Terrell Owens

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Terrell Owens' Hall of Fame Induction Boycott Is a Fitting End for an NFL Rebel

Owens' HOF Boycott is his last middle finger to the NFL—and the league got exactly what it deserved.

          

QB Shea Patterson Ready to Be Michigan's Savior After Escaping Ole Miss Wreckage

Former No. 1 QB recruit Shea Patterson opens up on his "brutal" breakup at Ole Miss and being the "missing piece" for Michigan's title hopes.

                

One Year On: How Neymar's Transfer Has Changed Everything

One year after Neymar's $268 million move to Paris Saint-Germain broke the transfer market record, paying absurd amounts for players has become the norm. So who's next?

Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Terrell Owens angered many by opting to skip this weekend's official induction ceremonies in Canton, Ohio, but he is having no second thoughts on his unprecedented decision.

Owens once again let it be known Friday, via ESPN's Vaughn McClure, that he stands by his decision to protest the Hall of Fame:

"I understand why I've made my decision. I don't expect everyone to agree with me. But again, obviously the criteria and the system put in place for the Hall of Fame in order for guys like myself to be inducted, there are guidelines that the writers—the sportswriters—are supposed to adhere to.

"This is not [about] not being inducted the first or second ballot, but it's about the process in which guys are nominated and ultimately inducted. There is a flaw in that system. So this is not only about me, but it's about the guys that went before me, that's going to come after me. And I can make a stand for those guys so they won't have to go through this situation."

He continued:

"I'm proud of what I've been able to accomplish. I don't expect a lot of people to agree with what I've done. I know what I'm doing. I know who's more important. For me, it wasn't about the Hall of Fame. I never played this sport to be in the Hall of Fame. Everything that I've accomplished was a lot of hard work. It was a lot of blood, sweat and tears. And when I feel like there are certain people put in position to not really adhere and honor and respect what I've done for the game, then that's an issue."

There are eight players in the class of 2018. Bobby Beathard, Robert Brazile, Brian Dawkins, Jerry Kramer, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss and Brian Urlacher are the others receiving football's highest honor this weekend.

While most people cherish the opportunity to be a part of the festivities celebrating their careers, Owens declined the invitation, instead opting to give his induction speech at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga:

Terrell Owens declined his invitation to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and released this statement: pic.twitter.com/J4P1mS6VjN

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 7, 2018

🗣🎤🧥🏈🍿😎 pic.twitter.com/SMz2KlZwzz

— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) July 3, 2018

He later expanded upon his decision via Twitter:

I'm SO HAPPY for JERRY!! U shouldn't have had to wait that damn long either! I'm doing this for guys like him. Past, present and the future. https://t.co/z92XZGeXAn

— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) July 15, 2018

Since Owens has decided not to make the trip to Canton, there will be no official acknowledgement by the Hall of Fame.

"The focus is on the guys who are here," Hall of Fame executive director Joe Horrigan said, via Talk of Fame Network's Clark Judge, adding: "There's no reason to bring him up as an individual. He's not here."

Owens had to wait until his third year on the ballot to get the call despite putting together one of the greatest resumes in NFL history. He recorded 1,078 catches for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns while making six Pro Bowls during his 15-year career.

He played for five teams in his career: the San Francisco 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys, the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals.

The final chapter in Terrell Owens' polarizing career will be written Saturday when he finally enters the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He so frequently celebrated himself throughout his career that it's fitting this story won't conclude in Canton.

If the NFL wasn't a league that frowns upon any speck of selfishness, this would have been Owens' moment to be celebrated for his individuality. One of the greatest wide receivers of all time would've basked in the limelight at the Hall of Fame enshrinement, one of the rare stages where the NFL celebrates the individual.

But he won't. This traditional induction was not meant for Owens, because the NFL never accepted him. It did all it could to diminish his influence because of its animosity toward his brash personality.

One of the most self-absorbed players we'll ever see, T.O. loved him some T.O. He knew he was great at football. Through his words, his touchdown celebrations and his play, he made sure everyone else knew this, too.

He backed up all the trash-talking that came out of his big mouth to become an NFL legend. Owens is a classic example of how we criticize athletes who lack confidence yet chastise them for having too much. He often reminded us of this hypocrisy by coining his famous phrase that still rings true.

