Terrell Owens shades Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony; his gold jacket will be mailed

Fellow veteran NFL players are torn on whether his behavior is appropriate

Since Terrell Owens announced he is skipping next month's Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, executive director Joe Horrigan said he won’t bother announcing his name or acknowledging him.

Kia Morgan-Smith

Jul 14, 2018

Terrell Owens thegrio.com — (Photo: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)

Since Terrell Owens announced he is skipping next month’s Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, executive director Joe Horrigan said he won’t bother announcing his name or acknowledging him, the NY Daily News reports.

“The focus is on the guys who are there,” said Hall of Fame executive director Joe Horrigan.

So, during the induction ceremonies, Owens won’t have his name called during the Gold Jacket ceremony, or during the duction ceremony.

While Owens initiated declined his invitation, he later revealed that he would be making his Hall of Fame speech at his alma mater University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Saturday afternoon.

“After giving it much thought I have realized just how much I want to celebrate what will inevitably be the best weekend of my life at a place that means so much to me,” Owens wrote in the Twitter statement.

“I’m proud to be a Moc, and I’m honored to share this experience with my family, friends, teammates and fans at the place that provided me an opportunity beyond high school and where I truly began to find myself as an athlete. Thank you to everyone who has supported my celebration decision. I look forward to seeing you all in Chattanooga. Getcha popcorn ready!”

NBA legend Charles Barkley criticized Owens for missing out on the historic moment.

“I think Terrell is selfish. He’s doing the wrong thing,” Barkley said.

“Listen, he should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer, but those other guys, Cris Carter, who waited longer … I mean, listen, once you’re in the Hall of Fame, you’re in the Hall of Fame. The writers, they’re jealous of some of these guys, I understand that, but T.O. has to be a bigger man.”

According to the Talk of Fame Network, Owens’ gold jacket will be mailed to him first thing Saturday morning.

The site adds that Owens won’t be “absent altogether on Hall-of-Fame weekend. When the entire class is the subject, his name will be included… just as his image will be included on all depictions of the Class of 2018.”

Keep it classy T.O.!