Terrell Owens

Terrell Owens (full name: Terrell Eldorado Owens, popularly referred to as T.O., born December 7, 1973, in Alexander City, Alabama) is an American football wide receiver, currently playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Biography

Flamboyant celebrations

He is known for his occasional, flamboyant celebrations after scoring touchdowns.

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• On September 24, 2000 in Dallas, Terrell Owens showed off his excitment after both of his touchdown catches to celebrate on the Dallas Cowboys' famous star logo. The second time Ownes made a trip to the star, Cowboys defensive back George Teague blindsided him during the celebration, sending him sprawling to the turf. Owens was suspended a week for his actions by his head coach at the time Steve Mariucci, and had a week's pay docked as well.
• During a Monday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks on October 14, 2002, Owens pulled a Sharpie marker out of his sock to sign the football he caught to score a touchdown, and then gave the ball to his financial planner, who was in the stands.
• After he scored a 45-yard touchdown run against the Green Bay Packers on December 15, 2002, Owens celebrated by waving a pair of pom-poms borrowed from a 49ers cheerleader.
• On November 17, 2003, the 49ers hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Monday night game, and Owens wore a wristband with the words "The Answer" emblazoned on it. Just over eight minutes into the game, he caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from Tim Rattay (who was starting at quarterback because Jeff Garcia was injured), and excitedly pointed to the wristband after reaching the end zone to draw attention to it. After the game (won by San Francisco 30-14), Owens was asked by a sideline reporter the significance of the slogan on the wristband, and he replied: "Because I am The Answer." Since "The Answer" is the widely known nickname of Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson, some observers wondered if Owens might have been signalling his intentions to play for the Philadelphia Eagles after the 2003 season, as it was common knowledge that Owens was slated to become a free agent once the season was over. Similarly, his "bird" celebration has been eagerly taken up by the fanswho do it with T.O. when he scores a touchdown for the Eagles.
• Owens also imitated and mocked the trademark pre-game ritual of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis after scoring a touchdown while playing against the Ravens in the 2004 season. This caused somewhat of a story with the media, but Owens later apologized to Lewis.

Leaving the 49ers and trade

Although Owens was eager to leave the 49ers organization, Owens' previous agent, David Joseph, missed a February 21 deadline to void the final years of his contract with the 49ers (Owens would later fire Joseph). On March 4, 2004, San Francisco traded Owens to the Baltimore Ravens for a second round pick in the 2004 draft. However, Owens challenged the 49er's right to make the deal. Owens assumed that he would become a free agent on March 3, and did not believe that the earlier deadline was applicable. So he had negotiated with other teams in advance of his expected free agency, and had reached a contract agreement with the Eagles, whose fan base strongly supported Owens in his desire to play for the team. The NFL Players Union filed a grievance on his behalf.

Related Topics:
February 21 - March 4 - 2004 - Baltimore Ravens

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Before an arbitrator could make a ruling on Owen's grievance, the NFL and the three teams involved in the controversy reached a settlement on March 16, 2004. The Ravens got their second-round pick back from the Niners, and the Niners in turn received a fifth-round pick and defensive end Brandon Whiting from the Eagles in exchange for the rights to Owens. Owen's contract with the Eagles is reported to be worth $42 million for seven years, including a $10 million signing bonus.

Related Topics:
Arbitrator - March 16 - 2004

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In September of 2004, Terrell Owens released his autobiography, Catch This! Going Deep with the NFL's Sharpest Weapon. The book is 288 pages and was co-written by Stephen Singular.

Related Topics:
September - 2004 - Autobiography - Catch This! Going Deep with the NFL's Sharpest Weapon - Pages - Stephen Singular

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Desperate Housewives skit for Monday Night Football

On November 15, 2004, controversy shrouded Owens once again, when he appeared with popular TV actress Nicolette Sheridan (of the new ABC series Desperate Housewives) in an introductory skit which opened that evening's Monday Night Football telecast, in which Owens and the Eagles played the Cowboys at Texas Stadium. The skit was widely condemned as being sexually suggestive (see video http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2656474) and ABC was forced to apologize for airing it (the Eagles went on to win the game, 49-21, with Owens catching three touchdown passes). However, on March 14, 2005, the Federal Communications Commission ruled that the skit did not violate decency standards, because it contained no outright nudity or foul language. The skit was parodied by the WWE's Shelton Benjamin and Trish Stratus