"They hate to love me."

Long after his final game in 2010, the hatred remains. His personality irritated many during his era, which included many prominent media members on the Hall of Fame's 48-person selection committee. The committee, comprised of one media representative from each pro football city (two from New York), went out of its way to prolong the inevitable. T.O. has a first-ballot resume, but it took three years for the committee to even consider him as a finalist—let alone as a Hall of Famer. It broke away from the longstanding practice of limiting selection criteria to a player's on-field performance and suddenly considered Owens' behavior in the locker room "an extension" of the field.

"He's a Hall of Fame player that five teams couldn't wait to get rid of. So what does that tell about how disruptive he was?" Hall of Fame voter Gary Myers said on The Dan Patrick Show in 2016 after Owens wasn't inducted during his first year on the ballot.

You want to know who else played for five teams, went to six Pro Bowls and was considered a "disruptive" wide receiver? Randy Moss. It didn't stop him from becoming a first-ballot Hall of Famer this year, despite trailing Owens in career receptions and receiving yards.

Owens' emotions were the driving force behind his success, but they also brought out the worst in him. After eight seasons, the 49ers traded him to the Eagles in 2004 after a clerical error kept him from becoming an unrestricted free agent, an oversight that angered him. That same year, Owens implied to Playboy that Jeff Garcia, his quarterback with the 49ers, was gay. Owens has since backed off that remark, and Garcia was one of nearly 30 former teammates and coaches to vouch for Owens' Hall of Fame candidacy to the committee.

As "divisive" as Owens' behavior was portrayed to be throughout his career, he was never charged with a crime.  

You want to know who was? Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

He was one of three men charged with murder in the slayings of Richard Lollar and Jacinth Baker that occurred in 2000 after Super Bowl 34 in Atlanta. At his trial, Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, and the murder charges were dropped. He also was fined $250,000 by the NFL for violating its personal conduct policy.

But that didn't stop Lewis from becoming a first-ballot Hall of Famer this year.

"We are only supposed to assess players on what they did on the football field," Scott Garceau, a member of the Hall of Fame committee who presented Lewis' name for consideration as the Baltimore representative, told Yvonne Wenger and Mike Klingaman of the Baltimore Sun. "For instance, if a player had three DUIs, that's something we're not supposed to bring up. We're to judge them on what they did between the lines.

"There was no conversation about Ray. It was like the room knew he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and that nothing more need be said."

The committee, which has just five black members, played by different rules when evaluating Owens. It went by the same double standard we see in today's NFL that justifies Tom Brady's sideline antics as "passion" when he's yelling at a coach or player but deems Odell Beckham Jr.'s passion as a distraction.

So why would Owens want to go to Canton? That would be like being an uninvited guest at a family reunion. They clearly don't want you around.

Instead, T.O. will do what T.O. has always done. Owens took control. He will celebrate his moment how he wants.

Owens will return to his college, UT-Chattanooga, for his Hall of Fame induction. It's a smaller stage than the one he would have had in Canton. But for once, the NFL can't ban what props he can use. There won't be a referee penalizing him for excessive celebration as he requests Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative" to be the first and last song played at his VIP afterparty.

While the Hall of Fame says it refuses to honor Owens individually at its ceremonies, in an era when individuality is celebrated, Owens set the example for NFL athletes to pave their own way. He showed that there is no "right way" to play the game. He proved that you can be an NFL legend without having your personality stripped from you. He re-emphasized that your identity is worth fighting for.

T.O. is a cultural symbol for those redefining greatness who have been neglected just for being themselves.

"Hall of Famer like Terrell Owens, even though they wanna overlook a n---a," LE$ spits on "Neva."

Get your popcorn ready. It's gonna be a show.

It's the Thursday episode of Simms & Lefkoe!

On today's pod, the guys discuss Stefon Diggs' new contract and which Hall of Famer is the best overall player. Adam "Pacman" Jones and Phil Simms also call-in to talk with Chris and Adam.

Follow us @SimmsAndLefkoe on Twitter and Instagram and tell us what you think of the show!

