took part in. For as good as he was on the field, he was a huge distraction off of it. T.O. is his nickname, obviously his initials. But Fox Sports 1 analyst Skip Bayless calls him "Team Obliterator" because of his track record of disrupting team chemistry.
Owens' terrible history with quarterbacks, coaches, and teammates has been widely noted. While he was with the 49ers, he accused his head coach Steve Mariucci of throwing a game to his friend Dick Jauron of the Bears. He also had problems with Andy Reid when he was on the Eagles. Reid suspended him from the team because of issues he was causing in the locker room. When T.O. got to Dallas, Bill Parcells wanted nothing to do with him and often referred to him as "the player" and never by name. He's had troubles with quarterbacks too. He and Donovan McNabb have thrown shots at each other through the media and Owens also had a less-than-perfect relationship Jeff Garcia and Tony Romo. He's had many sideline tirades and ridiculous touchdown celebrations. He even invited the media to his house and let them ask him questions while he had a workout session in his driveway.
All of this, coupled with his humongous ego and self-obsession, is what kept him from getting into the hall of fame on his first try.
His horrible track record should not keep him out permanently though. Owens is one of the top 3 wide receivers to ever play the game. In a career spanning 15 years, Owens ranks second in NFL history in receiving yards (15,934), seventh in receptions (1,078) and third in receiving touchdowns (153). Owens also went to six Pro Bowls and was a five-time first-team All-Pro. I would put him only behind Jerry Rice and Randy Moss.
His numbers should be enough to get him in this year. Owens was a special talent. He was a perfect combination of power and speed. He can take a 5-yard slant and turn it into a 60-yard touchdown. And he was built like a Greek God. A talent like Owens comes just once in a lifetime. His off-the-field stupidity needs to be overlooked. When discussing the greatest players to ever play football professionally, Owens' name needs to be part of the discussion. In his 15-year career with the 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys, Bengals, and Bills, he caused his head coaches so many headaches but made up for it on the field. I wish he would've gotten to Cincinnati sooner so that him and Chad Johnson were both in their prime. That would've have been something to watch.
I wonder what he's going to say at his induction speech. Canton, Ohio, get your popcorn ready.
