Bucs/NFL

Owens denies wanting to kill himself

The Cowboys' star receiver and his publicist attribute a hospitalization to an allergic reaction, not an overdose.

By TIMES WIRES
Published September 28, 2006

DALLAS - Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens denied a police report Wednesday that he attempted suicide, saying he became groggy after mixing painkillers with supplements.

Later, after leaving a hospital, he caught passes from quarterback Drew Bledsoe and proclaimed himself "very capable of going out there and playing on Sunday."

"The rumor of me taking 35 pills, I think is absurd," Owens said. "I don't think I would be here if I had taken 35 pills."

According to Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, who was with Owens at his home Tuesday night, she became concerned by Owens' unresponsiveness, especially after she found an empty bottle of hydrocodone, the generic form of Vicodin he had been taking to ease the pain in his broken finger.

Owens said he had removed the three dozen or so pills from a bottle and placed them in a drawer. According to police, a prescription for 40 pills was filled Sept. 18.

Owens had taken two or three, he said, after returning home from practice because of persistent pain in the hand. He added he also took some of the about 30 vitamin supplements he ingests daily and lay on a training table. Beyond that, he said, he does not remember much about the night.

"This is sad," Etheredge said. "Terrell had a reaction to different pills, and just to state he was trying to commit suicide, it was unfair. I feel they take advantage of Terrell. Had this been someone else, this may not have happened."

Lt. Rick Watson, a Dallas Police Department spokesman, said, "If Mr. Owens and his publicist believe that our officers falsified that report, I would encourage them to come to Internal Affairs and file a complaint so we can investigate this."

At a news conference a few hours after leaving the hospital, Owens smiled and seemed more amused than peeved. He apologized for being a distraction and thanked his friends for worrying about him. "It's very unfortunate for it to go from an allergic reaction to a suicide attempt," he said.

Shortly after Etheredge called 911, rescue workers arrived at Owens' home at about 8 p.m. (local time) and took him to an emergency room. When word spread, Etheredge said it was an allergic reaction.

But the story shifted Wednesday morning, when several media outlets received a police report saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend, later identified as Etheredge, intervened.

The police said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time (he) stated: 'Yes.' "

"I was kind of out of it," Owens said. "I can barely even remember the doctors, much less the police officers asking me questions."

Owens also said he's "not depressed about anything."

Etheredge also appeared at Owens' news conference, saying she "did not take anything out of his mouth."

"Terrell has 25-million reasons why he should be alive," she said, referring to the $25-million, three-year contract he signed in March with the Cowboys.

The Associated Press filed a request under the Texas Public Information Act to get the tape of the 911 call. Dallas Fire-Rescue approved, but it was unclear when it would happen.

The Dallas Morning News reported during a minute-long call, Etheredge did not mention suicide and talked calmly.

Buddy Primm, Owens' trainer, said he didn't believe Owens attempted suicide but he did undergo two traumatic events Monday.

Owens' son from a previous relationship celebrated his birthday and Owens was distraught, he said, about not being able to see the boy, who lives in California. A few hours later, a woman whom Primm described as Owens' fiancee broke off their relationship.

Teammates and friends in the league rallied to support Owens. Ex-Cowboys star Deion Sanders was with Owens at his home before the news conference.

"From my understanding, looking at him in the eye as a man and as a big brother, I said 'Be straight up with me.' He seems to be okay," Sanders told the NFL Network, for whom he works as an analyst.

Current teammates said they were skeptical that Owens attempted suicide.

"We know him. He loves himself," linebacker Bradie James said. "He's not going to do anything to endanger himself."

Owens was seen leaving the hospital before noon, flashing a thumb's up sign to reporters. But with no other information released and Owens not yet having spoke, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells was peppered with questions at his daily news briefing.

After getting almost strictly Owens-related questions, coach Bill Parcells, who usually speaks for 25-30 minutes, cut off the session after only nine. He ended it by getting up from his chair and saying, "When I find out what the hell is going on, you will know. Until then, I'm not getting interrogated for no reason."

[Last modified September 28, 2006, 01:55:29]