Owens: 'There Was No Suicide Attempt'

Controversial Wide Receiver Allegedly Overdosed On Pain Medication

(CBS/AP) 
Earlier in the day, a confusing series of events swirled around T.O. with few answers.

Police and fire officials held news conferences to say they couldn't talk because of privacy issues.

Dallas coach Bill Parcells said he didn't know any details, other than it was "apparently an unfortunate set of circumstances." He said it was too early to tell whether Owens might be able to practice this week or even play Sunday against Tennessee.

"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 he had not spoken with Owens, but had discussed the case for a few minutes with team owner Jerry Jones.

"I think he felt the same way," Parcells said. "We just need to figure out what's going on."

After getting almost strictly Owens-related questions, Parcells cut off his usual 25-30 minute session after only nine minutes. He ended it by getting up from his chair and saying, "When I find out what the hell is going on, you will know. Until then, I'm not getting interrogated for no reason."

The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Etheredge said she was at Owens' home when he took some pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.

But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report — one that had yet to be released by the authorities — saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.

The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time (he) stated, 'Yes.'"

When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.

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

Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.

The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.

Etheredge did not immediately respond to repeated calls and e-mails from the AP. She, former Cowboys player Deion Sanders and agent Drew Rosenhaus were with Owens at his home and presumably would be joining him at team headquarters.

Police Lt. Rick Watson said during a brief news conference that he could only confirm paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.

At the police news conference, Watson released the version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.

The report also said the friend told rescue workers that a prescription for 40 pills was filled on Sept. 18, and that Owens "had only taken five pills up to this date."

According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called Tuesday evening regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center, where the police report said he was treated "for a drug overdose."

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 Cowboys star who mostly deals 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 broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.

Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday.

[teddebare]

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..

[boston1954]

Big football player got hurt and can't play.
Boo Hoo. He still gets paid...........

[karateman39]

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.

[ohioangel]

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

[exusmcsgt]

So the moron can't self medicate. As if that admission isn't self-humiliation in and of itself.

[kwlambi]

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....

[kwlambi]

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...

[clin3409]

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.