A little bit weird, a little bit political with a lot of humor.
Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson
Published on November 5, 2005 By historyishere In Football
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.

Comments (Page 1)
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on Nov 05, 2005

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?

on Nov 05, 2005
Considering T.O. also took a cheap shot at Jerry Rice in his interview, he knows how to burn all his bridges at once.
on Nov 06, 2005
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.
on Nov 07, 2005
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.
on Nov 07, 2005
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.
on Nov 07, 2005
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)
on Nov 07, 2005

(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?

on Nov 07, 2005
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.
on Nov 07, 2005
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.
on Nov 07, 2005

Tomlinson being really in your face either

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

on Nov 07, 2005
I always thought steve largent {the first receiver to catch 100 touchdowns} showed nothing but class on the field and off.
on Nov 07, 2005
That depends on if you are a Raiders fan or a Chiefs one!


Has he said something that I've missed?
on Nov 07, 2005

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?

on Nov 07, 2005
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.
on Nov 07, 2005
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!
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