Wide Receivers...a stark contrast

Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=to/unplugged
from JoeUser Forums
In the past few days, I've watched videos from two different wideouts... Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson, and despite some similarities in talents, I notice a stark contrast between them in attitude and team spirit. This isn't about things like the sharpie or the pepto-bismal.... it is more about their attitude about the game.

Eagle Terrell Owens, as of the moment has been suspended for bad-mouthing his team and fellow players in an ESPN interview, and this is not the first time he has been guilty of doing it. He has been a troublemaker for quite a few years, and he doesn't come off as a very good team player. He also doesn't seem to have joy in playing... which makes me wonder about him.

Meanwhile, on NFL.com, Bengal Chad Johnson had a longer interview this week on the BengalCam, and while being a showboater, was very positive about not only his team and teammates, but also of his fellow wideouts, and the people he would be facing in the Raven secondary(so there was no Pepto sent out to anyone in the Baltimore organization). I am sure he has said a few things publicly that I don't know about, but for the most part, he seems like an ebullient and generally happy player. He genuinely seems to enjoy playing Football.

Of course, the argument can be made that ESPN set Terrell Owens up to say things against his teammates while the interview on the NFL network with Johnson was a little harder to go negative on. But if I had to chose based on what I've seen, I would rather have a player like Chad Johnson on my team than one like T.O. and I am probably not alone.
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Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

My son is a big TO fan.  But I dont like him.  When you think about it, what is the only position that can get away with that crap?  WR!  All others do depend a lot on teammates.  WR, once free of the line, are on their own.  SO the Prima Donnas can preen.

Jerry Rice and Tim Brown never did.

TO and Randy Moss do a lot.

Guess which ones I admire most?

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Considering T.O. also took a cheap shot at Jerry Rice in his interview, he knows how to burn all his bridges at once.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
T.O.'s initials should be M.E. because all he is about is himself.

Sure Chad Johnson is a showboater but he has respect for his quarterback, his teammates, his team, and for his coaches.

T.O. is too narcistic to ever show any concern other than for himself.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I've been working temporarily in Cincinnati for the last three months. Before I came here, I didn't know a whole lot about Chad Johnson other than he played for the Bengals, had gold teeth, and liked to talk.

Since I've been here I've become a really big fan of his. Yes, as others have stated he likes to showboat, but it's almost always in good fun. I've never heard him have anything but praise for all his teammates, his coaches, and Bengal fans.

I've always been a big fan of the quiet guys who put up numbers and "act like they've been there before". Guys like Marvin Harrison, Jerry Rice, Art Monk come to mind.

But there's something about Chad Johnson that I love. Just charm/charisma I guess. And that riverdance he did was the funniest thing I've seen on the firld in years.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think in part it is because of how he got to the NFL. He struggled and went through a few school before he ended up at Oregon State, so I think he has the sense that playing pro football is a gift.

I started to like him as an individual when I saw him featured on the SI NFL preview on Spike this year, because he talked about ways he needs to improve to be a better player for his team.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thinking about it, I don't mind a chatty WR... but somehow, the people I admire as running backs are all relatively quiet and unassuming(Payton and Sanders come to mind immediately)
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

(Payton and Sanders come to mind immediately)

Peyton and Jim Brown are the 2 best ever!  And both were very quiet.  I dont remember Jerry Rice or Tim Brown being chatty tho.  Maybe it is just the age we live in?

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Contrasts are one reason I remain a HUGE fan of former Bills and Packers WR Don Beebe. During the Packers' Superbowl season, When the number 1 guy (Robert Brooks) went down, Beebe had to step up. He did, big time, garnering over 200 yards against San Francisco. After a 100+ yard game the following week, the Packers added WR Andre Rison to the mix. Knowing this would mean less balls thrown Beebe's way, the reporters hammered on the point, trying to get Beebe to give them a sound bite criticizing the Packers' management for failing to recognize his accomplishments.

