ESPN has reported that star wide receiver Terrell Owens tore his ACL last month, either while filming a “reality television show” or during a personal workout.
As a 37-year-old athlete who is not currently under contract, the injury obviously puts the controversial wide receiver’s future in doubt.
So, two questions: Is he done? And is he a Hall of Famer?
I don’t care for Owens. He’s definitely got some diva to him as an individual, prancing for the cameras and throwing quarterback Donovan McNabb under the bus as his two years in Philadelphia wound down.
But you can’t help but respect him as a player. No matter what his often strange life has looked like off the field, he is a workout warrior who always answers the bell on Sundays. His nine catch, 122-yard performance in Super Bowl XXXIX on a barely healed broken leg was as memorable as it gets, despite the loss.
The game winning touchdown catch he made for San Francisco against Green Bay in the 1998-99 playoffs also left a mark while leaving Owens in tears. That’s the dilemma with Owens. His on-field exploits are as fantastic as his off-field antics are strange.
But the NFL Hall of Fame is about his contributions to the game on the field and those are beyond reproach. His 1078 catches for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns put him among the top receivers of all time in each category. Pro Football Reference has him at six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pro honors.
So to the second question I asked, I say yes, he is a Hall of Famer. But to the first, I’m not as sure as some others that the final chapter has been written. As weird as he is, he’s very dedicated to his craft. His advancing age works against him, as do the antics that have turned people off over the years. But he had 72 receptions, 983 yards and nine touchdowns last year before missing the final two games due to a knee injury, so he clearly still has some game.
But my guess is the injury provides him the additional motivation to rehab and come back, whether it’s this season or in 2012, if only to silence his critics just one more time. Yes, Owens will one day be in the Hall. But I would not expect to see him on the ballot in 2015.
Your thoughts?
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He is a shoe-in for Hall of Fame, but not first ballot. If Randy Moss goes to a team with a stable QB he could be a first ballot, he could have two more seasons of 1,000 receiving yards and 10 TD’s and that is if he is motivated. IMO, he is the 2nd best WR of all time when motivated.
Brad, you just nailed the biggest problem I have with Randy Moss. I think a person can make a strong argument that when he is motivated, Moss is the best WR of all time. I think he is equal in talent if not superior to Jerry Rice.
I did a post a few months ago (link below) comparing their careers. After their first half-dozen seasons, Moss was on his way to obliterating Rice’s records.
But Rice was always motivated. Moss is occasionally motivated. It really bugs me about him. He will get into the hall, without a doubt, but he should have gone down as one of the all-time top players. Instead he’ll go out as someone people will always wonder about.
https://www.zoneblitz.com/2011/01/18/randy-moss-hall-famer/
That’s why I might want the Jets to get him if they can’t get Holmes AND Edwards. I think Edwards walks and they sign Holmes. But, Moss still has it IMO. When he was in Oakland, he didn’t care AT ALL. Than look how he did with a half way decent Patriots team(sarcasm). I think Randy would go well with a coach like Rex, who is pretty good at juggling egos and is a good coach.
And Randy gets to play against the Patriots 2 times(at least) per year ? EXTRA MOTIVATION (but I do have a feeling he might go back to NE). If Jets lose edwards and keep Holmes, than I say the peeking order begins with Plaxico Burress. Than after him, I’d say, Glitter, glisten, gloss, floss. I catch a beat running like Randy Moss (Outkast lyric) .