Warning: Contains NSFW language.

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Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens said team owner Jerry Jones is "being a bully" for his comments regarding players protesting police brutality and inequality by kneeling during the national anthem.

"You're basically stripping" players of their rights and their chance to participate in "a peaceful protest," Owens said, per Fox Sports Radio. "To put guys in a situation where they have to do something, that's not right. That's totally wrong."

This comes after Todd Archer of ESPN reported Jones said Cowboys players will have to stand for the anthem during the 2018 season.

Owens' comments echo those of Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Malcolm Jenkins, who also called Jones a "bully" and said he wouldn't want to play for the Cowboys, per Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com.

However, some on Jones' team are apparently fine with his comments, seeing as how quarterback Dak Prescott said NFL games aren't "the time or venue" to protest, per Stefan Stevenson of the Star-Telegram.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott also weighed in, saying the team "chose to stand together for the anthem," per Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram.

Owens, who is part of the 2018 Hall of Fame class, played three seasons for the Cowboys from 2006 through 2008. This isn't the first time he and Jones have engaged in a public spat. Noah Bressner of the New York Post noted the Cowboys owner called the receiver's decision to skip the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in protest of the voting process a "mistake."

Owens tweeted his take on the situation:

Jerry "made a mistake" of releasing me after listening to others when I produced, gave my ALL, sacrificed my health for the team but who am I?! But hey I thought Jerry had a mind of his own too. #GOFIGURE What I'm doing is for the FANS. #THISISFORYOU https://t.co/mi5BR7p0t6

— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) July 25, 2018

Bad blood is nothing new between these two, considering Jones released Owens back when he was a player by writing a message on a tablecloth, which "blindsided" the receiver, per Bressner.

Martellus Bennett doesn't hold back on Trump or the NFL. Terrell Owens' snub of the Hall of Fame makes some sense to one Hall of Famer. And Johnny Manziel could find himself in trouble again if he's not careful. All that and more in this week's 10-Point Stance.

   

1. Agent of Change

Martellus Bennett won a Super Bowl, made a Pro Bowl and during much of his time in the NFL was one of the leading social activist voices in all of sports. Now retired, the 10-year veteran tight end continues to run his creative agency and just released a kids book, Hey A.J., It's Bedtime!, another chapter in the A.J. universe that gives kids of color role models in book form. (In August, Bennett's group will also launch an animated series around the character called The Fantastical Adventures of A.J.)

Bennett is most fascinating to me, however, when talking about the NFL, and in this case, President Donald Trump.

After the NFL suffered yet another Twitter assault from the president over the past few days, I asked Bennett why he believes Trump keeps fighting with the league.

"It's the easiest way for him to attack the culture of black people," Bennett said. "He sees the black athlete as someone that black people look up to. So he thinks you can attack black culture by attacking black NFL players.

"Also, attacking black players helps him with his base.

"I think, too, maybe there's no rhyme or reason. Maybe he's just an assh--e."

Bennett isn't shy with his opinions now, nor was he when he played. And since he is only a few months removed from the game, who better to ask about some of the bigger storylines of the season ahead?

Jameis Winston: "I'd like to see how things ... play out. ... He has a similar situation to that of Ben Roethlisberger (who was twice accused of rape). Not the exact thing I know, but he will face a similar type of scrutiny. I'm interested to see how he handles that scrutiny.

The Cowboys: "I want to see how Dak [Prescott] does without Dez [Bryant]. I think people are going to be surprised with how much they miss Dez.

The 49ers: "Let's see how Jimmy [Garoppolo] does once he faces a game plan from defenses all year. It's different when you face teams who focus on you week in and week out."

The Seahawks: "Things in Seattle might be the most fascinating to me. I don't think Earl Thomas will be back. There's a lot of pressure on Pete Carroll and the coaching staff. The whole team has changed."

Bennett isn't for everyone. Packers fans are still upset about his brief tenure in Green Bay. But he was still one of the more important figures in recent NFL history. Not because of what he did on the field, but because of the creativity he showed off the field, his outspokenness and his dedication to advocate for social justice off it. This isn't the last we've heard from him.

