Cops: Terrell Owens Attempted Suicide

Report Says Controversial NFL Star Took Overdose Of Painkillers

(CBS/AP)  Flamboyant Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens tried to kill himself by overdosing on pain medication, a police report said, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.

Owens was not identified by name in the police report, and police spokesman Lt. Rick Watson later in the morning said, "I'm not confirming anything."

However, Owens flashed a "thumbs-up" sign to reporters as he left the hospital Wednesday morning.

Reporters were expecting a statement from Owens outside his home at 1:30 p.m. EDT, but about that time, former NFL star Deion Sanders came out and said Owens would speak later at the Cowboys' training facility, Valley Ranch.

An initial news report had said that Owens had suffered an "allergic reaction" to his medication, but Gina Miller of CBS affiliate KTVT saw him on a gurney being wheeled into Baylor Medical Center.

A Dallas police report obtained by the press Wednesday morning said the man told his friend "that he was depressed."

The female friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that (his) prescription pain medication was empty and observed (Owens) putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.

The friend attempted to pry them out with her fingers, then was told by Owens that before this incident he'd taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied. Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time (he) stated, 'Yes.'"

Owens may have taken 30-35 pills of the unidentified medication.

The police report says Owens was treated by Baylor staff for a drug overdose. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.

At a post-practice press conference Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he had not spoken with Owens and is not sure when he will.

Parcells said the team is still trying to find out more about what took place Tuesday night.

"I don't have enough information yet," he said. "I wouldn't (decide) anything right now. I'm talking with a good deal of ignorance on the subject," Parcells said.

Owens is recovering from a broken right hand he sustained a week ago Sunday. He had an operation the next day to have a plate screwed in, enabling the bone to heal without being injured further. Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.

The Cowboys were off this past weekend and Owens was back at practice Tuesday, although he worked out on his own. Parcells said Owens' hand was improving and he was expected back on the practice field Wednesday. Owens chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room Tuesday afternoon and seemed fine.

Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.

When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill — a former Cowboy star who deals mostly with troubled players — said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.

Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game on Oct. 8 in Philadelphia — against the team that dumped him midway through last season, only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.

Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A two-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was going down.

While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and today was only Tuesday.

"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.

Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.

A hospital spokeswoman said early Wednesday there was no patient registered as Terrell Owens, although federal privacy laws allow people to block their name from being released. Owens' publicist and agent, and the Cowboys, did not return repeated calls from The Associated Press. No teammates or Cowboys officials were seen entering the hospital late Tuesday night.

[whatithink-2009]

To Auggiepmp,

The headline doesn't say that Owens reported that he tried to kill himself, it said the cops reported this. It doesn't seem that Owens is trying to get attention but that the police are trying to give him attention. You have misplaced your anger, in other words. Not sure anyway why you are so angry.

[salgado72]

I do not understand why something that is so private and sensitive is made public by someone other than the individual. People that suffer from depression should be protected in the same way as victims of rape. Coping with depression is hard enough without the glare of the cameras.

[agnim]

TO IS OK.
AND JUST AS I THOUGHT!

GO READ ESPN REPORTING ON THE INCIDENT, PEOPLE.

"ESPN's Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told ESPN.com's Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.

Publicist Kim Etheridge also said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that the police have gotten the story wrong. She said she was with Owens, who was having trouble because he'd mixed his pain pills with supplements. She said she called for help because he was becoming unresponsive."

[agnim]

All this talk of 'suicide' is just the usual media attempt at a headline grabbing.

The man is already on record for having bad reaction to the poisonous pain killers.

Modern medicine is a two-edged sword: What doesn't make you better will kill you. LOL

[whatithink-2009]

To acrubray,

"I have no pity for him."

- I am striving ever single day to be a good Christian. Therefore, I think these words would never come out of my mouth. He is human just like the rest of us. I am not sure we need pity as humans, but we ALL certainly need empathy. Without empathy, mankind is doomed.

[jackiemg-2009]

It just goes to show money does not by happiness. In fact, riches and rehab seem to be going together a lot these days.

[whatithink-2009]

When somebody tries to kill himself/herself it is always a sad event. I hope the guy gets some help. It just goes to show you that money and fame are not everything.

[aessedai9]

Poor guy! It's great having the talent, fame and money...but, he's still human. And, in his most vulnerable and human moments, his frailties are put up for all of the world to see. We all do things we regret and should be cut a little slack every now and again. And, it's true--he didn't intend to kill himself or he'd have been alone. But, we're on the outside looking in and have no idea what he's going thru. Besides, I can personally attest to side effects of pain killers. Any of the "'cets" or a medrol dose pack can make me down-right psycho.

[ohioangel]

las vegas phil, no need to be so aggressive, yes what a reaction he would have taking 40 pain pills at once pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[lasvegasphil-2009]

I do beleive that this is a bad reaction to the pain medication. Their people who have extreme high's & lows who'm have been deemed manic depressant. Having met T.O. a few times even though I'm from philly & am a eagles phila. fan, & aside from his perception in public I can tell you all that he is overall a humble & generous person. So for you people who have nothing better to do but hate. Get a life. Most of american;s are 2 paychecks away from extreme depression. Have some compassion. It could be you.

[fl0118]

I feel that know one is above failure so don't think just because T O has money, houses and cars that he is above failure, everyone needs someone and that someone is GOD I just want to say T O make it your business to pray about all the things that you are feeling and send them up. I will keep you in my prayers day and night.

So the hooker he had in his room knew her friends would never believe she was with TO, so when she saw him taking a couple pain pills she started playing drama queen, freaking out and calling the police. That's how this story got started. Then a $9.00 per hour ambulance driver says he heard TO say he was trying to hurt himself. Everybody's trying to get on with Larry King. Since when does anyone believe what the police say anyway. All I ever hear is people claiming that the "po-po be lying".

[vipaka]

Many in this world are so despaired and in need of a helping hand. The meaning goes out of things and life stays the same when written upside down. Tired of the trys and trys again, the nothings, the nothing new, and the never agains. Healing thoughts and prayers can uplift many people in this world. That is what heaven is for.

[mjv2944]

He should be able to afford the best help money can buy. He is a very gifted athlete, hope he gets the right help. Next time he will succeed.

[agnim]

No doubt TO is having a bad reaction to the medications, infamous for their hamful side effects!

[mainspark-2009]

Sounds like a cry for help. Had he really wanted to kill himself, he'd have been alone so that his attempt wouldn't be interrupted.

I feel sorry for me. He's on my fantasy team.

[garsh548]

All the wealth in the world can't buy you happiness. I wish him well and hope he can find out something to get him out of this funk.

[iridium51]

This is a perfect example of how a person can "have it all" and still feel empty.

[thefattass]

I am an Eagles fan and I feel for him. I though he needed serious psychological help in Philly and I guess this confirms it. It probably would have happened sooned but Donavan Mcnabb treated him so well and took him under his wing in Philly...sad. Hope he gets better and gets some help.