Terrell Owens is not your average Joe. He has been on three different teams, the 49ers of San Francisco, the Eagles of Philadelphia, and currently the Cowboys of Dallas. He is known mainly for his big mouth, and all true football fans are aware of his reputation. So if you’re not yet a football fan and you wish to become one, get ready to learn about the devil himself, Terrell Owens. For as long as he has played the game, controversy has surrounded him. He has had far too many excessive touchdown celebrations, and his attitude not only as a player, but as a person, is just unacceptable.
First off, he has had many issues with the NFL throughout his career. One of these has been dubbed the “Desperate Housewives incident.” On November 15th, 2004, Owens, fully suited up before a game, appeared in the Eagles locker room with Desperate Housewives’ Nicolette Sheridan. Nicolette took her towel down, which some believed to be sexually suggestive. Another incident “T-O” was involved in was his own suicide attempt. In September of 2006, Owens overdosed himself with Hydrocodone, a painkiller. Many believe that it was a legitimate suicide attempt by Owens, although he denies this. The last major incident in which he was involved that disgraced the NFL occurred after a game against the Falcons. Falcon’s cornerback DeAngelo Hall says that Owens spit on him during a play early in the game. Owens denied it, but was still fined $35,000 by the NFL. Clearly Owens needs to think before he acts.
Furthermore, Terrell Owens has had far too many excessive touchdown celebrations. One of these celebrations is known as the “football signing incident.” After catching a touchdown pass, he pulled out a sharpie, signed the football, then threw it into the stands. Another famous touchdown celebration occurred during the 2006-07 playoff game vs. the Washington Redskins. After catching another touchdown pass, he pretended to take a nap, using the football as a pillow. The Cowboys were penalized fifteen yards for this incident. In addition, Owens had reportedly fallen asleep during the team meetings. It may be primarily because of T-O that touchdown celebrations are now required to be short or else the team will be penalized.
Finally, Terrell Owens’ attitude is completely unacceptable. His lack of self-control is not only incredibly rude, but just plain wrong. He has had conflicts with all three of his coaches, Steve Mariucci, Andy Reid, and Bill Parcells, and expects the ball on nearly every play. Owens is a terrible role model for young kids. But don’t take my word for it. When asked his opinion about T-O, Brandon Best stated, “He can be a good player at times, but often makes bad decisions off the field.” In the past, Owens has been among the league leaders for receivers. This past year, Owens’ numbers started to slip. Although he still caught thirteen touchdown passes, he also led the NFL in dropped passes, not a category in which most players desire to lead the league. Terrell Owens’ mouth seems to have gotten too big for his playing ability, and he should start cleaning up his act!
~ Alex Roth