   

2. The Falcons should have seen this coming

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was the first to report that Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones was going to hold out of training camp until his contract is reworked. This was one of the most predictable events of the offseason.

Jones has been dropping hints for months. He's also really sharp and knows the business of football. Just like Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell, who is also holding out.

Like Bell, and other star players, Jones can see the money quarterbacks, and owners, are making. Those players aren't just going to sit tight anymore and hope their level of compensation becomes commensurate. They're going to use their power (limited as it is) to get as much money as they can when they have leverage.

   

3. Still no word on Dez

Former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant is still a free agent, and there remains no indication of where he might play.

Teams tell me Bryant seems content to wait for a situation to open that he likes, that he doesn't feel any pressure to move quickly and that money isn't a factor.

So, hold on, fantasy football owners, as it may be a few weeks before Bryant signs.

   

4. It's complicated

Terrell Owens decided to skip the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. With a few exceptions (including me), few around the game have backed Owens' stance. But one influential Hall of Famer understands, and supports, what Owens is doing.

As longtime linebacker Harry Carson told Peter King for his "Football Morning in America" column:

"I don't know why Terrell Owens has chosen not to go to Canton this year. But I fully support his right to do whatever he wants to. It's his life.

"After I retired and I was up for the Hall and I didn't get in for a few years, I would get introduced at banquets and other events. I remember standing up at the Waldorf Astoria in New York at a function, and they said, 'A nine-time Pro Bowl player ... who SHOULD be in the Hall of Fame, Harry Carson.' ... I was never really angry about it, but I saw it affected my family. ... So [in 2004] I wrote to the Hall and said, 'Please remove my name from consideration for the Hall of Fame in the future.' ...

"So when I made it in 2006, I felt I had divorced myself from this, and I had no intention of being involved in the ceremony. But my fiance—now my wife—said to me, 'It's not about you. It's about your family. It's about Mr. Mara.' The Giants' owner, Wellington Mara, had been a staunch advocate. She was right. I relented.

"I am glad I did. What I learned is it is about your family, your coaches, your teachers."

Carson's words should make everyone involved in this stop and think. Getting snubbed carries an emotional cost, and one that takes time to sort out.

   

5. Asking for trouble?

If you've ever been to Montreal (Americans love you, Canada), then you know what I'm about to say is true: It's one of the best, wildest, craziest party places in the world.

It ranks right up there with Bangkok and Pattaya in Thailand, Las Vegas and Poughkeepsie.

In all seriousness, Montreal is a fun town.

And Johnny Manziel was just traded there.

On the field, he'll get quite the test in a Canadian Football League that is far better than most Americans know. Off it, Manziel will face a challenge to not succumb to the temptations that sank his career before.

Players are allowed to party. Of course. But partying was much of Manziel's undoing, along with the fact he wasn't any good at the professional game.

Now, he's in one of the party capitals of North America.

Let's hope, for his sake, he really has turned a page in his life.

   

6. Is the Browns' future as bright as they believe?

Considering the recent history of the franchise, asking if the Browns are a playoff team is like asking if the coyote will ever beat the sheepdog.

Odds are they won't be this year, but I've rarely seen such an optimistic Browns preseason. Newly added Jarvis Landry publicly stated he thinks they will reach the postseason for the first time since 2002.

One thing is certain: This is, easily, the most talented Browns team we've seen in years.

Could the Browns surprise people? Hell, yes, they could. But a playoff team? Um...

   

7. Nobody does it better

Obviously, we know the Patriots have been dominant—five Super Bowl trophies since 2001 are testament to that—but to get a sense of just how much better they have been than their competition, consider this staggering statistic from King: From 2003 to 2017, the Patriots were 80 games better than the next-best AFC East team in that time frame, the Jets. New England was 189-51 during that period and won 14 of 15 possible division titles.

Eighty. Games.

   

8. A monster payday is on the way for Aaron Rodgers

Everything I hear says the Packers and Aaron Rodgers will agree to a contract extension before the season begins.

This isn't a guarantee, but it's what people I trust are saying.

And if/when it happens, Rodgers is likely to become the highest-paid player in the sport. The Packers may not be happy about such an exorbitant sum, but they will pay it, because they'd be foolish not to.

