The NFL Hall of Fame is populated with the most impressive players in the history of the sport. But sometimes, a player's on-field accomplishments can be overshadowed by his off-field issues. Such is the case with former wide receiver Terrell Owens, whose numbers warrant Hall of Fame consideration but whose personal issues flared up in nasty ways over the course of his 16 seasons.
Owens finished his playing career with the sixth-most receptions (1078) in NFL history to go along with the second-most receiving yards (15,934), third-most receiving touchdowns (153), and the 16th-most receiving yards per game (72.8). His omission has him feeling "disrespected," but fellow receiver Marvin Harrison doesn't think it matters.
"The person who was supposed to get in got int. And that was me," Harrison said. "If he didn't get in, that's his problem. He can talk all that other bulls--- like he's been doing. That's on him. But I'm in. My jacket is gold. I will look in the rear view for nobody.
"So he can get his ass in whenever he gets in...if he gets in. If he doesn't get in, too bad. The hell with him."
Harrison was inducted into the Hall along with Brett Favre, Ken Stabler, Orlando Pace and others in the 2016 class. This was the first year Owens was eligible for induction.
"I felt more so disrespected," Owens said. "I think you guys know, my stats speak for themselves. I think everyone realizes that there is a flaw in the system. I didn't really have to say a whole lot. Around the country, two weeks after the Super Bowl and this whole induction thing, people are still talking about it. Obviously there is something that needs to be changed about it. I never really played the game to get in the Hall of Fame, anyways. I'm used to it. I probably would have been more surprised if I had made it. It's a shame for some pencil-pushers to vote guys in, considering the body of work they've done and put out on the football field. What I've done throughout my career speaks volumes."
Harrison only made it in after three separate tries, so Owen will likely be inducted eventually. Harrison is third all-time in receptions (1,102), seventh in receiving yards (14,580), fifth in receiving touchdowns (128) and eighth in receiving yards per game (76.7).
"If it was up to me, Isaac Bruce, Reggie Wayne...I can go and list...Moss...Randy Moss can all get in," Harrison added. "They got a lot of class with them. If they didn't get in the same time I got in they'd of had a better approach about it as opposed to this guy.
"I'm not worried about nobody else but me. My jacket is gold. I don't look in the rear view mirror."
