Terrell Owens

Deion Sanders has denied a report that he is assembling an all-star coaching staff to join him at Jackson State University.

Joe Cook of 16 WAPT News in Jackson, Mississippi, reported Pro Football Hall of Famers Terrell Owens and Warren Sapp will serve as assistants on Sanders' staff. The tweet has since been deleted.

Before the post was removed, however, Sanders quickly denied that report:

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG! This is how junk gets started. Not a good way to get started with me. #CoachPrime WOW https://t.co/oybVbOoTSe

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) September 22, 2020

Sapp also took to social media to quiet the buzz—in a very bold manner:

https://twitter.com/WarrenSapp/status/1308482722168532994

Sanders announced on his 21st & Prime podcast that he would be taking over as head coach at Jackson State. 

"God called me to Jackson State," he said (h/t Rashad Milligan of the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger). 

Sanders issued a statement when the school announced his hiring on Monday:

"I am truly blessed to be the 21st Head football coach of Jackson State University. This amazing HBCU has always enjoyed a high level of commitment academically and athletically. It's my desire to continue this storied tradition and history of JSU and prayerfully bring more national recognition to the athletes, the university, the Sonic Boom of the South, and HBCUs in general. I am TRULY proud to be a part of the JSU Tiger family. 'I BELIEVE'"

The Tigers will be Sanders' first foray into head coaching at the college level. He spent the previous three seasons as offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian High School in Texas. 

Sanders' connections from his playing career and work as a television analyst for the NFL Network would seem to make it easier for him to build an elite coaching staff to help turn Jackson State into a power program in the FCS.  

Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens gave his take Friday on being a Black man in America following the police shooting of 29-year-old Black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday.

In an interview with TMZ Sports, Owens said the color of his skin makes him fearful of what could happen to him:

"As Black men, bro, we're getting killed at an alarming rate now. ... This is why we as Black men, Black people, we're scared. Honestly, I really didn't think about it until like just driving around today, like honestly, it's scary to be a Black man in America, especially if you come in any type of encounter with law enforcement."

Protests broke out across the country after Minneapolis police killed 46-year-old Black man George Floyd in May.

Despite the calls to stop social injustice, racial inequality and police brutality, Kenosha police shot Blake on Sunday, which has renewed the call for social change.

In the wake of the Blake shooting, multiple NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA and MLS teams refused to play as a means of protest.

Owens called for police to be better, saying: "Our law enforcement, they're failing us right before our very own eyes, bro. It's a scary time to be a Black person in America. There's no doubt about it."

T.O. ranks third in NFL career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Despite his fame, Owens said his "heart will probably be beating 90 miles an hour" if he gets pulled over at some point based solely on the fact that he is a Black man in America.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens joined fellow sports stars Venus Williams and Rob Gronkowski in Wednesday's episode of CBS' Game On!

Owens joined Team Venus, which also includes comedian Ian Karmel for a matchup against Team Gronk with comedian Bobby Lee and actor Kevin Nealon joining as a special guest.

In the end, Venus' squad pulled off the Episode 8 win with a close 15-13 score.

The weekly competition usually features a combination of athletic events and trivia questions, providing plenty of entertainment with each.

Gronkowski had to showcase his passing skills while trying to knock a trophy off Lee's head, although he clearly has a lot to learn from teammate Tom Brady:

Lean into it @bobbyleelive! 🥜🏈 pic.twitter.com/AUC3CfLdO6

— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) July 22, 2020

Williams needed only a few shots to hit her target:

Gronk & I are doing a little target practice on @gameon tonight. Note: @IanKarmel was not injured (terribly) during this! 9p CBS tonight!! pic.twitter.com/fDhrZDM4Yq

— Venus Williams (@Venuseswilliams) July 22, 2020

Other athletic moments included jumping through a canvas at the highest speed and dunking basketballs into a pool.

Owens hasn't played in the NFL since 2010, but he showed he still has plenty of athleticism:

🏀 @terrellowens is closing things out strong for #TeamVenus! pic.twitter.com/xYXZGlhc80

— Game On! (@gameon) July 23, 2020

In the trivia portion, teams had to match the end-zone dance between NFL receivers Victor Cruz, Chad Johnson and Steve Smith.

As far as his own dances, Owens said his most memorable celebration was the Sharpie signing.

They also had to pick reviews from celebrity restaurants.

The episode featured some memorable moments outside of the competition as well:

.@Venuseswilliams has major moves on and off the tennis court! #GameOn pic.twitter.com/jGrY4YNDr5

— Game On! (@gameon) July 23, 2020

.@RobGronkowski shows off his dancing skills on tonight's #GameOn. Get ready for a fun show starting at 9/8c on CBS! pic.twitter.com/JA3pkYojVB

— Game On! (@gameon) July 22, 2020

Gronkowski has to return to the football field soon enough after coming out of retirement with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he is still having fun off the field.

Terrell Owens is 46 years old and hasn't played in the NFL since the 2010 season, but he is apparently faster than some of the wide receivers who are currently in the league.

At least in the eyes of someone who certainly knows speed.

On Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill tweeted: "I will say TO faster than some these wideouts in the league, but y'all ain't ready for that discussion."

His comments come after Chad Johnson posted video of Hill and Owens racing each other with a cliffhanger before the ending:

https://twitter.com/ochocinco/status/1284937768486010886

It's a fair guess that Hill, who is 26 years old and known for his speed on the field and ability to blow by cornerbacks, won the race, but the fact Owens showed enough speed to impress the Chiefs playmaker is notable.

Owens is a Hall of Famer who made six Pro Bowls and five All-Pro first teams during a career that extended from 1996 through 2010. He is third on the NFL's all-time list in receiving yards and touchdown catches.

Some of the speed that helped him do that has clearly stuck around past his playing prime.

Tyreek Hill vs. Chad Johnson vs. Terrell Owens in a race: Who you got? 

While we don't have a definitive answer, Johnson posted short videos on Twitter of the Kansas City Chiefs speedster taking on the former NFL stars:

https://twitter.com/ochocinco/status/1284937768486010886

https://twitter.com/ochocinco/status/1284933879887953922

The smart money is on Hill, who reportedly ran a 4.24 at his Pro Day in 2016, a blazing fast speed. Compare that to the 4.63 Owens posted at the 1996 NFL Scouting Combine or the 4.57 Johnson ran at the 2001 combine. 

Suffice to say, Hill wins in that comparison easily. That showed up on the tape, as he blew Owens out of the water through the first 10 yards. 

If you have to pick a winner here, it's pretty obviously going to be the younger and faster Hill. 

Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins is getting ready for his second NFL season by working out with Denver Broncos rookie wideout Jerry Jeudy, Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens and free-agent wideout Antonio Brown, a four-time All-Pro.

Haskins hit Jeudy for a pass that flew at least 50 yards:

What I tell you .. 🤫 @jerryjeudy
🎥 : @ImVarTho pic.twitter.com/alhzADNe9J

— Dwayne Haskins, Jr (@dh_simba7) June 27, 2020

He also connected with Brown on a few passes at night:

Dwayne Haskins and Antonio Brown’s chemistry has reached Running Routes In The Dark levels pic.twitter.com/PjzjnqSpMp

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) June 27, 2020

Owens made an appearance, seen here at the end of the video:

Dwayne Haskins was working out with Antonio Brown once again last night and is throwing with former OSU teammate JK Dobbins, as well as Jerry Jeudy and Terrell Owens, today

(Via @officialjoeyw) pic.twitter.com/pqDIwOd4IU

— Ethan Cadeaux (@Ethan_Cadeaux) June 27, 2020

Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Geno Smith and Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins also worked out with Haskins.

The ex-Ohio State star played in nine games last season and made seven starts. He completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 6.72 yards per attempt, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. 

Haskins struggled in the early going, throwing just three touchdowns in his first seven games.

But he excelled in his final two contests, tossing four touchdowns, zero interceptions and completing 72.1 percent of his passes.

He notably went 12-of-15 for 133 yards and a pair of scores against the New York Giants before exiting with an ankle injury.

Haskins will open his 2020 regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles at home on Sept. 13.     

Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens ripped into Jerry Jones on Tuesday, saying the Dallas Cowboys owner has been silent amid national unrest because of his relationship with President Donald Trump.

And still NO DAMN APOLOGY!!! And still NOTHING from #jerryjones!! I hope y’all know him being silent is saying a whole lot! He doesn’t want to ruin his relationship with @realDonaldTrump!! Clearly he doesn’t think #BlackLivesMatter unless they helped him win a Super Bowl!! #FACTS https://t.co/x3CA3forjO

— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) June 23, 2020

Jones has a close friendship with Trump and was an outspoken opponent of players kneeling during the national anthem, saying in 2017 no player who protests during the anthem would play for his franchise. He was one of the leading voices in trying to suppress the peaceful protests against police brutality that began during the 2016 season with Colin Kaepernick. 

Earlier this month, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized for the league's attempts to quell the protests and encouraged players to demonstrate peacefully. Goodell's apology came in response to several star players posting a video demanding an apology and for the NFL to do better in social justice issues.

The commissioner also said he encourages a team to sign Kaepernick, who has been out of football the last three seasons, due in large part to his protests.

Owens played for the Cowboys from 2006-08, with his last season being in 2010. The 46-year-old previously called Jones a "bully" for attempting to quell players' right to free expression.

Cowboys defensive tackle Gerald McCoy recently called out Jones on his silence in wake of national protests of police violence and discrimination against Black people after George Floyd's death.

McCoy said on NFL Live, per ESPN's Ed Werder:

"It don't look good, I'll say that. It doesn't look good, and you can't be silent at a time like this. I'm new to the Cowboys organization, and I'm blessed to be part of this organization. ... But when things are not going well for the team, you can hear him screaming. Well, this is life. This is bigger than just football, it's bigger than money, it's bigger than winning a Super Bowl. And something needs to be said."

On June 5, the Cowboys posted a video about racial injustice on their social media channels, but Jones has not publicly spoken about the topic. 

Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens expressed his belief Saturday that he was a victim of systemic racism during his NFL career.

In an interview with TMZ Sports, TO provided his opinion that he was blackballed from the league following his final season with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010:

"I could've still continued to play, but because I was outspoken, because of who I was, I wasn't allowed the opportunity," Owens said. "Because I was outspoken. Because of who I was and because of some of the coaches that said things behind closed doors and got in the ears of these owners, that's why I wasn't able to really continue on with my career. To me, that was systemic racism."

Owens later added that he dealt with systemic racism as a member of the Niners while Steve Mariucci was his head coach from 1997-2002: "I experienced it when I was in San Francisco under Coach Mariucci. I experienced it. Trust me, I experienced it."

Owens declined to expand upon why he felt he was a victim of systemic racism brought on by Mariucci, who is now an NFL Network analyst. 

"I just want to be clear, my racism experiences were more with Mariucci and not under the current ownership with the 49ers," Owens told TMZ on Monday. "Jed York and I along with the current organization has been very gracious and on good terms."

TO spent his first eight NFL seasons with the 49ers from 1996-2003 before going on to have stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Bengals.

The 46-year-old Owens ranks third in NFL history in both career receiving yards (15,934) and receiving touchdowns (153), but he had to wait until his third year of eligibility to get voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame due largely to the narrative that he was a bad teammate and disruptor of teams.

Owens suggested that the media played a role in pushing that narrative: "There's a lot of media that portray me a certain way to where now even people think I'm this bad person. That I'm a character, I'm selfish, all these things. But, at the end of the day, I knew who I was and I just kept moving forward."

Even at the age of 37 in 2010 as a member of the Bengals, Owens was still a highly productive player. He finished with 72 receptions for 983 yards and nine touchdowns that season but never played another regular-season down in the league.

Owens spent some time on the Seattle Seahawks' roster during the 2012 preseason, but he was released before the regular season began.

Since then, Owens teased NFL comebacks at various times, played in the American Flag Football League briefly and even worked out for CFL teams.

Owens enjoyed one of the greatest NFL careers of any wideout in league history, but perhaps it could have been even better had he been given more opportunities after 2010.

Former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens took part in a protest Thursday near SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, chanting for the league to apologize to Colin Kaepernick. 

Emmanuel Morgan of the Los Angeles Times shared video of the protest:

NFL Hall of Fame WR Terrell Owens is leading a protest around SoFi Stadium in honor of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and is also calling for Roger Goddell to personally apologize to Colin Kaepernick and get him back in the league. pic.twitter.com/Uw3PCVA327

— Emmanuel Morgan (@_EmmanuelMorgan) June 11, 2020

"This march is about bringing global awareness to really the systemic racism that the NFL and Roger Goodell still displays toward Colin Kaepernick," Owens told TMZ Sports.

Owens said the NFL doesn't just owe Kaepernick an apology; it also owes him another chance to play. 

"They owe this guy a job," he said. "They have stripped this guy of his livelihood, and I don't think that's fair."

"There's a lot of guys playing in this league right now that he's just as good as, if not better than," Owens added of Kaepernick. "So don't tell me that this guy can't play, regardless of these four years of having been removed from the league."

Kaepernick, 32, last played in the NFL in the 2016 season for the San Francisco 49ers. During that season, he famously knelt during the playing of the national anthem before games to protest racial discrimination and police brutality, a gesture that became a divisive topic in the United States. 

He became a free agent in 2017 and went unsigned, with his supporters claiming the NFL was blackballing him for his political beliefs. He eventually sued the NFL and its owners for colluding to keep him out of football, settling out of court. 

With protests happening around the country in recent weeks condemning systemic racism and police brutality, Kaepernick and his 2016 protest have reentered the national conversation. As for whether he'd consider a comeback, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported he is "more motivated to play than ever."

Whether an NFL team will give him a shot remains to be seen. But Owens is one of many former or current players who believes the NFL owes Kaepernick an apology at the very least. 

Former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens is reportedly joining the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity for a "march and kneel" rally in support of an NFL team signing free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

TMZ Sports reported Thursday the protest is scheduled to begin at 12:07 p.m. PT in Inglewood, California.

Kaepernick started the movement of kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality in 2016.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," he told NFL Media at the time. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

His efforts, which were highly polarizing at the time, have drawn renewed praise in recent weeks amid worldwide protests focused on the same issues after George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man, was killed while in Minneapolis Police custody May 25.

Kaepernick became a free agent in March 2017 and has remain unsigned ever since. He filed a collusion lawsuit against NFL owners that was settled out of court in February 2019.

Meanwhile, Owens has been active as part of the protests following Floyd's killing. He led chants during a Black Lives Matter march in Los Angeles on Saturday, per TMZ.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a video statement last week in support of players' protests. He didn't mention Kaepernick by name, however.

The former San Francisco 49ers starter accounted for 85 touchdowns (72 passing and 13 rushing) in 59 appearances (58 starts) across six years with the Niners. He also helped lead the organization to a berth in Super Bowl XLVII.