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Terrell Owens claims Cris Carter ‘begged’ his way into Pro Hall of Fame

Connor O'Gara

By Connor O'Gara

Published:

Terrell Owens is frustrated that he wasn’t chosen as a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame selection. And as expected, he shared his displeasure.

The eight-member class, which was announced on Saturday night, didn’t feature the second all-time leading receiver. Owens took that as a sign of disrespect.

The former All-Pro wideout joined ESPN’s Mike and Mike on Wednesday to discuss how he’s used to feeling disrespected. Hall of Fame receiver and former Buckeye Cris Carter, Owens said, called him “mediocre” after losing to his San Francisco 49ers in a playoff game.

That led to a head-turning claim from Owens.

“[Cris Carter] is a guy that’s criticized me plenty of times…for anything,” Owens said on Mike and Mike. “For me, that was something that motivated me….For somebody like that, for Cris Carter to come out and say something like that, I just felt like it was disrespectful. And so now, when you look at where I am statistically, I’ve surpassed him.

“And from what I’ve heard, he begged his way into the Hall of Fame.”

Owens was right about one thing. He did pass Carter, who was inducted in 2013, in both receiving yards and touchdowns.

But hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic quickly stepped in by saying that Carter’s numbers were still Hall of Fame worthy. Owens conceded that.

Still, Owens took the shot that he set out to take. That’s not the first or the last time that’s been written.

But Carter might’ve gotten the last laugh in.

Connor O'Gara

Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.