After reporting on his twitter feed that he had been cut from the Seahawks squad, does this mean we have seen the end of the always entertaining and controversial 38-year old WR with 15 NFL seasons to his name?? Unfortunately I think it is the end of the crazy winding road that best explains T.O.’s NFL career.
I have very conflicting emotions at the announcement. I have spent a decade and a half hating him, yet somehow when I read the news I felt a bit sad to think he is finally done. “Hate” is a strong word, so let’s just say I hate his persona and how he has conducted himself. Can we ever really hate someone, or is it just their facade we can’t stand? Regardless…
I began to think back to all the mostly negative memories I have of T.O., and the more I reflected and laughed at his antics, the more I appreciated that at the very least this guy was definitely entertaining. I have decided that I’m going to miss him. There, I said it. No going back now. But before I end my confusing up and down feelings about T.O., I want to briefly touch on the sad fact that he has earned $66.8m in salary, yet has not a penny to show for it.
Beginning his career with the San Francisco 49ers, he played there from 1996 – 2003, he established himself early as one of the greatest receivers to ever play football, but shadowing his tremendous numbers and physical gifts, many people remember him for ridiculous acts like spiking the football on the Dallas Cowboys’ star at centre field. Brave, yes, but smart? Not so much. Or how about at the end of his days in San Francisco, instead of exiting without burning bridges he referred to his QB, Jeff Garcia, as a homosexual, basically burning every bridge, especially the Golden Gate Bridge! Whether Jeff is homosexual or not, it was just, again, stupid, and obviously irrelevant.
But when he joined the Eagles he really honed his craft of saying and doing exactly the opposite of what he should have. It was in Phili where Terrell Owens had become completely explosive in every way on and off the field. He dominated for the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2004 season, collecting 1200 yards and 14 touchdowns in 14 games, before sustaining a severely fractured ankle and fractured fibula, which the doctors told him would end his season.
You remember the story – the Eagles went to the Superbowl and Terrell Owens shocked the football world by playing in that game, despite the doctors who said he needed several more weeks of recovery. Not only did he play, but he played very well. He nabbed nine receptions and 122 yards. Before game time, the media scolded the receiver saying he would hurt the team, and was selfishly playing because he couldn’t handle not being in the spotlight. Guess they got that wrong.
After Owens showed everyone that he was the Eagles’ best player on that day, he answered his critics by saying, “A player like Brett Favre would have been praised for such bravery.” You know, he has a point.
After this great season he was at it again with his off-field antics criticizing Eagles management and QB Donovan McNabb, which lead to his release before the season’s end. Something about him and quarterbacks, eh? Is it coincidence that he has difficulties with the players responsible for padding his stats? That was rhetorical. Nevermind.
Perhaps the event that angered many of his peers occurred when he spat in DeAngleo Hall’s face. The officials didn’t see the incident, but after the game when Owens was asked about it he said, “Yes. I got frustrated and I apologize for that. It was a situation where he kept hugging me and getting in my face. He had a lot of words, I didn’t. I just wanted to come and prove I’m not a guy to be schemed with”. I guess stooping that low is enough to get someone off one’s back?
There was one particularly low-point in T.O.’s career that is more personal than professional. In 2006, Terrell attempted suicide via painkillers. When questioned, he acknowledged the attempt. I bring this up not to treat it as some arbitrary occurrence in his life akin to some of the other incidents I already mentioned. Rather, I mention this because it was the one time I completely set aside any ill feelings I had towards him and felt complete sympathy. Truth be told, I’d completely forgotten that even occurred until last night.
I could go on forever writing about T.O and what he has done in his time in the NFL, but you know the important stuff – big numbers, bigger mouth. Am I right? No one will take away his incredible gifts he has a receiver, nor his fantastic stats, but he will forever be remembered as a guy who couldn’t get along anywhere he went.
It has taken me 15 years to realize that T.O. is certainly T.O. and I’m going to remember him for his hilarious celebrations and constant entertainment. Whether I agree with the way he conducts himself or not (emphasis on the “not”), I do respect that he faced the music for everything he did, and he kept true to his personal beliefs. He didn’t hide from the suicide attempt and he didn’t hide from the spitting incident. He spoke his mind and it’s refreshing to hear what people actually think instead of the same boring interviews where athletes (or their PR representatives) tell us what they believe we want to hear.
I’m gonna miss T.O. – that guy could play football! If i was a GM I would have wanted him on my team. Thanks T.O. for all the pain and anger you caused me. You made me laugh, throw bottles, and after 15 years, I forgive you for that. I’m now a T.O. fan and will always speak good things about him when his name pops up.
