#3 Terrell Owens | Top 10 Wide Receivers of the 2000s | NFL Films
Terrell Owens, the 49ers second-most prolific wide receiver ever, and John Lynch, the 49ers new general manager, did not make this years Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
Some positive, 49ers-related news did emerge Saturday, however. Their future coach, Kyle Shanahan, was named the NFLs Assistant Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, and 49ers all-time leading rusher Frank Gore won the NFLs Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
Shanahans honor wasnt a surprise as it came on the eve of Super Bowl LI, where he will serve one last game as the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator beforeofficially gettinghired as the 49ers coach, a move thats been assumed for two weeks. Gore has played the past two seasons for the Indianapolis Colts afterthe 49ers did not re-sign him in free agency.
While Owens railed on social media about not being a second-ballot Hall of Famer, Lynch quietly fell short in what was his fourth straight year as a finalist (and second straight year of making the cut from 15 to 10).
This summers enshrinement class instead includes running backsLaDainian Tomlinsonand Terrell Davis, quarterback Kurt Warner, defensive endJason Taylor, kicker Morten Andersen, safety Kenny Easley and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Owens broke his badnews via Twitter, and he not hide his disappointment, ending initial tweets with the hashtag FlawedProcess. He latercalled the Hall of Fame a total joke, adding: Honestly, (it) doesnt mean anything to me to get in beyond this point.
Owens was a finalist for the second time in as many years since he became eligible after a 16-season career. He ranks second in NFL history with 15,934 receiving yards (Rice is first; 22,895 yards) and third with 153 receiving touchdowns (Rice had 197, Randy Moss 156).
TO shouldve been in the HOF the first time..the folks voting are a joke, current 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith tweeted.
The Dallas Morning News Rick Gosselin,who is on the 48-person selection committee, announced that debate over Owens candidacy lasted 32 minutes, the third-longest behind thosemulling themerits of Paul Tagliabue (hour) and Jones (nearly 34 minutes).
A 1996 third-round draft pick by the 49ers, Owens played his first eight seasons there, and he ranks second in the franchise record book for receptions (592), receiving yards (8,572) and touchdowns (81, the same number he wore on his jersey). His 49ers career was also marked by highs and lows. He made The Catch II in a playoff win over the Green Bay Packers and set a NFL record with 20 receptions in Rices final home game in 2000. He also drew a weeksuspension for celebrating at Dallas midfield logo, and he also made critical statements of teammates.
Owens left the 49ers in 2004 amid a free-agency mixup and eventual trade to the Philadelphia Eagles, wholost in the Super Bowl thatseason despite Owens nine receptions and 122 yards on a recently fractured lower leg.
Owens concluded his career with the Dallas Cowboys (2006-08), Buffalo Bills (2009) and Cincinnati Bengals (2010).
As for Lynch, his Hall of Fame candidacy apparently didnt get a needed boost after surprisingly being named the 49ers general manager Sunday.
A Fox Sports analyst since 2008, Lynch entered the NFL 24 years ago out of Stanford, when the Buccaneers drafted him in the third round (82nd overall pick). Lynch made nine Pro Bowls as he played from 1993-2003 with the Buccaneers and 2004-07 with the Broncos. He spent the 2008 exhibition season with the New England Patriots.
After earning All-Pro recognition from 1999-2001, Lynchs best prize came the following season, when he captained the 2002 Buccaneers to the franchises first and only Super Bowl win. Lynch had only one tackle and one pass defense in that 48-21 rout over the Raiders. That playoff run began with a 31-6 division-round win over the 49ers, in which Lynch had three tackles while Owens had four catches for 35 yards.
Lynch long ago gained a spot in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Specifically, his Erie Sailors cap is there from when he threw the first pitch in Florida Marlins history in 1992.
Shanahan is in his ninth season as an offensive coordinator, previously serving in that capacity for Houston (2008-09), Washington (2010-13) and cleveland (2014).
source: http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/04/terrell-owens-no-hall-of-fame-entry-again/
