USA: AMERICAN FOOTBALL - Dallas Cowboys football star Terrell Owens denied reports of an attempted suicide

Dallas Cowboys football star Terrell Owens denied reports on Wednesday (September 27) he had attempted suicide through an overdose of prescription pain-killing pills and said he is capable of playing on Sunday. The receiver said that his publicist had called the emergency services in the mistaken belief that Owens had swallowed all his pain-killers. Owens is one of the National Football League's most gifted receivers but also one of its most controversial. His behaviour has angered coaches and teammates on both of his previous teams, the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles. The news of the alleged suicide attempt dominated the U.S. news programmes and filled sports radio call-in shows on Wednesday. "First of all I just want to thank God for me just being here. I want to apologise to the organization for this being a distraction. This is an unfortunate situation and i just want to be here just to clarify any of the rumours that are out there as far as me having a suicide attempt," Owens said to reporters. "There was no suicide attempt. I went home yesterday after I left the facility and I had some treatment. I had a physician over treating my hand and I think after that I was just a little groggy and I kind of took some extra pills with my supplements. And the 911 call with Kim, I had some pills that I had separated and the bottle was on the table and it was empty and the rest of the pills were in a drawer, and so I think she thought I had taken all the pills. I was non-responsive and she made the call out of her judgment for my well-being. "I don't think I would be here if I took 35 pills and just to dispel rumors that I had my stomach pumped. That's definitely untrue," he added. The police report cited the 32-year-old Owens as saying he was depressed and that he had finished a bottle of prescription pain-killers in an effort to harm himself. Owens denied being depressed, and his publicist Kim Etheredge denied the police report that she told rescue workers he was depressed. Owens has had a variety of injuries this season and was believed to have been taking pain medication for a broken finger on his right hand he suffered 10 days ago. Owens' behaviour off the field has drawn as much attention as his skills on it. Owens was in frequent public battles with his coach in Philadelphia, Andy Reid, and his quarterback, Donovan McNabb, leading the club to let him go despite his immense talent. Owens also feuded with his coach in San Francisco, Steve Mariucci, and his quarterback, Jeff Garcia.

ITN Source | September 29, 2006

Tags:. .treating. .rescue. .andy. .pain. .despite