Terrell Owens has a lot of fond memories of his time with the San Francisco 49ers but doesn't have too many of former head coach Steve Mariucci. The relationship between the two soured toward the end of Owens' time in the Bay Area, and the Hall of Fame receiver still holds a grudge against his former coach.
The 49ers announced on Wednesday that Owens will become the 28th inductee in the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame. The receiver jumped on a conference call with reporters and was asked about his relationship with Mariucci and if it could ever be mended.
The short answer: No.
"I'm not really open to [burying the hatchet] because that's a guy I think from where I sit, and I think people that witnessed some of the things that transpired in that locker room, people want to say that I was a selfish person, this, that, and the other, and I created a lot of division and headache in the locker room," Owens said. "But there are a lot of players that you've never heard that from. Some of the things that have been said about me, I'm pretty sure a lot of it probably came from him."
Owens went on to say that he believes Mariucci was quick to judge without attempting to get to know him as a person.
"At the end of the day, it is what it is," Owens continued. "I think a lot of what happened really kind of fueled me to be a better person, and even a better football player on that football field."
Owens believes a lot of Mariucci's actions were self-motivated and the former head coach was more interested in participating in the politics of the game than getting to know players like Owens.
"I guess when asked about me or how I was in the locker room versus who I was as a person; I don't think he could really give you a clue because he never took the time to really get to know who I was," Owens said. "I think that's what's really, really sad.
"I know a lot of things that transpired in that locker room that a lot of people don't know. I'm very fortunate that there are people that were in that locker room that know some of those things."