1 of 4 | Terrell Owens arrives on the red carpet of The Weinstein Company and Netflix Golden Globes After Party following the 72nd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on January 11, 2015. Photo by David Silpa/UPI |
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Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Now it's personal.
Former five-time All-Pro wide receiver Terrell Owens was slanted once again in getting into the Hall of Fame Saturday. Despite ranking in the top-5 in the most important career statistical categories for a wide receiver, the 43-year-old was denied by media pundits.
Owens was also kept out of the 2016 Hall of Fame class. He ranks No. 8 in career receptions, No. 2 in receiving yards, and No. 3 in receiving touchdowns.
The Dallas Morning News' Rick Gosselin said that Owens' candidacy was discussed for more than 32 minutes when the Hall of Fame selectors met Saturday in Houston.
"Unfortunately I DID NOT MAKE IT again this year," Owens wrote on Twitter. "Thanks to ALL my fans & supporters. #FlawedProcess."
LaDanian Tomlinson, Kurt Warner, Jason Taylor, Terrell Davis, and Morten Anderson all made the Hall of Fame cut and will be enshrined on Aug. 5 in Canton. The panel of voters included 46 media members and Hall of Famers James Lofton and Dan Fouts. Hines Ward, Brian Dawkins, Donovan McNabb, Chad Johnson, Olin Kreutz, Joey Porter, Derrick Mason, and Bob Sanders were also on the ballot, in addition to other former football stars.
"HOF is a total joke," Owens tweeted. "Honestly, doesn't mean anything to me to get in beyond this point."
"When you align expectations with reality you will never be disappointed. To my family, fans & friends I'm a Hall Of Famer. #FlawedProcess," Owens tweeted.
The outburst was a different tune than the one Owens was singing after he missed the cut last year.
"I'm a guy that understands expectations of reality, so I'm not disappointed to be honest," Owens told ESPN last year. "If anything, I probably feel more disrespected than disappointed. Other than that, I am happy for the guys that's in there. There's going to be other opportunities. If that situation arises, maybe I'll get in."
Owens played 15 seasons for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals. He led the league in receiving touchdowns in three different seasons.
"I think for me it's a stamp of approval for what I've done and the hard work I've put in," Owens told CBS Philly before the vote. The Hall of Fame is not something that's given. A lot of people say it's well deserved. I don't look at it that way. For me, I feel like it's earned."
Owens was drafted by the 49ers in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft.