IFL team releases Terrell Owens
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
Terrell Owens‘ tenure in the Indoor Football League came to an unceremonious end Tuesday when the Allen Wranglers released the controversial former NFL receiver.
“It’s disappointing and unfortunate, but (he) could no longer be tolerated by the Wrangler organization.
”– Allen Wranglers owner Jon Frankel on releasing Terrell Owens
OwensOwner Jon Frankel said Owens‘ ownership stake has been terminated because he violated his contract.
Frankel cited Owens‘ refusal to play in two upcoming road games that are critical to the Wranglers’ playoff hopes and Owens’ no-show for a scheduled appearance at a local children’s hospital as the breaking points in the team’s relationship with the receiver.
“Our fans are amongst the best in the league, and it is impossible to maintain a player when even our fans notice and comment on a player’s lack of effort both on and off the field,” Frankel said in a statement released to ESPNDallas.com. “We need to do what is best for this team, our fans and this community.”
Owens, who was not required to play in all of the Wranglers’ road games, could not be immediately reached for comment.
Owens
The 38-year-old Owens, whose tenures with the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys all ended acrimoniously, had hoped that playing for the Wranglers could help him get back in the NFL. He received no interest from NFL teams last season despite ranking second all-time in receiving yards (15,934), fourth in touchdowns (156) and sixth in catches (1,078).
Owens played one season each for the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati BengalsHe caught 72 passes for 983 yards and nine touchdowns for the Bengals in 2010.
After Owens recovered from knee surgery to repair a torn ACL he suffered after the 2010 season, agent Drew Rosenhaus organized a nationally televised workout to prove his client was healthy. No scouts attended the workout.
Owens caught 35 passes for 420 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games for the Wranglers.
“It’s disappointing and unfortunate,” Frankel said of releasing Owens, “but (he) could no longer be tolerated by the Wrangler organization.”
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