   

9. Another running back looks to cash in

David Johnson reported to Cardinals camp this week after missing all but one game last season with a wrist injury suffered in Week 1. While there have been reports Johnson would get a new contract before the season begins, it hasn't happened—yet.

But Johnson is in the last year of his rookie deal, which will pay him $1.9 million this season. And while last year was lost to injury, he led the NFL in yards from scrimmage the previous season and scored a league-high 20 touchdowns. Still only 26, the odds are a guy who led the NFL in yards from scrimmage and touchdowns in 2016 will be making a lot more than that before this season is through.

   

10. Tony Sparano was special

Whenever you wanted to talk about the intricacies of offensive line play, no one could explain them better, or in easier-to-understand terms, than Tony Sparano.

The Viking offensive line coach, and former Dolphins head coach, died Sunday at the age of 56. His death, due to heart disease, prompted an outpouring of memories from players and coaches around the league. Not only was Sparano well liked, but he was also deeply respected.

The game will miss him.

       

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @mikefreemanNFL.

The CFL's Edmonton Eskimos reportedly released wide receiver Terrell Owens from their negotiation list Friday, according to TSN's Farhan Lalji. 

Edmonton's reported decision paves the way for T.O. to sign with any CFL team.

ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert reported Tuesday that the Eskimos had opened their 10-day window to negotiate a potential contract with Owens.

Owens' agent, Jason Staroszik, told TSN's Dave Naylor on Monday that his 44-year-old client "absolutely 100 percent" wants to play in the CFL.

Staroszik also said, "[Owens] still feels like he has some football years left in him. He just loves the game and wants to get back to playing whether it's the CFL or NFL."

Owens last regular-season action in the NFL came during the 2010 campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished that season with 72 receptions for 983 yards and nine touchdowns.

T.O. signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012, but he was released prior to the start of the regular season.

Owens was selected as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018, and he will be inducted in August.

He will not be present at the ceremony, though, as Owens instead decided to give an induction speech at his alma mater, Tennessee-Chattanooga.

Owens is among the all-time leaders in several NFL receiving categories including receptions (eighth with 1,078), receiving yards (second with 15,934) and receiving touchdowns (third with 153).

2018 Hall of Fame inductee Terrell Owens has found himself in the news for a variety of reasons recently, and he took the time to clear things up on the ESPYs red carpet in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Owens has controversially decided to skip the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony, opting to give his induction speech at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, instead of Canton. He also could get back on the field, even if it means playing in the Canadian Football League.

The 44-year-old addressed both topics at the 2018 ESPYs.  

Hall of Famer Terrell Owens dropped by the @ESPYS red carpet. Here's what he had to say: https://t.co/Q37twfgwKn

— ESPN (@espn) July 18, 2018

Owens made sure to clear up any confusion on his intentions, via ESPN.com:

"For me I think, overall, everybody's obviously wondering what went into my decision. I think John Wooden said it best: 'Be more concerned about your character than your reputation.' I think what the noise is right now is more about my reputation than my actual character.

"They're making the narrative more so about me offending the Hall of Famers, and that has nothing to do with it. I respect all of those Hall of Famers that have gone in before me and going in with me and after me. It has nothing to do with those Hall of Famers."

Owens previously explained his decision to skip Hall of Fame weekend via Twitter:

Terrell Owens declined his invitation to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and released this statement: pic.twitter.com/J4P1mS6VjN

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 7, 2018

🗣🎤🧥🏈🍿😎 pic.twitter.com/SMz2KlZwzz

— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) July 3, 2018

The decision comes after the legendary wideout had to wait until his third time as a finalist to be voted in. But he's not alone in having to wait for his time to come—and he made it clear that he declined the invite to stand up for those who have been in his shoes in the past:

I'm SO HAPPY for JERRY!! U shouldn't have had to wait that damn long either! I'm doing this for guys like him. Past, present and the future. https://t.co/z92XZGeXAn

— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) July 15, 2018

Owens noted on Wednesday that his "reputation" has sparked the backlash from those who have criticized his decision. There are seven other inductees, but the spotlight is firmly on Owens as a result of the drama.

