The saga of Terrell Owens and his Pro Football Hall of Fame continued today as the former Wide Receiver announce on Twitter that he will be giving his acceptance speech at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
He had this to say:
“As many of you know, I am forgoing the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton. After giving it much thought, I have realized just how much I want to celebrate what will inevitably the best weekend of my life at a place that means so much to me.
I have decided to give my Hall of Fame speech at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in McKenzie Arena on Saturday, August 4. The event, which is free and open to the public, starts at 3:17 p.m.
I’m proud to be a Moc, and I’m honored to be able to share this experience with my family, friends, teammates and fans at the place that provided me an opportunity beyond high school and where I truly began to find myself as an athlete. Thank you to everyone who has supported my celebration decision. I look forward to seeing you all in Chattanooga.
Getcha popcorn ready!”
Owens played for the Mocs from 1992 to 1995 and he recorded 133 passes for 2,320 Yards and 19 Touchdowns.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at 7 PM EST the same day.
As we have said here many times at Notinhalloffame.com we are very happy for Owens’ induction and have been a supporter of this since he was first eligible three years ago. It is hard however to paint this as anything other than a little selfish and attention grabbing as it does take away from the other inductees.
Let the backlash continue.
He didn’t say the word retirement, but in a post on his Twitter account it sure seems like that is what Seattle Seahawk Safety Kam Chancellor announced. This is what he had to say:
“I always prayed to God and told myself that I would play this game of football until the wheels fall off. Well the wheels didn’t fall off, but God has given me a sign that I just can’t ignore. I’ve played through all types of bruises and injuries at a high level. But this one, I just can’t ignore. When the doctors told me what was going on in Nov, I could feel my heart drop to my stomach. The stiffness in my neck and the images that I saw had me at one of my lowest points as a Man, because football is all I knew outside of serving the Lord. To walk away from the game by choice is one thing, to walk away from the game because of the risk of paralysis is another. My final test showed no healing. I put all my blood, sweat, and tears into this game. On the field, off the field, pouring into my teammates, coaches, opponents, friends, family, and so many more. God has blessed me with an amazing opportunity to show the world my gifts he has given me, and my heart to love everyone and everything. Not everyone and everything has loved me back, but through the grace of God I have been able to see the good in it all and forgive what needs to be forgiven and continue to love anyway. If it weren’t for everybody God placed upon me on this journey I wouldn’t be he Man (Ballplayer) I am today. I’ve learned so many valuable lessons that I can take with me on the next journey. How to use them? I don’t know yet. But I will wait for his instructions. But I will wait for his instructions. Love is in the center of it all. LOB 4Lyfe. I love by the Golden rules (Galatians 5:14, and it has helped me touch a massive amount of people, and I pray that they touch a massive amount of people with the Love that was given to them. We are all brothers and sisters through Christ and we were called to work together. Let’s not forget that. Forgive, forget, let go, and live on. Love your brothers and sisters. Thank you again for all of the support and Love from everyone all over. Good or Bad its all received with Love. Time for the Next chapter. Lord take the wheel…
P.S. Pray for your boy. I have no clue how these head injuries will go after the game. What I do know is that my God is stronger. Peace and Love.
Sure seems like a retirement to us.
In 2010, the Seahawks drafted chancellor in the 5th Round out of Virginia Tech, the only team he would ever play for professionally. In his rookie year, Chancellor played in all 16 Games in a reserve role and in 2011 he would win the starting Strong Safety job and formed a formidable backfield with Earl Thomas. Chancellor would be named to the Pro Bowl for the first time. 2012 would also be solid, but it would be the next three seasons where he would prove himself as one of the top Strong Safeties in the game.
Chancellor’s 2013 season would not only see a return to the Pro Bowl, but he was also named a Second Team All-Pro, which would be the first of two straight years he would achieve such an accolade. More importantly, Chancellor and the rest of the potent Seattle defense anchored the team to a win at Super Bowl XLVIII. In a game where the Seahawks won 43-8, Chancellor made ten combined tackles and picked off Broncos’ Quarterback Peyton Manning.
