LowTech;2435312 said:
Why is everyone even wasting time talking about this........it is not logical.
It's because no player is above criticism. None, but Owens draws a much higher level of criticism, perhaps even unjustifiably so at times, upon himself than that directed at most players.
"Why?" Simple.
Throughout his career, Owens has created
totally unnecessary attention-grabbing episodes onto himself. Standing on the Star. Shouting at coaches during games. Sharpies. Pom-poms. Publicly making derogratory statements about quarterbacks. Publicly pouting about his status as a wide receiver against that of a living legend (Jerry Rice). Publicly calling out quarterbacks. Calling out coaches. Crying on national television about being paid millions and yet not having the capability of feeding his family. Press conferences conducted in a freaking driveway for pete's sake. Etc., etc.
And that's BEFORE Jerry Jones signed him to the roster. The damage had already been done. He made his bed. This is the "Terrell Owens" which forever (and I do mean in the literal sense) be critiqued. And when I say critiqued, I mean e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.
"Why?" Simple.
Two reasons. First, the media will never (again, I do mean in the literal sense) allow it. It's a cash cow. It's a dream come true. It's a magnet that the media can use to draw readers and viewers alike to articles and broadcast commentary in droves regardless of actual merit. It's a soap opera of Owens own creation. Some may argue that he's guiltless. Doesn't matter. Re-read the second paragraph. How many players in the NFL--past or present--have
voluntarily and/or
intentionally drawn the level of attention onto themselves as Owens has? Answer: very few indeed.
Second, Owens is what he is. He can't cap his own personality. It's too strong. He tries to conform and yes, he has been very successful in doing so while he's been on the present roster:
- His poster in his locker during the New England game
- His next question auto-answer to Ed Werder
--are examples of valid efforts, but his ego continues to leak out occasionally. It overflows like a head of beer poured too quickly and runs down the outside of a glass everywhere. The latest example is his interview with Deion Sanders.
Totally unnecessary. An obvious media trap which even Stevie Wonder could see, but he can't help himself.
The spotlight has always been like a drug to him and it is his weakness. Instead of allowing his level of play be both his shield and vindication to justify his statue as a premier wide receiver, which he is in my opinion, he takes bait that a child wouldn't and *presto*! He increases the size of the magnifying glass which he's always held over his own head for media AND fans alike to pick at both real and imagined deficiencies in his own game.
You're correct. 100% so. It is illogical. On the one hand, you have fans and the media formuling opinions about Owens. On the other hand, you have Owens attempting to defend himself through the same medium, which will forever hold him to a standard he made for himself (yet again) because of his own
mouth, in defiance of the conformity which would be in his own best interests and
not with the skills he was blessed with.
Que sera sera.
.
