Terrell Owens' Career: Triumphs and Tragedies

Sept. 27, 2006 — -- Owens has played for three teams in his career: Cowboys, Eagles and 49ers.

Cowboys

Sept 26, 2006: Owens reportedly tries to kill himself by overdosing on pain medication. A Dallas police report says Owens told a friend "that he was depressed."

Sept. 18, 2006: Owens has a plate screwed into the bone attached to his right ring finger. Recovery time estimated at two to four weeks.

Sept. 17, 2006: Owens breaks his right ring finger while blocking on one of the first plays of a 27-10 victory over the Washington Redskins, but doesn't leave for X-rays until the middle of the fourth quarter. His play reflects the injury: three catches for 19 yards, all in the first 11 minutes; several drops, including one in the end zone, and two penalties totaling 20 yards.

Sept. 10, 2006: Owens catches six passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in the opener, a 24-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Aug. 29, 2006: Owens returns to practice and four days later, plays 19 snaps over two series in the preseason finale, catching a 6-yard pass from Tony Romo on the first ball thrown his way and missing a wide pass from Romo in the end zone.

Aug. 28, 2006: An Internet gambling site posts a 50-50 bet on whether Owens is still employed by the Cowboys at the end of this season.

Aug. 25, 2006: Owens is fined $9,500 for missing a team meeting and a rehabilitation session, and being late to an offensive meeting. He later says he overslept. "It's not a big deal," he says.

Aug. 19, 2006: After working out in the morning, Owens misses the afternoon session because of a setback with his hamstring. He later blames coaches for using him too much.

Aug. 16, 2006: Owens returns to practice after missing 14 straight workouts, but two days later, Parcells tells Owens he hasn't practiced enough to play in the second preseason game.

Aug. 10, 2006: Owens wears the silver and blue uniform of Lance Armstrong's Discovery Channel pro cycling team while riding a stationary bicycle. He calls it "my little kickoff for the Tour de T.O. Comeback."

Aug. 8, 2006: Parcells seems flustered by all the T.O. talk: "I'm getting the sense that most of the media is just waiting for something to be controversial in that regard. And I'm here to tell you, it's not going to happen from me. So you need to get that in your head. OK?"

Aug. 5, 2006: An MRI shows no major problems with Owens' hamstring. Two days later, Owens says he's flying in doctors and trainers to examine his hamstring.

Aug. 3, 2006: Owens misses practice because of a hamstring problem. "I wouldn't say I'm injured, just a little sore," he says. Says team owner Jerry Jones: "For a guy who is renowned for playing hurt, renowned for working hard and wanting to be out here, we don't have any concerns."

July 13, 2006: At his first book signing, Owens claims he was misquoted in his autobiography, saying he didn't say his return in time for the February 2005 Super Bowl was "heroic," even though that's what he wrote. He called it one of the words chosen by his co-author.

July 5, 2006: "T.O.", the second setting-the-record-straight autobiography Owens has written in 22 months, is released five days ahead of schedule. The biggest revelation: His relationship with Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb soured for good when Owens was told "Shut the (expletive) up" in a huddle. McNabb later calls the autobiography a "children's book."

May 5, 2006: Forty-eight days after Owens signed, Bill Parcells speaks about him for the first time. "I don't view it as a gamble. It's in my best interest that he's successful.'' When he speaks again two days later, Parcells puts the subject of Owens off limits until training camp.

March 18, 2006: Four days after being cut by the Eagles, Owens signs a three-year, $25 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys that includes a $5 million bonus and a $5 million salary in 2006. "I'm a star among stars now," Owens says at a news conference.

Eagles

March 14, 2006: Philadelphia Eagles cut Owens.

Nov. 23, 2005: An arbitrator rules that the Eagles' suspension was justified and that the team is within its rights to deactivate Owens for the remainder of the season.

Nov. 5, 2005: Philadelphia suspends Owens over the latest comments and two days later, the Eagles extend the suspension to four games and tell Owens not to return.

Nov. 3, 2005: In an ESPN.com interview, says the team would be better off with Brett Favre starting at QB than with injured McNabb and blasts the team for not marking his 100th career TD catch.

Aug. 10, 2005: After a shouting match with Reid during training camp, is sent home for a week. A circus ensues as he works out in the driveway in front of his home.

April 2005: In an ESPN.com interview, says he "wasn't the guy who got tired in the Super Bowl," a comment believed to be directed at McNabb.

Nov. 15, 2004: Draws criticism for a MNF promo in which "Desperate Housewives" actress Nicollette Sheridan, dressed only in a towel, asks Owens to skip the game then drops the towel and jumps into his arms. Later apologizes.

Nov. 7, 2004: Cameras follow as he yells at Donovan McNabb on the sideline during a loss to the Steelers.

Oct. 31, 2004: Now with the Eagles, mocks Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis during an end zone celebration.

49ers

Aug. 13, 2004: In interview with Playboy magazine, when asked if he thinks Garcia is gay, responds: "Like my boy tells me: If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it is a rat."

Sept. 28, 2003: Storms off the field when Kevan Barlow is stuffed for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 during a loss to Minnesota. After the game, hints that Garcia should be benched.

Sept. 21, 2003: Throws a sideline tantrum directed at offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and is critical of new coach Dennis Erickson after a loss to the Browns. "It's my job to run routes and catch the ball," he says. "It's their job to know the personnel on the field. It's their job to know who the playmakers are and to design the plays."

Jan. 12, 2003: Screams at the 49ers' sideline and slaps his head in disbelief when Mariucci elects to run out the clock rather than try to cut into a halftime deficit in a playoff loss to Tampa Bay.

Dec. 15, 2002: Celebrates a TD catch in a loss to Green Bay by taking pompoms from a cheerleader and dancing behind the end zone.

Oct. 14, 2002: Celebrates a TD catch on Monday Night Football by pulling a marker from his sock and autographing the ball.

Sept. 22, 2002: Criticizes Mariucci for having QB Jeff Garcia kneel down at the end of a win over the Redskins rather than trying to score again. "We have no killer instinct, period," T.O. says.

Jan. 13, 2002: Complains about his role in the offense following a playoff loss to the Packers. "I want to be the go-to guy on this team," he says. "But the play-calling doesn't always involve me."

Oct. 31, 2001: Lashes out at Mariucci for his play calling and refusal to run up the score. "I think it's funny, but ... his buddy system with all the coaches around the league, I think he tries to spare them sometimes," he says.

Oct. 22, 2000: Accuses teammates of quitting following a loss to Carolina. "I think the whole team just gave up, man," he says. Apologizes the next day.

Sept. 24, 2000: Celebrates a pair of TDs in a win over the Cowboys by posing on the star logo at midfield in Dallas. Suspended for a week.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.