Related Topics:
November 15 - 2004 - Nicolette Sheridan - ABC - Desperate Housewives - Monday Night Football - Cowboys - Texas Stadium - March 14 - 2005 - Federal Communications Commission - WWE - Shelton Benjamin - Trish Stratus

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Leg injury and Super Bowl XXXIX

On December 19, 2004, Owens sustained a severely sprained ankle and a fractured fibula during a home game against the Dallas Cowboys; the injury was expected to carry thoughout the post-season. With the Eagles heading to Super Bowl XXXIX, Owens shocked the media by announcing he would play no matter what, even though team doctors stated that his injury would take several more weeks to heal. Skeptics were silenced when Owens started the game and played as if he had no injury at all; the result was 9 receptions and 122 yards, though the Eagles still lost to the New England Patriots. After the game, Owens criticized the media by saying that a player like Brett Favre would have been praised for such bravery.

Related Topics:
December 19 - 2004 - Dallas Cowboys - Super Bowl XXXIX - New England Patriots - Brett Favre

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In April of 2005, Owens announced that he had hired a new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, one of the most aggressive agents currently representing NFL players, and indicated that he will seek to have his contract with the Eagles renegotiated. Owens made $9 million in 2004, and is slated to make $3.5 million in 2005. He also caused considerable controversy with a comment to the effect that he "wasn't the guy who got tired in the Super Bowl," the remark apparently directed at Donovan McNabb, who indeed angrily denounced Owens for making it. On July 1 the Eagles denied a request made by Owens for permission to play basketball in a summer league under the auspices of the NBA's Sacramento Kings — a decision seen by some as a deliberate attempt to antagonize Owens on the part of Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and club president Joe Banner.

Related Topics:
April - 2005 - Drew Rosenhaus - Super Bowl - Donovan McNabb - July 1 - Basketball - NBA - Sacramento Kings

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Terrell Owens' number 81 jersey for the Philadelphia Eagles is a record-breaking piece of sports merchandise. As of the 2004 season, it was the most purchased NFL jersey.

Related Topics:
Philadelphia Eagles - NFL

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Contract renegotiation before 2005 season

Owens' contract controversy heated up as training camp drew nearer. Owens, with the negotiating help of agent Drew Rosenhaus, continued to lobby for a new contract. One of the reasons Owens was so intent on the contract is that he is owed approximately $7.5 million in guaranteed money in 2006. He is apparently concerned that the Eagles will not be willing to pay the bonuses and will release him before they are due. Owens and Rosenhaus met with Eagles head coach Andy Reid and president Joe Banner, but no agreement was reached. This is in line with the Eagles' policy against contract renegotiations. Furthermore, Owens threatened to hold out of training camp until a deal was reached, but he reported to camp on time. As of the upcoming 2005 season, Owens is in the second year of a seven-year, $49 million contract.

Related Topics:
2006 - Andy Reid

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On August 10, 2005, Owens was suspended by the team for one week, after a heated exchange with Andy Reid. The Eagles mailed Owens a legal document, known as a Notice of Unsatisfactory Work Performance, at his Atlanta home on August 15 stipulating the behavior to which he is expected to adhere when he returned to the team, which he did, amid much fanfare, on August 17.

Related Topics:
August 10 - 2005 - Andy Reid - August 15 - August 17

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NFL Records

• Holds the record for most catches in a single game with 20
• Only receiver besides Jerry Rice to have 5 or more seasons with 13 or more receiving TD's in a regular season

NFL Career Notables

• Has 100 total TDS.
• Has had 2 seasons where he averaged a TD pass every game. 2001 and 2004, he caught 16 TDS in 16 games in 2001 and caught 14 TDS in 14 games in 2004
• Has had 6 1,000 yard seasons, including 5 consecutive
• In Jerry Rice's final regular season game, it was T.O. who made headlines setting a new NFL record with 20 receptions in a single game
• Achieved a 100 catch season in 2002. And did it only in 14 games, approximately on pace for 114 receptions
• Is tied second all time on receiving TDS on Monday Night Football with 7
• Has led the league in TD catches for 2 seasons. Both were consecutive