Mike Martz is not happy with Terrell Owens being a Hall of Fame finalist.
On the day before the Super Bowl, the National Football League will announce the class of 2016 for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Former receiver Terrell Owens is one of the 15 finalists for enshrinement, and Mike Martz is not happy about it. Martz, who was the offensive coordinator under Dick Vermeil when the St. Louis Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV and then the head coach for the following six seasons was blunt with his thoughts.
Talking to St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Martz stated that Owens being a finalist while both Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce are not really rankles him. Per ESPN:
"“‘Surprised’ isn’t the word,” Martz told the newspaper. “You can’t print how I felt when T.O. leapfrogged those two. That’s just plain out-and-out ridiculous.”"
Martz continued…
"“If they big-timed it and did all that dumb stuff, they’d get in probably earlier,” Martz told the Post-Dispatch. “I think they’ll eventually get in. I don’t think that’s an issue, but it’s tragic that people think of them like that. If Marvin Harrison gets in, how could they not get in?”"
It is hard not to agree with Martz. Both played in two Super Bowls and each got a ring in 1999, the year that the Rams became famous as the Greatest Show on Turf. Holt was a rookie and Bruce was in his sixth year, joining Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner to form an incredibly potent group.
Here’s how the stats for all three guys play out…
Owens: 1,078 receptions for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns
Bruce: 1,024 receptions for 15,208 yards and 91 touchdowns
Holt: 920 receptions for 13,382 yards and 74 touchdowns
While Owens has a slight edge in receptions and yards over Bruce, his touchdowns dwarf both Bruce and Holt. However, Bruce and Holt were not utter malcontents that sabotaged the locker room on a yearly basis as Owens was.
In the final analysis, all three deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. Each of them were elite players for long periods of time, dominant throughout their careers. Owens gets heat, and deservedly so, for being a tool and a prima donna throughout his career. Yet, his numbers are some of the best this side of his once-teammate Jerry Rice.