------------------------------------------------------------------------Posted on Thu, Jan. 22, 2004
Owens unloads on his Web site
HE RIPS GARCIA ONLINE, SAYS HE'S LIKELY TO LEAVE
By Daniel Brown
Mercury News
With his official free agency more than a month away, it sounds as if Terrell Owens is already running a fade route. On his Web site this week, the 49ers receiver bashed quarterback Jeff Garcia and said he would rather play alongside a better quarterback elsewhere. He also poked fun at Garcia's arrest for driving under the influence, saying that if the quarterback came to his Super Bowl party he would dispatch a limousine to make sure Garcia got home safely.
And, in a radio interview Thursday, Owens called his chances of returning to the 49ers ``gloomy'' and put the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens high on his wish list.
``I just want to go somewhere where my talents can be used in abundance,'' Owens told host James Brown on Sporting News Radio. ``God blessed me with a lot of talent, and I really don't feel like the last two or three years that I have been able to take my talents to the roof.''
Owens told Brown that his chances of returning to the team that drafted him in 1996 are ``probably less than 50 percent'' and that ``I really don't feel that I've shown the people around the country what I'm really capable of.''
His quotes over the air, however, sounded tame compared to the words purportedly coming off Owens' fingertips. On www.terrellowens.com this week, the receiver bluntly questioned Garcia's ability to lead the 49ers to a championship and lamented the 49ers' decision to keep Garcia on the field rather than hand the job to backup Tim Rattay.
``This past season we had a chance to make the playoffs and they left Jeff in there!'' Owens wrote. (Web site abbreviations have been spelled out for clarity.)
Of his future with the team, Owens wrote: ``I'm willing to work out a contract if the Niners can get a quarterback to match my skills as a receiver! I want to win a Super Bowl and I can be a big part of that. A receiver is only as good as his QB!''
A fan asked Owens what he considered Garcia's biggest weakness: inaccurate passes, checking down to a secondary receiver too quickly or scrambling too often.
``All of the above!'' Owens answered. ``Hey, I can tell you are a fan and really watch the game, because you're right on point.''
Owens also took a swipe at the quarterback's off-season behavior, noting the DUI arrest. According to police records released Thursday, the quarterback's blood-alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit.
``Everybody wants to criticize me for this and that, but have I represented the 49ers in that fashion? Nope -- I don't think so! I'm not the problem, I'm the answer! If I can't get a QB to help us win the Super Bowl, I won't be back!''
Several fans on the site question the veracity of the author. But a 49ers spokesman confirmed Thursday that the site belongs to the four-time Pro Bowl receiver. To skeptical fans, Owens writes, ``How do I know you're you?'' and ``It's me; who else would it be, Elmer Fudd?''
Officials said the 49ers had no response to Owens' comments.
A large percentage of fans on Owens' Web site urge him to head for Philadelphia to play with Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb. Owens sounds open: ``You best believe I'm going to display my skills at the highest level if I'm with a QB like Donovan McNabb.''
Owens unloads on his Web site
HE RIPS GARCIA ONLINE, SAYS HE'S LIKELY TO LEAVE
By Daniel Brown
Mercury News
With his official free agency more than a month away, it sounds as if Terrell Owens is already running a fade route. On his Web site this week, the 49ers receiver bashed quarterback Jeff Garcia and said he would rather play alongside a better quarterback elsewhere. He also poked fun at Garcia's arrest for driving under the influence, saying that if the quarterback came to his Super Bowl party he would dispatch a limousine to make sure Garcia got home safely.
And, in a radio interview Thursday, Owens called his chances of returning to the 49ers ``gloomy'' and put the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens high on his wish list.
``I just want to go somewhere where my talents can be used in abundance,'' Owens told host James Brown on Sporting News Radio. ``God blessed me with a lot of talent, and I really don't feel like the last two or three years that I have been able to take my talents to the roof.''
Owens told Brown that his chances of returning to the team that drafted him in 1996 are ``probably less than 50 percent'' and that ``I really don't feel that I've shown the people around the country what I'm really capable of.''
His quotes over the air, however, sounded tame compared to the words purportedly coming off Owens' fingertips. On www.terrellowens.com this week, the receiver bluntly questioned Garcia's ability to lead the 49ers to a championship and lamented the 49ers' decision to keep Garcia on the field rather than hand the job to backup Tim Rattay.
``This past season we had a chance to make the playoffs and they left Jeff in there!'' Owens wrote. (Web site abbreviations have been spelled out for clarity.)
Of his future with the team, Owens wrote: ``I'm willing to work out a contract if the Niners can get a quarterback to match my skills as a receiver! I want to win a Super Bowl and I can be a big part of that. A receiver is only as good as his QB!''
A fan asked Owens what he considered Garcia's biggest weakness: inaccurate passes, checking down to a secondary receiver too quickly or scrambling too often.
``All of the above!'' Owens answered. ``Hey, I can tell you are a fan and really watch the game, because you're right on point.''
Owens also took a swipe at the quarterback's off-season behavior, noting the DUI arrest. According to police records released Thursday, the quarterback's blood-alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit.
``Everybody wants to criticize me for this and that, but have I represented the 49ers in that fashion? Nope -- I don't think so! I'm not the problem, I'm the answer! If I can't get a QB to help us win the Super Bowl, I won't be back!''
Several fans on the site question the veracity of the author. But a 49ers spokesman confirmed Thursday that the site belongs to the four-time Pro Bowl receiver. To skeptical fans, Owens writes, ``How do I know you're you?'' and ``It's me; who else would it be, Elmer Fudd?''
Officials said the 49ers had no response to Owens' comments.
A large percentage of fans on Owens' Web site urge him to head for Philadelphia to play with Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb. Owens sounds open: ``You best believe I'm going to display my skills at the highest level if I'm with a QB like Donovan McNabb.''
