During his Hall of Fame career with six NFL teams, Terrell Owens knew what was like to be labeled as a diva wide receiver who didn't get along with his quarterback. With future Hall of Famer Antonio Brown going through something simliar in what may be the end of his time with the Steelers, T.O. can relate.
"Antonio Brown is a great receiver. I wish I could say I was as good as him going into his 10th year," Owens said. "You look at his body of work, what he's done, what he means to the city of Pittsburgh, you would think they would at least try to listen to some of his frustrations and try to rectify it.
"Everybody knows there's some turmoil in that locker room. For Antonio, at this point he has to look out for himself and his best interest. The management already has come out to say they don't anticipate him being in training camp. Why have another Le'Veon Bell situation looming over the offseason? Let both sides come up with a amicable resolution and move on."
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Owens is among the former receivers Brown has reached out to for advice on the situation. T.O. told him to practice patience most.
"i've talked to Antonio throughout the course of the season. From some of the experiences I've gone through, the mistakes I've made the poor decisions I've made — addressing the media and saying things that you may regret or come back haunt you — I just told him to let things play out. The best thing to his advantage is to play like Antonio Brown plays.
"They weren't getting him involved as much as he would like with the emergence of JuJu Smith-Schuster, but he just had to make the most of the opportunities that were given to him. He did that. That's what he has in his pocket, his production and his play. If he can go elsewhere and someone else can utilize his services better, that's the place for him."
Owens also has noticed that Brown has had his eyes on joining the same team for which Owens played first and longest: The 49ers.
"Like with Jerry Rice and others that have spoken to Antonio, it's safe to say now that when we talked, he asked me about the Bay Area and how I enjoyed my time there. He would have a quarterback there in Jimmy Garoppolo that can get him the ball. It would definitely be fresh air and a good new beginning for him."
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Owens played eight years in San Francisco before playing in Philadelphia, Dallas, Buffalo and Cincinnati in his final seven years, staying in the league through age 37. That makes him one to especially appreciate that Larry Fitzgeald returning to play with the Cardinals for a 16th season at age 36.
"When you think about the guys who have played for one team their entire career, many of the great receivers weren't able to do that," Owens said. "Jerry Rice, I'm sure he wanted to complete his career with the 49ers, but that didn't happen. Going to the NBA, you think of Dirk Nowitzki with the Mavericks, Kobe Bryant with the Lakers and Tim Duncan and the Spurs.
"For Larry, it's a testament to his work ethic, a testament to the loyalty on both sides, with him and the organization. His numbers with his new quarterback may not have been what he wanted them to be, but when you have that fire, you have to keep playing. Speakng as someone who had their career get cut short because of a lack of opportunity, he should play until he wants to play, until the wheels fall off."
As for whom Owens likes in Super Bowl 53, it's clear he's not rooting for a former NFC West rival there.
"Being a realist, I'm looking forward to the Patriots winning the game. I can't and don't respect the Rams being in the Super Bowl, because they shouldn't be there. They shouldn't be there, plain and simple, based on a non-call by those officials. I don't have a dog in the fight, but I can't really side with the Rams."
Owens talked to Sporting News on behalf of Febreze, for which he's starring in a new ad to encourage Super Bowl party preppers to stay fresh and eliminate pre big-game odors.
"With this spot, it really was giving me an opportunity to excerise my acting skills. Just being in front of the camera is always good. I'm fortunate and grateful for the partnership for a second time in three years that they've been a sponsor for the Super Bowl. Looking forward to keep making more magic happen.
"I've had fun with it. That's what it's really about — I've tried to align myself with brands that make sense. I know that I'm not for everybody, but with Febreze, it's been pretty productive."
