Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens sat down with Betway.com to discuss his time with the Cowboys, 49ers, and Eagles. Owens also briefly touched on NBA futures.
Owens played for three of the most historic franchises in NFL history. Playing for these three teams obviously had different fanbases and atmospheres.
“When we get on the football field, just like basketball, the dimensions are the same. The only different thing is your surroundings and the uniform.” Owens said.
For Owens, living up to expectations was his major focus. Playing for the 49ers for eight years, he wanted to take the same level of play to the Eagles. After two years with the Eagles, a year and seven games before being suspended for the rest of the season, he went to the Cowboys.
“If you think about it now, those are three top franchises in the league today and I play for all three of those teams. In the last few years, those are some of the top teams that have not been talked about for making it into the playoffs. Everybody except for the Dallas Cowboys.” Owens said. “The Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, they’ve been knocking on the door in the last few years. I was fortunate to play for all three of those franchises.”
The Cowboys have been knocking at the door for the Super Bowl in recent years, but could not quite get to where they need to be. Owens discussed the pressure on NFL teams in the postseason, alluding to how different it is from other sports.
“You have to be on your A game for that one game. You must be at your very best for that one game to advance. There are a lot of factors that play into the success of the team, but him as a quarterback, if you look at some of the teams now that are in the playoffs, these teams are going only as far as these quarterbacks are taking them.” Owens said. “If you look at it and think about what I’m saying, it all boils down to decision-making when you’re playing these football games.”
Going off of this decision-making, Owens discussed that it’s important for offensive coordinators to be on their A game, too.
“You have to have players that, again, it all boils down to play calling. As an offensive coordinator for an entire year, 17 games, especially going into leading up to the playoffs, you should know what plays to dial and what your players can do at this point in this juncture of the game, especially when his game plan and you have a week to prepare. And it’s the playoffs.” Owens said.
If you’re looking at candidates good at decision-making; worthy of an MVP, Owens has one guy in mind: Lamar Jackson.
“What’s so funny about that it’s not only that, they didn’t want him and they almost turned a blind eye away from him. But the fact that not only did he play well this year, but this dude is also about to be the MVP.” Owens said.
“What is that say to all these GMs that wouldn’t go out or bring a guy like that to their franchise? That says a lot about their ability to assess talent, and really, how they overlooked and underestimated him as a talent based on stereotype or stigma. For what he does — as a black quarterback.” Owens said.
Switching over to the NBA, Owens discussed an unlikely team to win the NBA Championship this year.
“The trade with Harden with the Clippers is starting to come to fruition with what people thought. They’re going to be competing, it’s going to be tough in the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets.” Owens said. “Unless they make some trades before the All-Star break or something along those lines that can really push them to the point of competing on an every-night basis. I don’t think they’re going to make it to the playoffs with this roster. The Clippers, the Denver Nuggets, and the Warriors. Those are probably the top three teams out of the Western Conference.”
Owens is fond of Embiid being the NBA MVP, but since he’s currently injured, Owens had another name that isn’t being talked about in the MVP race.
“That’s my guy – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC. This dude has been playing lights out. He’s been averaging 30+ points a night. He is really putting up some MVP-type numbers and he’s not being talked about in the MVP race. Which is weird to me.” Owens said.
“With the basketball minds that are covering the games on Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins, all these guys. I mean, I’ve been watching this guy play since he was at the Clippers. He then got traded. He is killing. He’s not putting up 70 points a night. But he’s consistently putting this team in a position to win on a nightly basis.” He said.
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