His antics as a 49er will continue to keep him out
It reflects more on the process than him. Without question, he is one of the greatest receivers of all time. . His 15,934 career receiving yards rank second in NFL history, and his 153 receiving touchdowns are third, which is 23 more TDs than fourth place Chris Carter and just three less than Randy Moss' career total. He is six-time Pro Bowl selection.
On December 19, 2004, Owens sustained a severely sprained ankle and a fractured fibula when Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams took him down with a horse-collar tackle; Owens' injury was one of the major reasons that the horse-collar tackle was later prohibited. With the Eagles heading to Super Bowl XXXIX, Owens shocked the media by announcing he would play no matter what, even though team doctors stated that his injury would take several more weeks to heal. Owens' trainer, James "Buddy" Primm, helped bring Owens back much sooner with the use of Microcurrent and a hyperbaric chamber. Skeptics were silenced when Owens started the game and played well; the result was nine receptions and 122 yards, though the Eagles still lost to the New England Patriots. After the game, Owens criticized the media by saying that a player like Brett Favre would have been praised for such bravery.