Terrell Owens was in a relaxed mood at Valley Ranch on Thursday.
Posted on 09/28/2006 6:28:32 PM PDT by LA Woman3
IRVING, Texas -- Dallas police have classified Terrell Owens' case as an "accidental overdose," not an attempted suicide, closing their investigation Thursday of the Cowboys receiver's hospitalization.
Authorities also released a recording of the brief 911 call Thursday that brought rescue workers to Owens' home, in which publicist Kim Etheredge said "I think he took too many pills" but never mentioned her client's name or said anything about a suicide attempt.
Police Chief David Kunkle said he had "great confidence" in his officers' initial report, which said rescue workers responded late Tuesday night to an attempted "suicide by prescription pain medication."
"The report, in my opinion, reflects what the officers were told and represents their best interpretation of what happened," Kunkle said Thursday. "But that doesn't mean it's the definitive account of the incident. Like all these situations, we're dealing with incomplete information and facts that change."
The report, obtained by media outlets Wednesday, said Etheredge described Owens as being depressed and indicated that he said "Yes" when rescue workers asked whether he had tried to harm himself.
Owens said Wednesday he mistakenly mixed the painkillers for a broken hand with supplements he ordinarily takes, causing him to become groggy and incoherent. Etheredge became concerned and called 911.
The 41-second call began politely, with Etheredge saying in an urgent tone, "Hi, I have an emergency please."
Far from the anger and outrage she showed at a news conference Wednesday, Etheredge was a bit panicked but composed enough to say "thank you" before being transferred to a paramedic. She then told the second operator, "Hi. I need an ambulance please, immediately."
"I think he took too many pills," she said. "Please. Now. What do I do if the pills are down the throat?"
The paramedic instead said they were on the way and asked if he was still breathing. Told that he was, the paramedic reassured Etheredge that rescue workers were en route.
"Thank you," she said. "Thank you."
Within two hours of his hospital release Wednesday morning, Owens was catching passes at team headquarters. He went through a full practice Thursday, his first since breaking his right hand on Sept. 17, and might play Sunday in Tennessee.
At a news conference Wednesday, Owens denied the strongest parts of the police report, and Etheredge lashed out at authorities, saying, "I am just upset that I just feel they take advantage of Terrell. Had this been someone else, this may not have happened."
Earlier Thursday, the president of the Dallas Police Association, which represents Dallas police officers, demanded an apology from T.O. and his publicist.
"The officers reacted because they were called to this location to do this job. Now they're being put under a microscope by some fancy little football person," Senior Cpl. Glenn White said. "Give me a break. Those officers are 10 times better than this man. ... We police officers don't go out to these calls and make stuff up."
Reports of an empty pill bottle is a good example of the difference between what officers were told and the story that emerged later. The report indicated that 35 pills were unaccounted for; Owens later said that Etheredge reported seeing an empty bottle, but didn't know the medicine was in a drawer.
"There was initially a belief of more [pills] that he might have taken," Kunkle said. "Further investigation leads you to a different conclusion."
Etheredge could not immediately be reached Thursday. The voice mail on her cell phone was full, and she did not respond to an e-mail from The Associated Press.
Although Owens looked fine in practice, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he might not decide until Saturday morning whether Owens makes the trip to Tennessee, and he'll probably wait until that night to determine whether to use him in the game.
Parcells wants to evaluate all the medical information he can get. That includes details about Owens' broken hand and possibly a mental evaluation. Owens is expected to practice again Friday.
"I have to, as the coach, rely on other people to keep me informed as to really what's going on," Parcells said. "I can't form my own independent opinion other than those involving, 'Is his hand functional and can he play on Sunday?' If my medical people tell me those things are in place, and then he looks like he's [OK], we'll make that consideration then."
Owens declined to speak with reporters, saying he did his talking Wednesday. But he sure was visible while media was allowed in the locker room.
Wearing a small bandage over the scar on his right hand, and a black T-shirt that read "U Big Dummy" above a picture of TV character Fred Sanford, Owens walked into the locker room, sat on a sofa and unwrapped his lunch, then decided to take it into an adjacent, off-limits dining area.
When he returned, Owens shooed away reporters, then Owens went back to the same spot on the sofa where he'd been before. He grabbed a copy of the Cowboys Weekly newspaper to occupy his time.
Among the articles that caught his attention: "Young Receivers Have Opportunity To Step Up After Broken Finger Sidelines Owens," and a scouting report of the Eagles, next week's foe.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
This whole thing should have never gotten national media attention for the sake of all involved.
What exactly did T.O. do to offend the Dallas Police? Sounds like his publicist overreacted to something. And why does he need a publicist anyway?
I couldnt stand TO, but now I just feel sorry for him. None of the people surrounding him are his friend. They are nothing but blood sucking parasites.
I heard them talking about it on local talk radio here in the DFW area this morning. WBAP I think..
"Terrell Owens' trainer says recent events in the wide receiver's life may have contributed to his depression and/or attempt to commit suicide. The trainer says Owens encountered a "perfect storm" upon learning he wouldn't be allowed to see his son on his seventh birthday, then hours later, Owens' fiancee left him. Whether he tried suicide or not, T.O.'s psyche can't be solid. We doubt it affects his on-field performance. (Sep. 27, - 11:43 PM EDT - Source: Dallas Morning News)"
http://www.nbcsports.com/nfl_players/1490/detail.html
The Dallas Police are now denying their own Police report as we first heard it.
So explain again to me where he did anything or said anything that requires an apology.
Apologize for what??
Youre welcome.
Puts a new light on the spin doesnt it?
Many a man has got crazy after being dumped by his woman,
especially one he planned to marry.
Add his kid thing and all the other pressure he is facing and it would probably be more than some could take.
Imagine the pressure and fear of not performing for the Cowboys alone. All eyes are on him and expectations are immense...probably even unrealistic.
"What exactly did T.O. do to offend the Dallas Police? "
My guess Dog is that the DPD were being pressured to change their story to cover for TO by his PR cronies.
Which would have made them look inept if they did.
But thats just a guess.
The options from what I understand are suicide attempt, PR stunt, accidental OD, or a bad medication reaction.
Either way the media got it wrong because they have been all over the place.
I guess we knew this circus was coming to town when he left the Eagles.
the dude tried to kill himself, now they are lying because he probably has a clause in his contract that says if he tries to commit suicide or intentionally injures himself that the Cowboys can CUT HIM without pay, similar to what the Eagles did with their contract clause,the publicists closing remarks yesterday were "Terrell has 20 million reasons to stay alive". paraphrasing the number(don't remember if it was 20 or 25), but there you have it.
what "supplements" cause such a reation?..."supplements" usually refer to over the counter herbal type stuff/vitamins/minerals....
did he go to the hospital in an ambulance?....was his stomach "pumped"?......
I suspect he did overdose on purpose and now his publicist is trying to make it seem not so....for whatever reason, i don't know...
its true that this should never been a public media frenzy, but no matter what, I'd just like the truth, and the truth is scare in this story of "accidental " overdose....
maybe the truth could cost him 20some million dollars... would lie to save save $20million bones?
A more accurate statement would have been "He has 25 million reasons to cover up his suicide attempt".
As well as all those who make money off of him.
imo.
Oh well, maybe this snapped him out of it.
I agree, hopefully he seen the light that what he was doing was stupid(i'm not sure of the statistics, but i believe this could be normal reaction[attempt suicide then change your mind, after you almost die])
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