It's hard to blame Owens for feeling slighted, though. After all, he hauled in 1,078 catches for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns during his NFL career.

And if any team is willing to give him a chance to add to those numbers, he would consider the opportunity.

"I know that I do have the ability to play. I know everybody sees the shape that I'm in. There's a lot of athletes that play their prospective sports, but there are few guys that defy the odds. I think I'm one of those guys.

"It's unfortunate that I haven't been able to continue my career, but again, I'm not actively seeking to get into the NFL; but again, if there's an opportunity for me to play, then yeah, I will entertain that, as well as the CFL."

Owens has not played in a regular-season game since the 2010 campaign when he was with the Cincinnati Bengals. He did, however, sign a contract with the Seattle Seahawks during the 2012 offseason but was cut before the regular season.

Antonio Brown understands why Terrell Owens isn't attending his Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He just wishes the receiver he grew up idolizing would change his mind. 

"I can never tell someone what to do. Obviously, T.O. felt he was [being snubbed] for a couple years. All in all, T.O. has done some amazing things around the NFL—he’s inspired so many people around the NFL. I really wish I could get T.O. to go to the Hall of Fame and deliver his speech, and make the kids like myself and the people around the world who look up to him proud," Brown told Bleacher Report in an interview promoting his appearance on the Madden 19 cover.

"Every player’s goal is to get those Super Bowls and to get to Hall of Fame, and for him to accomplish his goals and to get that yellow jacket, it would be an honor for him to go out there and give a speech and give people a dosage of his mentality. How hard he works, how he’s wired and how he’s built—see him the other week on Instagram running a 4.4 in the 40. That’s the type of character he is and how he’s wired. It would be amazing for him to go get his yellow jacket and deliver a motivational speech, and let people know how he feels."

Owens was voted into the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class in February. He was snubbed in both 2016 and 2017 despite sitting second in NFL history in receiving yards, third in receiving touchdowns and eighth in receptions. The back-to-back snubs were perceived—both by fans and Owens—as being related to his brash on-field persona.

Owens announced he would not be attending August's induction ceremony last month.

"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," Owens said in a statement released by his publicist. 

Instead, Owens is hosting his own celebration at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, on the same night as the Hall of Fame induction in Canton.

“I have realized just how much I want to celebrate what will inevitably be the best weekend of my life at a place that means so much to me,” Owens said in a statement. 

Brown and Owens are set to share the Madden 19 cover, with the former gracing the standard edition and the latter on the Hall of Fame edition. Brown said it was an "honor" to share the cover with Owens and cited him as an inspiration growing up. 

"It means everything to share this with T.O., a guy that inspired me to play the game at a high level, a guy who exemplifies so much confidence in this game, a guy who played the game the right way and played at a high level for a long time. It’s extremely an honor to share with Terrell Owens, another Hall of Fame wide receiver," Brown said. 

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has said it will not publicly honor Owens during its ceremony as a result of him declining to attend the event. 

After calling New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady "cheaters" Tuesday, soon-to-be Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens backed off his comments and said he was joking.

In an interview with TMZ Sports, T.O. said he was being "tongue-in-cheek" when he initially commented on the Pats:

Owens went on to say, "What they've accomplished, you can't take anything away from what they've done."

Earlier Tuesday, Owens was having a conversation with former NBA guard Sam Cassell. Owens accused Cassell of cheating during a pickup game of basketball and said the following: "I beat you, Sam. I beat you. I beat you. Nah, I ain't cheat you. You sound like the Patriots. I don't care about the Patriots. Belichick, Brady—they cheaters. They cheated. They cheated."

Owens said Cassell is a big fan of Brady, which is why he used Brady, Belichick and the Patriots as an example to bust his friend's chops.

The Patriots' run-ins with the NFL league office are well-documented, though, dating back to the Spygate scandal in 2007 when it was found that the Patriots were illegally taping defensive signals made by New York Jets coaches.

The Deflategate scandal followed just over seven years later when the NFL determined Brady was responsible for deflating game balls to illegal levels.

Brady was suspended four games for the infraction.

Although the Patriots' morals have been questioned at times over the years, there is no denying their success, as Belichick and Brady have won five Super Bowls together.