Cris Carter Believes Terrell Owens Is Making a Huge Mistake

Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter knows something about harboring grudges against the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He did for a long time.

The man was one of the most prolific wide receivers in NFL history. He retired with 13,899 receiving yards and 130 touchdowns after 16 seasons in the league. In that time he reached eight Pro Bowls. One would think he should’ve been a lock to get in on his first try. That didn’t happen. He waited, and waited, and waited. Five years went by without him getting into Canton. Not until his sixth time on the ballot did the votes finally swing his way.

It was so easy for him to feel bitter about that. Instead, he chose to simply embrace the moment and celebrate being named one of the greatest to ever play the game of football. This perspective helped to explain his response when hearing the news about fellow receiver Terrell Owens. After initially turning down an invitation to the ceremony to stay at home, Owens decided he’d hold a separate celebration at his alma mater of Tennessee.

It’s hard not to think that this is Owens’ way of sniping the Hall of Fame for not putting him in sooner like many, including himself thought he should’ve. In retaliation, it was announced that Owens name would not be mentioned during the festivities. This caused some outrage from some people, but Carter believes it was the right call.

Carter believes Owens is depriving his supporters of a special moment

The interesting point Carter made is that it’s not just the fact that Owens is missing a once-in-a-lifetime chance by attending the ceremony. He’s also depriving that moment of all the men and women who worked so hard to help him reach those heights during his career that got him to Canton. They wanted to celebrate it with him and by denying the invitation he’s stripped that away. In Carter’s mind out of petty anger.

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It’s an interesting argument to make and one that holds merit. Owens has always come across as a selfish individual, more interested in his own personal gain than that of others. It’s a big reason why he ended up bouncing across several teams at the end of his career. It also would explain the troubles in his love life with several different child supports to maintain. He always wants the moment to be about him and only him. Not anybody else.

That’s the perception anyway. Is it the right one? It doesn’t feel like there’s a right or wrong answer to that question.