2014 would see anther Pro Bowl and another trip to the Super Bowl, though this time Seattle would go down to defeat against the New England Patriots. Chancellor was a Pro Bowl Selection for the fourth and final time in 2015.
In the 2017 season, Chancellor suffered a season ending neck injury in week 10 of the season. As it turned out, it was essentially a career ending injury.
While we don’t think that Kam Chancellor will make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we do think it is possible that the Seahawks will honor him in the future in some capacity.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to wish Kam Chancellor the best in his post-playing career, and we are a little haunted by that last statement of his where he openly worried about head injuries.
The game of football is certainly changing.
Terrell Owens has really made himself the centerpiece of this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony hasn’t he? This is a pretty impressive accomplishment considering that he won’t even be there.
Today, TMZ showed Owens speaking about the honor of being a Hall of Famer to the Boys and Girls Club in Los Angeles. This has certainly raised some eyebrows as people have wondered why he would say it such a great honor when he is skipping the ceremony, though it again should be reiterated that he never said anything about it not be…just that he will celebrate in his own way.
Other Hall of Famers have sounded off on Owens’ decision. Former Defensive Back Rod Woodson had this to say to NFL Network:
“I really don’t care if he comes or not. But what bothers me more than anything is that in T.O.’s life, he’s had different things that happened to him in his life, but there’s people who helped him come along through his childhood, high school, college, to get to the point where he’s at to be one of the better players to ever play in the National Football League … you can be there to acknowledge them. And they lose out, because he’s thinking, ‘It’s all about T.O.’”
It is hard to dispute this logic. Would TMZ mention this if he were going to the ceremony in Canton? Of course not!
This is the first time that a player who was alive and in good health has skipped out on the Hall of Fame induction.
We know this much, this story has some legs left.
Wow…
Terrell Owens was selected to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past winter and his section was particularly newsworthy as he was publically upset about being passed over during his first two years of eligibility. Owens went as far to make his own blazer, which illustrated his accomplishments. Now, when he is about to receive the real thing, he has announced that he won’t be in attendance at the ceremony.
Owens had this to say:
“While I am incredibly appreciative of this opportunity, I have made the decision to publicly decline my invitation to attend the induction ceremony in Canton, I have already shared this information with the Hall. After visiting Canton earlier this year, I came to the realization that I wish to celebrate what will be one of the most memorable days of my life elsewhere. At a later date, I will announce where and when I will celebrate my induction. I wish to congratulate all past, current and future inductees," Owens' statement read. "It is quite an honor to be part of such elite company. This honor is something that I will cherish forever."
It is hard to be surprised at this announcement from Owens.
Owens has always been an eccentric case and we expect that many will paint this Owens being selfish and deflecting the attention towards himself, especially if his celebration garners media attention.
We will say this emphatically, as we are not exactly thrilled to see Owens shun the ceremony we are very happy that he was inducted in the first place. He deserves the honor regardless of how he wants to celebrate it.
A lot of what we do on Notinhalloffame.com is maintaining existing sections. One of those is the Football Futures where players take their time in retiring in hopes of latching on to another team. As such, it feels like we are constantly adding batches to our futures section and today is one of those days.
We have had some new names to the 2021 and 2022 Football Futures list:
They are as follows:
2021:
B.J. Raji: A Nose Tackle who spent his entire career with the Green Bay Packers, B.J. Raji helped the Pack win Super Bowl XLV. He went to the Pro Bowl in 2011.
Brandon Meriweather: A Defensive Back from Miami of Florida, Brandon Meriweather would be a Pro Bowl representative in both 2009 and 2010.
Jerod Mayo: Mayo was named the 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2008 and would go on to two Pro Bowls. In a career spent entirely with the New England Patriots, he would help his team win two Super Bowls.
Jon Beason: “Big Beas” came from the legendary University of Miami and would become a three time Pro Bowler at Linebacker.
Louis Vazquez: Vazquez would help the Denver Broncos win Super Bowl 50 while going to a Pro Bowl in 2013.
Tim Jennings: Jennings would win a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears but later would go to two Pro Bowls as a Chicago Bear.
