Interview: Terrell Owens

by Dewey Hammond

These excerpts originally appeared as part of a three-page interview in Playboy magazine in September 2004. Only fair-use excerpts are available here because Playboy owns the copyright, but the full interview is available for free on Playboy.com.

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What's your biggest weakness?
"Impatience. At times I just want the ball a high percentage of the time, but I know other players have to be involved for us to obtain the goal of winning a game or a championship. It's a team game, and I can't be selfish. But sometimes playing receiver you have to be selfish."

What's most rewarding about being an NFL player?
"I'd say the perks. Once you become successful, everybody begins to notice you a little more. You take pride in that, and it makes you work harder to elevate your game. The fame and all that is going to come. To be known across the country? That's great."

Does pro football treat its players worse than other sports do?
"In the NBA you've got guys who get wristbands with their numbers or initials or whatever on them. We can't do any of that. We can't have any personality, no individuality. We're almost like slaves, like robots."

If you could change any rule in the NFL, what would it be?
"No limit to the celebrations. Just keep it real. Keep it gangsta."