When Terrell Owens declined the invite to attend his Hall of Fame ceremony this summer, writers took to social media. In addition, fans and media spouted all sorts of nonsense about Owens. In every possible way imaginable, these two groups shamed Owens for refusing to attend the festivities. While no opinion is the same, the venom spewed in Owens’ direction remains mystifying.
The Bad Teammate?
First, did Owens ever fail a drug test, strike a woman, been accused of murder? No. Meanwhile, Hall of Famers stand accused/convicted of those exact issues. Yet, writers and fans seek to paint this horrendous portrait of a man that excelled for fifteen seasons. In those years, Owens only played less than fourteen games just once. In football, other than talent, the best ability remains availability.
Whether Owens made friends in the locker room or with press remains irrelevant. Who cares about rubbing media the wrong way? In addition, show me a completely harmonious locker room and I will show you pure fiction. Does Owens feel remorse? Here, he states some form of contrition.
Facts
Second in receiving yards (15934)
Eighth in Receptions (1078)
Third in Receiving TD (153)
5-Time All Pro (First Team)
12 seasons of 60 catches
Petty
Granted, for all of Owens’ greatness, many in the media did not enjoy his approach. Skip Bayless banked millions, uttering hot takes about Owens. Meanwhile, Owens remembers the words of all of those writers that wrote scathing columns. With his numbers, no legitimate reasoning exists as to why Terrell Owens needed to wait. From a distance, petty personal beef and a galling lack of objectivity prevented Owens from first-ballot recognition. Parse that any way you will, but some writers exacted whatever small revenge on Owens.
Indeed, you heard the commentator say Terrell Owens was not a consistent contributor to his team’s greatness.
A Longer Wait
-
Ep 119: Patrick Mahomes' Top 5 List
by Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2023 at 7:49 pm
While TO will join the immortals in Canton, one name not among the great is Tom Flores. Only twelve other coaches can lay claim to multiple Super Bowls. The former Raiders coach enters his second decade of waiting for the call. Yet, no one appears to know why. First, Flores’ four Super Bowls should grant immediate access. Additionally, how Flores accumulated the titles needs recognition. As a player, assistant, and later, head coach, Flores also blazed a trail for persons of color in football. Yet, here he sits, at age 81, on the outside of those gilded doors.
Weeb Ewbank sports a .502 winning percentage to Flores’ .527. While George Allen’s .712 overshadows Flores, his 2-7 playoff mark, and zero championships do not. In addition, Sid Gillman boasts wins at a .550 clip, but only one playoff victory and one championship. (1963 AFL)
The Process
If you look at the list of Hall of Fame Selection Members, many should ring a bell. These writers and journalist appear of podcasts, radio, TV, and every media platform imaginable. Yet, the process remains closed to the public. Ironically, those paid to inform the public regarding the sport, vote on its highest post-career achievement in secret.
A common refrain among the voters is that many wait. Why? Players and coaches do not accrue better numbers after retirement. One of the voters, in a 2017 article, cited that most of the 25 modern receivers waited for induction. The article goes on to cite names like Monk, Reed, Harrison, Carter, and Brown. In all honesty, Owens’ numbers surpassed all of them. Someone else waiting does not make this situation any less peculiar.
In contrast, Berry, Largent, Warfield, and Rice walked in on the first try. Only Rice’s numbers surpass Owens in that group. Plus, the more you dig, the more personal this feels. When national media make crusades against a player based on legal behavior, where is the line?
Currently, the Hall of Fame houses players that have domestic violence arrests, robbery convictions, and liability in wrongful death cases. Yet, a flashy wide receiver and a championship-winning coach cannot gain entry?
In reality, Tom Flores and Terrell Owens may not have much in common except football. Yet, for one to wait almost twenty years and the other to wait at all is a slap in the face to their achievements.
