Bad boys Owens and Johnson released
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Terrell Owens and Keyshawn Johnson,
two of the NFL’s most talented but high maintenance wide
receivers, were released by their teams on Tuesday.
The departure of Owens from Philadelphia ended a turbulent
and controversial two-year stay with the Eagles.
“The Philadelphia Eagles today announced they have
terminated the contract of wide receiver Terrell Owens,” the
team said in a statement on its Web site.
After helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl in 2005, the
flamboyant Owens demanded that his contract be renegotiated
just one season into a seven-year $48 million deal.
The outspoken wide receiver also feuded with team owners
and tested the patience of coach Andy Reid and his team mates,
repeatedly criticizing quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Following an altercation with Reid during training camp,
Owens was suspended for one week.
Owens returned to the team and had 47 catches for 763 yards
but tensions continued to mount and after repeated attacks on
McNabb and management he was suspended for the remainder of the
season.
When Owens concentrated on playing football he was one of
the best, pulling in 716 catches for 10,535 yards and 103
touchdowns in 10 seasons, most spent with the San Francisco
49ers where he became infamous for his post-touchdown
celebrations.
The five-times Pro Bowl wide receiver made a courageous
return from ankle surgery to play in the Super Bowl and
produced a dazzling effort in a losing cause by catching nine
passes for 122 yards.
Johnson also has a checkered history.
He joined the Dallas Cowboys two seasons ago after being
suspended and eventually deactivated by the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers for disciplinary reasons in similar circumstances to
Owens.
Johnson largely stayed out of trouble in Dallas, however,
pulling in a team high 71 catches last season for 839 yards and
six touchdowns.
A reliable and imposing target, Johnson has caught at least
one pass in all 151 career games and sits 20th on the all-time
reception list with 744 catches for 9,756 yards.