February 11, 2009 5:56 PM

Owens: 'There Was No Suicide Attempt'

(CBS/AP)  Superstar wide receiver Terrell Owens denied that he attempted suicide Wednesday, just hours after being released from a hospital for allegedly overdosing on pain medication.

"There was no suicide attempt," Owens said, explaining that he mixed painkillers with supplements and became groggy.

Owens apologized to his team, the Dallas Cowboys, for being a distraction and refuted reports that he is depressed.

"I'm not depressed by any means," Owens said during a news conference at the team's headquarters.

Owens blamed a combination of hydrocodone, a generic form of Vicodin, with all-natural supplements for making him ill.

"It's very unfortunate for it to go from an allergic reaction to a suicide attempt," he said.

Owens said it's "absurd" to suggest that he took 35 pills. He also said he didn't have his stomach pumped at the hospital.

Owens said his publicist, Kim Etheredge, made the emergency call because she was concerned he was non-responsive.

Owens wore workout gear and no bandage on his broken right hand. The star receiver smiled and seemed more amused than peeved at the latest ruckus surrounding him. He said he feels very capable of playing Sunday in Tennessee, despite this incident and his broken hand.

Prior to speaking, Owens caught a few passes at team headquarters Wednesday afternoon. Owens, who flashed a thumbs-up when leaving a hospital late Wednesday morning, arrived in time to get in some work with quarterback Drew Bledsoe.

"He seemed to be in good spirits and looked like he was looking forward to getting back on the field as soon as he could," Bledsoe said. "I was happy to see him here and happy to see him running around and going. ... Obviously, he's doing fine."


© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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by teddebare September 28, 2006 3:51 PM EDT
sounds like a bunch of soreheads to me. kick him, slice him while you got him. Don't feel sorry for him feel for the misrepresentation and over reaction on the part of the press..

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by boston1954 September 28, 2006 2:27 PM EDT
Big football player got hurt and can't play.
Boo Hoo. He still gets paid...........
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by karateman39 September 28, 2006 11:57 AM EDT
I can't believe how much press this is getting. Who really cares about this stuff? This may sound callous but I could care less what happens to him or any of his other profesinal athlete friends. These guys get paid way to much money for doing what I would call nothing. there are other important things to be worrying about or looking at and doing than wondering what TO was thinking or doing.
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by ohioangel September 28, 2006 11:51 AM EDT
omg, how many more days will this be news. he just wanted attention , this is not news , there are much more important things to report, this owens character is a legend in his own mind,
please enough about him, does anyone think he would admit it ?????????? please no more about this guy , its so boringgggggggggg
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by exusmcsgt September 28, 2006 12:30 AM EDT
So the moron can't self medicate. As if that admission isn't self-humiliation in and of itself.
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by kwlambi September 27, 2006 11:47 PM EDT
ok if all there is to this is a statement by him,, If I have to go back to Philly and play as a Cowboy, I should be dead... Hooray....
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by kwlambi September 27, 2006 9:41 PM EDT
wow, if you are following this persons' sick agenda, he starts losing now. The media will eat him alive and the Philly fans will not ever forget anytime soon...
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by clin3409 September 27, 2006 9:39 PM EDT
I'm sorry I just don't buy the spin. Police and paramedics are not in the business of creating drama and stories. TO and his advisors know full well that they can deny, deflect, and manipulate this situation and the medical personnel cannot refute their claims based on privacy laws. You can bet that Drew Rosenhaus was on the phone with TO telling him how much money he just blew and that he was to speak to no one until they concocted a story together. Additionally, I don't buy the nonsense about the pills being in a drawer - why would you remove them from the Rx bottle? And as for an allergic reaction - please. I work in the medical field. This was no allergic reaction.
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