Beebe didn't bite. He said his obligation was to the team, and his job was to run the routes and not worry about whether he'd get passes thrown his way or not.

For trivia buffs, the 49er's game where Beebe caught over 200 yards was a pivotal game: had the Packers lost, the NFC championship game that year would have gone through Carolina, not Green Bay, and the outcome might have been wholly different.

More of today's receivers could take a page or seven from Beebe's book, in my estimation.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Peyton and Jim Brown are the 2 best ever! And both were very quiet. I dont remember Jerry Rice or Tim Brown being chatty tho. Maybe it is just the age we live in?


I don't think of Curtis Martin or Tomlinson being really in your face either.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

Tomlinson being really in your face either

That depends on if you are a Raiders fan or a Chiefs one!

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
I always thought steve largent {the first receiver to catch 100 touchdowns} showed nothing but class on the field and off.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
That depends on if you are a Raiders fan or a Chiefs one!


Has he said something that I've missed?
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top

Has he said something that I've missed?

I was being sarcastic.  When you opponent has a great game and wins it, wouldn't you say that was an 'in your face' With actions, not words?

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ok, granted, Marty Schottenheimer does like to put the screws to the Raiders when he can(so he tries to really run up the score)... I can see the validity in that argument.

EDIT: I just read that Philly has officially decided to boot T.O. for the rest of the season.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
EDIT: I just read that Philly has officially decided to boot T.O. for the rest of the season.


Holy TO! After tanking it to Washington, I thought they would try to patch it up!

next stop? Raiders! They get all the bad boys!
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
Holy TO! After tanking it to Washington, I thought they would try to patch it up!


I like the move myself... as many sports writers have said, it is something they should have done earlier in the year.

next stop? Raiders! They get all the bad boys!


Good god... a team with Randy Moss and Terrell Owens... that would be scary. Two egos that big should not exist in the same division, let alone on the same team.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top

Good god... a team with Randy Moss and Terrell Owens... that would be scary. Two egos that big should not exist in the same division, let alone on the same team.

Remember Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes?

Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
--Remember Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes?--

Very good cornerbacks .. everytime I think of Lester Hayes I always think of how much stick'em he would wear on himself. One time he intercepted a ball that he didn't even see, the ball was deflected and hit him right in the numbers, and with all the stick'em it stuck to it. It was hilarious.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
Owens summoned police to his house in Moorestown, N.J., late Monday because there were some people on his property. Owens said he wanted to be left alone, had no comment and would contact the news media when he did want to speak, police at the scene said.

Later, two pizzas were delivered to Owens' home. Someone answered the door -- not Owens -- and gave deliveryman James McDevitt a $5 tip. McDevitt said he left the tip on the door step.


That part in bold is the kicker there... I LOVE that!
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top

Very good cornerbacks .. everytime I think of Lester Hayes I always think of how much stick'em he would wear on himself. One time he intercepted a ball that he didn't even see, the ball was deflected and hit him right in the numbers, and with all the stick'em it stuck to it. It was hilarious.

Yea, that was hilarious!  He is the reason they outlawed the stuff!

Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
Some lunatic will take a chance on Owens

There was one team on that list when I saw it that just clicked and made me think that it was actually possible. Atlanta was one of the possibilities, and for the right price I could almost see him playing there.

This morning I remembered something odd too... my first season in Madden 2005(I think that it was the first year they had player personalities), T.O. played 11 games with the Eagles(and I don't remember him getting hurt) and he ended up back on the free agency market after his first year. Jacksonville took a chance on him. I guess gaming is stranger than fiction sometimes.

Yea, that was hilarious! He is the reason they outlawed the stuff!


I gotta see that film!
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
EDIT: I just read that Philly has officially decided to boot T.O. for the rest of the season.


Looks like they invoked the "Keyshawn" rule! Good for them!
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
Looks like they invoked the "Keyshawn" rule! Good for them!


Apt comparison!