Terrell Owens might offend some people with his behavior on the field, but he was sounding mighty defensive Wednesday, and the way he went about sticking up for himself might end up offending even more people.
Asked about the mock Ray Lewis dance he did after scoring during Philadelphia's 15-10 win over Baltimore on Sunday, and about the criticism that followed, the receiver explained his consternation at being considered a bad guy, alluding to the Ravens linebacker's murder trial as he marshaled his arguments.
Speaking at his weekly news conference, Owens said: "You have a guy like Ray Lewis, who, I mean, I thought pretty much he was my friend. I mean, this is a guy, you know, double-murder case, he could have been in jail.
"Seems like the league embraces a guy like that. But I'm going out scoring touchdowns, having fun, but I'm the bad guy," he said.
Owens said Wednesday he received several "hate" e-mails through his Web site from people asking how he can embarrass Lewis by imitating Lewis' dance.
Owens and Lewis have been trading verbal barbs -- mostly through the media -- since the offseason, when Owens jilted Baltimore before getting traded from San Francisco to Philadelphia.
Shaking his head in disgust, Owens said it's discouraging to get put in the mold "that I'm the worst guy that ever put on a uniform in the NFL."
"At times, it baffles me. I've never been in any off-field problems," he said.
The Ravens responded quietly but acerbically Wednesday afternoon.
"Like the rest of the NFL community, we would expect nothing less from Terrell Owens," said Kevin Byrne, Baltimore's vice president of communications.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
T.O is starting to change the way I think about the guy. When he was first picked up, me and alot of fellow Eagles fans were not to thrilled. I, for one, didn't think he would fit, was a loud mouth, a distraction. Recently however, after the dance, (I was in stiches watching it..), my opinion has started to change. In a time where players are going to jail and getting suspended for being an accomplice to drug trafficing, abusing women, drug infractions, alcohol infractions (Sorry, had to refrence that), T.O is getting alot of attention from the media, and fans. They call him a loud mouth, and I have heard him called a disgrace. When did Ray Lewis become such a legend? Such a model for the NFL's best? The guys shows up and works hard, stays out of trouble, and does his job pretty darn well. I still don't agree with all of his antics, that sign thing in Clevland pissed me off, but be fair about it. What a player does (or does not do) off the field should be more a measurment of his character than a dance he does in the endzone.....sorry. Rant off.
^You've made some points. When T.O. said that Shannon Sharpe said it best, "If you want me to shutup, then keep me out of the end zone." That's what you have to do. I think Terrell made a point comparing him and Ray when it came to the NFL fans finding
Ray more of the hero...but I do think it was wrong for bringing up the double murder trial. That was not cool.
Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind.
Withering my intuition, missing opportunities and I must
Feed my will to feel my moment drawing way outside the lines.
TO always got on my nerves, but I have to admit, after what he said about Lewis, I have a new respect for him. TO was telling the truth. I think the deal with TO is that he is arrogant. That's why so many people dislike him. But he had a good point in suggesting arrogance isn't as bad as murder.
Let us all gather around and drink the ey-Aid of the Redskins.
Ok, here's the simple facts....If TO wants people off his ass, quit acting like an arrogant, in your face prick after TD's??? Plain and simple...end of story..Yea, we could go on and on, "so and so did this, this team did that and that" etc...etc...
The simple facts are TO is an arrogant dick? His antics are unprofessional and looked upon as arrogant from the majority of sports enthusiasts.
Joe Horn will forever be labeled as a dick too? But, through time, Joe will be forgiven, it's already working, no antics this year...
Sure, Lewis was charged with murder and I sort of see TO's point, but he brings this negative publicity upon himself. To be respected, TO would have to hand the ball to a ref after a TD and go to the bench(aka,Barry Sanders)...it's ok to jump around a bit, fine, but this guy is a jackass...
Is he a stud as a player? Yes, absolutely.
Is a a professional, mature sports person I want my son to mimic or idolize? absolutely not.
Arrogance and cockiness like TO is not accepted by the majority of sports fans.
Screw the idea that NFL is the Not Fun League and boring. Show professionalism, it's an honor to be playing in the NFL so show some respect to the sport and its fans and teams.
I never really thought Horn was that bad. Sure, the cell phone was rude, but it hasn't tarnished his image nearly as bad as Owens.
Stop Terrell from going into the endzone, and you won't hear anything.
Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind.
Withering my intuition, missing opportunities and I must
Feed my will to feel my moment drawing way outside the lines.
Montana Redskin wrote:Is he a stud as a player? Yes, absolutely. Is a a professional, mature sports person I want my son to mimic or idolize? absolutely not.
i think t.o.'s point is that the nfl pushes ray lewis as a guy for young kids to 'idolize', despite the fact that he's been involved with a murder case. i don't think t.o. is asking to be an idol. he's just asking why a convicted fellon is the nfl posterboy while t.o is the bad guy. a valid, question, i think. t.o. is most definitely an arrogant ass, but he's never killed anybody. that should put him above ray lewis on the image chart, one would think.
I'm a jack of all trades, the master of three
Rockin' the tables, rockin' the mikes, rockin' the young lay-dees.
Montana Redskin wrote:Is he a stud as a player? Yes, absolutely. Is a a professional, mature sports person I want my son to mimic or idolize? absolutely not.
i think t.o.'s point is that the nfl pushes ray lewis as a guy for young kids to 'idolize', despite the fact that he's been involved with a murder case. i don't think t.o. is asking to be an idol. he's just asking why a convicted fellon is the nfl posterboy while t.o is the bad guy. a valid, question, i think. t.o. is most definitely an arrogant ass, but he's never killed anybody. that should put him above ray lewis on the image chart, one would think.
The answer is simple. Owens isn't a "team player." And weren't the charges against Lewis dropped? I'll take someone who is innocent until proven guilty over someone who is a poor sport. I still think the dance and the whole situation is just hillarious. And then Ward did the T.O. arm-flap move on his two TDs this weekend. Too funny!
ey-Aid of the Redskins.