2022:
Antonio Cromartie: Cromartie was a four time Pro Bowl Cornerback who spent most of his career with the New York Jets.
Jeremy Zuttah: Zuttah was a Pro Bowl Center in 2016, which was his final season in the NFL.
Jerome Felton: Felton played Fullback in the NFL where he was a Second Team All Pro and Pro Bowl Selection in 2012.
Josh Brown: Brown was a Pro Bowl Place Kicker in 2015 and in 2010 he kicked the most Field Goals in the NFL.
Ryan Clady: Clady was a four time Pro Bowl Offensive Tackle who assisted the Denver Broncos win Super Bowl 50.
Don’t be surprised if we add more to the 2021 and 2022 Football Futures later on in the year. We are also in the beginning stages of prepping our 2023 Football Futures.
As always, we here at Notinhalloffame.com hope that you will cast your votes and offer your opinions!
We have another major update here at Notinhalloffame.com as our Football list of those who should be considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame has gone through a major revision.
Last February, 6 of our top 10 were selected (Ray Lewis #1, Jerry Kramer #2, Randy Moss #3, Brian Dawkins #7, Terrell Owens #8 and Brian Urlacher #9) as was another top 15 (Robert Brazile #15). This has brought as expected a major overhaul in our top 10 list but with the addition of three strong first ballot entries none of the returning entries will crack the top three.
Our Notinhalloffame.com Football Top Ten is:
Former Tight End Tony Gonzalez debuts at number one. Gonzalez is without question the greatest Tight End ever and if you don’t agree with that, you can’t argue that he is not the best in terms of pure offensive skill. The former dual sport star from UCLA is second all-time in Receptions and is a 14 time Pro Bowl Selection. If anyone on this list has a speech ready to go it should be Tony Gonzalez!
Champ Bailey makes his inaugural appearance on our list at #2. The Cornerback dominated his position for years and went to twelve Pro Bowls as well as being chosen for three First Team All-Pro rosters.
Former Defensive Player of the Year Ed Reed arrives at #3. Like Gonzalez and Bailey, Reed has the credentials of a first ballot Hall of Famer. The Safety is a nine time Pro Bowl and five time First Team All-Pro Selection and is a Super Bowl winner with the Baltimore Ravens. He is also the all-time leader in Interception Return Yards.
Alan Faneca returns at #4 and is the highest ranked returnee from our list. The Offensive Lineman has been a Finalist the last two years and is a nine time Pro Bowl and six time First Team All-Pro Selection. He won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chuck Howley is the highest rated former player who would need to get in via the Senior Committee. Howley, the MVP of Super Bowl V and six time Pro Bowler remains at #5.
Four time Super Bowl Champion L.C. Greenwood also holds the same rank as last year as he holds at #6. The former Pittsburgh Steeler was a six time Finalist and like Howley would need the Senior Committee to get inducted.
Johnny Robinson jumped from #10 to #7. The longtime Kansas City Chief is a former Super Bowl winner and was a Finalist six times. He too needs to enter via the Senior Committee.
From the Denver Broncos’ famed “Orange Crush”, Randy Gradishar jumped from #12 to #8. The former Linebacker was a two time Finalist was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1978 and was a seven time Pro Bowl and five time First Team All-Pro Selection.
Three time Super Bowl Champion Running Back Roger Craig moves up to #9. Craig was a Finalist in 2009.
Rounding out to the new top ten is Wide Receiver Torry Holt. Holt went to twelve Pro Bowls and helped the St. Louis Rams win the Super Bowl.
Gonzalez, Bailey and Reed are not the only new entries.
Four time Pro Bowl Selection London Fletcher enters our list at #66. Fletcher was a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams and is one of four players to have participated in 250 straight games.
Regular visitors to Notinhalloffame.com know that we eventually plan to grow our core sports lists to 150 and as such we are allowing new entries to push our Football list beyond 100. We have two new entries in the lower end of the list with Asante Samuel at #97 and Brian Waters at #102.
You know what we want you to do!
Take a look at our new list (which can be found here) and let us know who you think should be in the next Pro Football Hall of Fame Class.