Sports Radio Interviews

Terrell Owens Speaks In Philly For The First Time In Years

Terrell Owens is crossing over into the mainstream.  He’s already arguably the most famous or infamous football player in the NFL.  ESPN has probably done over 500 hours on him (I’m purely guessing on that number, but wouldn’t be surprised if it’s close)over the last 5 years.  Starting on Tuesday June 23rd, TO will be on ABC for a revised version of The Superstars.  His partner is the ridiculously beautiful swimsuit model and actress Joanna Krupa (see more pics after the jump).  He’s also currently filming a reality show as well so we’ll see plenty of TO in the next six months.

I’m a diehard Eagles fan and I don’t apologize for that.  I’m not one of those guys that was in the media that stopped rooting for teams and only rooted for players and good stories.  It’s in my blood and it keeps me more connected to my dad and my friends I grew up with back East.  I bought a TO jersey after they signed him, but root for the name on the front, not the back so when they suspended him I immediately bought a Jeremiah Trotter jersey.  On a side note, I’m like Mush from “A Bronx Tale” and Trotter got cut after the season so my wife bought me (I hope she doesn’t read this) one of those cheesy jerseys with my name on the back of it. 

Sorry for the tangent, I can’t help myself sometimes.  Anyway, I was at the first game of TO’s career with the Eagles where he had three touchdowns against the Giants.  The reception for him from the fans gave me the chills.  He and McNabb had arguably their best seasons during the one year they played together.  After he made a miraculous comeback from an injury and played brilliantly in the Super Bowl, TO was on pace to become the most popular athlete in Philadelphia sports history.  He had the city by the family jewels and he let it slip through his fingers.  Some guys just need bedlam in their life to survive.  Apparently TO is one of them.

Terrell Owens and Joanna Krupa joined ESPN Radio Philadelphia to discuss competing in the Superstars, they’re little partner fights and then TO discussed if he would have done anything differently in Philly, his persona, his reputation as a home wrecker, and much more.

Does he miss Philadelphia?

“Actually I do miss you guys. I had [the best] year and a half of my career there really. It was short lived but I did enjoy the fans there. They were fanatics. I know when I came to that stadium and I drove up to that stadium, they got my psyched, they got me ready to play ball. I’m very fortunate to play for that organization. The fans are fantastic, they support the Eagles whole-heartedly.”

His persona:

“The media has made me bigger than life. It has some perks to it and it has some downsides to it. Overall, I feel like I’m blessed and I continue to be blessed. People still wonder how I continue to do the things I do on the field. They don’t understand. It’s more than X’s and O’s, it’s more than what people say on the radio show or a TV broadcast. I was raised in the church, I believe in God, I have faith in him. People just don’t realize it’s more than just football, it’s just more than a head coach, it’s more than players, it’s more than 100 yard football field, there’s more that goes into it. The way that I’ve trained, the way that I’ve relied on my faith. I’ve tested my faith just by what happened my first year in Philly. I had the injury, a severe injury at that. It was supposed to keep me out 3 to 4 months and I came back in like 6 1/2  or 7 weeks. That’s a testament to what I’ve always gone through in my life. People need to realize that and not focus so much on what the media says or tells them about me.”

Would he have done anything differently after the Super Bowl?

“Looking back on it, there were a few things I would have done differently; maybe interviews or what not. The things that came from those interviews, trust me and I have said it time and time again, people overreacted to what was said and what was being recorded. Again, not to harp on football too much and go back to that and relive that, if people were to read the transcripts of what happened and what I said, then it would be clear to them.”

What happened in Philadelphia?

“Given the injury that I sustained, people just don’t know. I went against the doctor’s orders. I wouldn’t say they owed it to me but I thought out of respect and what I brought to the team and what I did, it would have been considered. Other than that, it’s a business. It’s just like a guy that’s been there for 4 years and they ask a guy to take a pay cut. That’s up to the guy whether to take that pay cut or not. I’m pretty sure there would have been a dialogue between the two and there just wasn’t any dialogue and there wasn’t any movement on their end. Other than that, things happen for a reason. I’ve moved on, I’ve gone to Dallas, I’ve still been successful no matter where I’ve been. It wasn’t a matter of production. Any type of job, if you feel like you’re succeeding what your employer is doing and you feel like you need a raise, then those things are often discussed.”

On his reputation as a team wrecker:

“My stats speak for itself and team’s record prior to me getting there and after I’ve gotten there speak for itself. I think they’re basically speaking out of opinion and that’s fine. Sometimes they’re speaking out of anger. Just as well as a quarterback can make me better, I can make a quarterback better. If you want to check the stats with that too, maybe they’ll reevaluate their opinion.”

Did he consider returning to the Eagles after getting released by the Cowboys?

“Honestly, when everything happened, it happened so fast. I really didn’t have enough time to ponder that situation. It was a matter 24 to 48 hours before things got to where I am now. Obviously we talked about team possibilities, options, what have you. I think things ended so badly with myself and management that I never even thought that they would even consider it even though since then, Donovan and I, we’ve talked, we’ve hung out and things are very amicable with us right now. Other than that, it is what it is, I’ve moved on.”

Listen to Terrell Owens and Joanna Krupa on ESPN Radio Philadelphia with Mike Missanelli

Tags: Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Joanna Krupa, Philadelphia Eagles, Superstars on ABC, Terrell Owens