Terrell Owens was not-so-surprisingly but likely unfairly snubbed from joining the 2016 Hall of Fame class, and he’s not happy about it.
While appearing on ESPN radio show Mike & Mike (audio from Streamable via Sports Illustrated), T.O. responded to criticism from Cris Carter that the former San Francisco 49ers standout didn’t deserve the nod.
Owens said he’s heard “from a lot of guys” that Carter begged his way to Canton, where he was inducted in 2013.
“He’s a guy that’s criticized me plenty of times, for anything. … For me, just the way I played the game. A lot of people didn’t really like it, and I think he conformed to what he said today when he got in [a media] chair. I know earlier on in my career we beat them in a playoff game, and he was upset that it wasn’t Jerry Rice that only beat them.”
Before we get too far into this fascinating beef, remember that Carter assembled a Hall of Fame-worth career. He finished with 1,101 receptions, 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns. Those numbers rank fourth, 12th and fourth in NFL history, respectively.
Whether or not Carter “begged” for the Hall of Fame nod doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of the situation, because the Minnesota Vikings legend deserves to be there anyway.
Comparatively, Owens — who logged 15 NFL seasons as a member of the 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals — ranks sixth in catches (1,078), second in yards (15,934) and third in touchdowns (153). He received five All-Pro awards compared to Carter’s two.
Perhaps most importantly to some, though, neither player won a Super Bowl ring. And that could be a main reason Carter, who last played in 2002, endured a six-year wait after retiring before receiving a gold jacket.
Owens might have to watch a couple more Hall of Fame classes before getting enshrined in Canton, but it would be a mistake to completely leave out one of the NFL’s most prolific receivers.
If that takes a couple years, though, Owens might consider soliciting the right people — or, you know, begging.