TMZ Sports caught up with Terrell Owens to talk about the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The always candid, former all-pro receiver, did not hold back when discussing Canton and his rightful place as one of its members. T.O. says if he doesn’t gain entry on his second year of eligibility, the voting system is flawed, and he is 100% correct.
T.O. amassed 1,078 receptions, 15,934 yards, 153 touchdowns and 6 all-pro selections in his career. Those numbers make him one of the greatest receivers in the history of the league. Yet, for some reason that isn’t good enough for the voting committee. Many people will point to T.O.’s “issues” and “antics.” He is the player most often associated with the “diva receiver” label that has become en vogue for mainstream media members (See: Joe Buck, et al.).
But, look at T.O. closely. He has never been arrested for or linked to any criminal activities, like many other NFL players, who are in the HOF. During his playing days was he demonstrative, did he celebrate big plays, yell at qb’s and coaches? Yes. He did all those things. So what. Sports is entertainment and it’s a business. There is passion and intensity flying around a playing field. What people forget is that these “games” are these athletes lives and livelihoods. So his passion and intensity manifested in a way that some people didn’t like. So what.
The HOF isn’t a moral sanctuary for players who the mainstream deem as well behaved or played sports the “right way.” The HOF is for those individuals that were consistently exceptional at their craft and were proven superstars. Like it or not, that was T.O.
Check out the video below of T.O. talking about the HOF.