-
Ep 159: Remembering Norma Hunt With Chiefs Historian Bob Mooreby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 8:33 pm
Chiefs historian Bob Moore joins Clark and Ira to discuss the life of […]
-
Ep 158: Billy "White Shoes" Johnson Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on June 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
Former Oilers star Billy "White Shoes" Johnson joins Clark and Ira to […]
-
These Transfer QBs could have Big Impact this Seasonby LandryFootball.com on June 6, 2023 at 12:40 pm
Last offseason, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. transferring to Oregon and […]
-
Look out for these Under the Radar Transfer Portal Prospects this Seasonby LandryFootball.com on June 5, 2023 at 2:15 pm
This time a year ago, there was a ton of preseason Heisman hype […]
-
Ep 288: Coast 2 Coast 2-Copy Rookie Draftby Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 1:55 pm
-
Ep 287: BLeague Brings His A-Gameby Full Press Coverage on June 1, 2023 at 4:41 pm
-
Ep 286: FPC Dynasty Rookie Draftby Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2023 at 3:01 pm
-
Ep 285: Draft Discussions Dominatingby Full Press Coverage on May 18, 2023 at 4:38 pm
-
Episode 3.11: OTAs and Hot Topics w/Sam Fortier from the Washington Postby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 9:20 pm
George Carmi hosts Sam Fortier from the Washington Post to discuss the […]
-
Episode 3.10: Commanders Roster and OTAsby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 8:53 pm
On the latest episode of the Command the Mic Podcast, George Carmi hosts […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 770by Charlie Saunier on June 6, 2023 at 7:13 pm
Ep 770 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 6 & Preview Calder Cup Final […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - Tuesday, June 6thby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 5:20 pm
A brief look at game one of the Stanley Cup Final and potential draft […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - Tuesday, April 6thby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 2:00 pm
It is the Connor Bedard show at the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Will Connor […]
-
Full Press Kraken - Monday, June 5thby Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Kraken extend their GM, Captains and AHL update Learn more about your ad […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 769by Charlie Saunier on June 4, 2023 at 4:31 am
Ep 769 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 5 Preview Game 6 Milwaukee […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 768by Charlie Saunier on June 2, 2023 at 9:19 am
Ep 768 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 4 Preview Game 5 Milwaukee […]
-
6/6 - Golden Knights Cruise; NBA Final Heads To Miamiby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 2:36 pm
Ian and John discuss the Golden Knights dominating win and look ahead to […]
-
6/5 - Heat Take Game 2; Golden Knights; Aaron Rodgers/Jordan Loveby Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 2:28 pm
Ian and John discuss the Heat's win over the Nuggets, the Golden Knights […]
-
6/2 - Nuggets Take Game 1, Barry Bonds, Stanley Cup Chat w/ Jim Biringerby Full Press Coverage on June 2, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Ian and John discuss the Nuggets Game 1 win over the Heat, the upcoming […]
-
6/1 - NBA Finals Preview, Aaron Rodgers, and Moreby Full Press Coverage on June 1, 2023 at 1:53 pm
Ian and John discuss Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Nuggets and Heat […]
-
5/30 - Heat Dominate Celtics; Vegas Advances; Jimmy Gby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 3:35 pm
Ian and John discuss the Celtics disappointing Game 7 performance against […]
-
5/29 - Celtics/Heat Game 7; DeAndre Hopkins Releasedby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 12:12 am
Ian and John discuss Game 7 between the Celtics and Heat as well as the […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Full Press MMA - Tuesday, June 6thby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
FPH Daily: Stanley Cup Final Talk, Cole Caufield Extensionby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 5:20 pm
-
Buffalo Bills Preview and Win Totalsby Broken Controller Media on June 6, 2023 at 5:00 pm
-
6/6 - Golden Knights Cruise; NBA Final Heads To Miamiby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 2:36 pm
-
Ep. 225: Williams College Head Basketball Coach Kevin Appby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 5:00 am
-
Full Press MMA - Monday, June 5thby Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 11:50 pm
-
New York Jets Preview and Win Totalsby Broken Controller Media on June 5, 2023 at 5:00 pm
-
6/5 - Heat Take Game 2; Golden Knights; Aaron Rodgers/Jordan Loveby Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 2:28 pm
-
Ep 288: Coast 2 Coast 2-Copy Rookie Draftby Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 1:55 pm
-
Heat at Nuggetsby Broken Controller Media on June 4, 2023 at 1:30 pm
-
Boot 2 The Face "Too Much Wrestling"by Boot 2 The Face on June 1, 2023 at 11:21 pm
Your boys are back talking ALL of the pro wrestling that happened this […]
-
Boot 2 The Face "PPV Predictions"by Boot 2 The Face on May 26, 2023 at 1:06 am
BIG weekend in wrestling and EJ and Rucker are here to predict!AEW Double […]
-
AEW Double or Nothing and Night of Champions Previewby Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2023 at 9:59 pm
Jim is back once again joined by Teddy Repantis as they preview Double or […]
-
What's Next For CM Punk and AEW, The Bloodline, and the Countdown to Double or Nothingby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 1:27 pm
Jim is back once again joined by Teddy Repantis as they discuss the launch […]