Should T.O. be a first ballot Hall of Famer?

I don't remember TO blowing up a competitive San Fran team

I think the tales of T.O destroying locker rooms is overblown sometimes. Wasn't he a team captain in Dallas? And wasn't here there for a while before they finally let him go?

It seems like he gets in trouble with coaches, maybe with F.O, but I don't know how many players would say T.O was a bad teammate. Well, except for McNabb. He wants the ball, sure. He DEMANDS the ball.

But all elite receivers want the ball. Jerry Rice wanted the ball. Hell, part of the reason he left San Fransisco was because T.O was getting the ball. Some receivers are more vocal than others, and his antics get him a bad wrap, but all those number one guys are going to complain when they don't get the ball thrown their way.

T.O won't make it in on the first go around, but he should be worth of consideration to make it in the first time around.

I don't remember TO blowing up a competitive San Fran team

In 2001 SF was 12-4
2002 SF was 10-6
2003 SF was 7-9

In each of those years Garcia was QB and Owens the leading receiver. In the 2002, after a play-off loss Owens started in on Garcia. During 2003, as I recall, Owens was constantly making accusations and insinuations about Garcia's ability calling for him to be replaced by that HOF'er in the making Tim Rattay. After the 2003 season both Garcia & Owens left SF - Marriuci fleeing the year before. Again, as I recall, it was a messy divorce all the way around - made messier by Owens usual antics. The 49'ers went 2-14 & 4-12 the following two years. Sure, it wasn't all Owens - but he seemed to be the catalyst.

Typical Terrell Owens in this relationship. Jeff Garcia and T.O. led the San Francisco 49ers into the playoffs, where they beat the New York Giants. The next game they lost against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

All fingers were pointed at Garcia by T.O. and he eventually called Garcia some very disrespectful names. This relationship ended shortly after that. Off to the Philadelphia Eagles for Owens.

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In 2001 SF was 12-4
2002 SF was 10-6
2003 SF was 7-9

In each of those years Garcia was QB and Owens the leading receiver. In the 2002, after a play-off loss Owens started in on Garcia. During 2003, as I recall, Owens was constantly making accusations and insinuations about Garcia's ability calling for him to be replaced by that HOF'er in the making Tim Rattay. After the 2003 season both Garcia & Owens left SF - Marriuci fleeing the year before. Again, as I recall, it was a messy divorce all the way around - made messier by Owens usual antics. The 49'ers went 2-14 & 4-12 the following two years. Sure, it wasn't all Owens - but he seemed to be the catalyst.



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I think you're giving TO too much credit here. San Fran was crippled by salary cap woes, aging veterans, poor draft picks, little to no confidence in Mariucci, among other things. And the first time TO really said anything about Garcia was after they were teammates in his Playboy interview.

Plus, Garcia was just as vocal a critic as TO of the offense.

And I don't know that he was constantly calling for Rattay to start, but that he did well when pressed to play

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Perhaps - I am operating mostly from memory (I remember Garcia's father being quoted as saying something like "He [Owens] should just shut up and catch the ball"). Yes, SF had issues and were on there way down with or without TO and maybe my "I hate Owens" is slipping in to cloud my memory. So to say he blew up a competetive team may be an overstatement of his influence and of the caliber of team. At the same time, he made sure he was persona non grata in SF and, to my mind, was a major reason why Garcia left.

As I said, based on my recollection of the events, Owens seemed to be the catalyst for the implosion and certainly did nothing to hinder it.

I still view the issues separately. In many instances his production trumped his PIA factor, sometimes not, but overall his production is just undeniable.

So do you think he's a HOF player or no?

Obviously I think he shouldn't be & I think his case could provide the hall w/some new guidance for evaluation. But if your question is do I think he'll get in? Definintely not first ballot but he's likely to get in several years later cause time heals all wounds. also, the wr position is one that is debated by hall voters a lot it seems. Will be interesting to watch this one.

Perhaps - I am operating mostly from memory (I remember Garcia's father being quoted as saying something like "He [Owens] should just shut up and catch the ball"). Yes, SF had issues and were on there way down with or without TO and maybe my "I hate Owens" is slipping in to cloud my memory. So to say he blew up a competetive team may be an overstatement of his influence and of the caliber of team. At the same time, he made sure he was persona non grata in SF and, to my mind, was a major reason why Garcia left.

As I said, based on my recollection of the events, Owens seemed to be the catalyst for the implosion and certainly did nothing to hinder it.

Garcia left because he wouldn't agree to another contract restructuring so the Niners let him go for cap considerations. Plus, it'd be tough to say TO forced Garcia out, or was a major reason he left, since they both left within a couple of days of each other

Garcia left because he wouldn't agree to another contract restructuring so the Niners let him go for cap considerations. Plus, it'd be tough to say TO forced Garcia out, or was a major reason he left, since they both left within a couple of days of each other

I think Joe's overall point isn't much debated though, TO began his public airing of grievances w/his QBs w/Garcia, even insinuating he was gay.

I think Joe's overall point isn't much debated though, TO began his public airing of grievances w/his QBs w/Garcia, even insinuating he was gay.

Yeah after they were both no longer teammates, TO made an unnecessary comment in response to a question specifically asking if Garcia was gay. That's not the same as he destroyed a good 49ers team and was the catalyst for Garcia leaving and the franchise falling apart.