[KingPriest2]

Posted on Wed, Sep. 27, 2006email thisprint thisTranscript from T.O.'s press conferenceOWENS: First off, I want to thank God just for me being here. I want to apologize to the organization for this being a distraction. This is definitely an unfortunate situation.
I'm just trying to be here just to clarify any of the rumors that's out there as far as me having a suicide attempt. (smiled)


MEDIA: What's the truth?


OWENS: There was no suicide attempt. I went home yesterday after I left the facility. I took a couple of pain pills, and then I had some treatment, I had a physician over treating my hand. And I think after that, I was kind of groggy a little bit, and kind of

took some extra pills with my supplements.

The 911 call with Kim, she made because there were some pills that I had separated and the bottle was on the table and it was empty. the rest of the pills were in a drawer, so I think she felt like that I had taken all of the pills and like I was non-responsive, and I think when she made that call, she made a call out of her judgment as far as my well-being. And I think the rumor of me taking 35 pills, I think is absurd. I don't think I'd be here if I had taken 35 pills. Just to dispel rumors that I got my stomach pumped, that's definitely untrue.


MEDIA: Why did you say yes to police when you were asked if you were trying to harm yourself?

OWENS: At this point, I really wasn't as coherent as they probably thought I was there were a number of people asking me a lot of questions, so I don't even really remember the police officer that was in there, more less the doctors that were in there.


MEDIA: What was your condition at the time Kim called 911.

OWENS: She made the call. She's here, she can probably better answer that question for you than I can.

MEDIA: Do you remember anything from last night?

OWENS: Once I took the pills, I had a physician to come over to kind of treat my hand I have a training table, and I was on that. I don't even remember her leaving. She came over around like 5 or so, and like I said, I don't know how long I was still sleeping on the table after she had gone.


MEDIA: So you don't remember talking to the police?

OWENS: Very, very vague

MEDIA: You said you took extra pills, how many?

OWENS: Like I said, it was with my supplements. I have a couple of bottles, where I have like two a day, six a day, I take those during the course of the day. It could have been anywhere from maybe two to three.

MEDIA: Will you play on Sunday?

OWENS: Yeah, I just finished working out outside, throwing with Drew and then obviously he had a press conference, and then Romo came out and threw with me. I feel very capable of going out there and playing on Sunday. That's my main goal. I'm here to try to help this team win.

MEDIA: Are you depressed?

OWENS: No, I'm not depressed by any means.

I'm very happy to be here. My thing is I've come here to help this team get on a roll, get on track of getting into the playoffs and winning some ball games.

MEDIA: Is there any reason you would say it?

OWENS: Like I said, at this point, I was kind of out of it. I can barely even remember the doctors, more less the police officers that were asking me questions.

I couldn't tell you if they were the EMT, or the police or the doctor. I'm really not sure.

MEDIA: What did you take?

OWENS: I had hydrocordone for my hand, and there were a number of supplements. I mean the list is too long for me to kind of like tell you exactly everything that I take, but all of them are natural supplements. That's it. it was just an allergic reaction.

It's very unfortunate for the reports to go from an allergic reaction to a definite suicide attempt.


Owen's publicist Kim Etheredge: I just wanted to dispel some of the reports on the police reports. One, that Terrell stated that he was trying to take his life ... that he was trying to do harm to himself. Terrell was not coherent to speak.

The reason I called 911 is because he was not in his normal responsive state. He had had a long day. He came home, had some treatment and again, he takes many supplements. He's trying to get back on the field. He's taking a couple of extra supplements than he normally does, and he has some pain medication, and actually he was in a lot of pain when he home from work.

MEDIA: The police report said you said he was depressed.

ETHEREDGE: I don't know where that came from. They said I said Terrell was depressed? I did not say that, and I'm sitting here in front of you letting you know that I did not say Terrell was depressed, Terrell did not say he was depressed.

There was a lot going on, just like the 911 call. Listen, when I see a man of his statute, not responsive. This is a very strong human being. and when I ask him a question, he's not responding and I know he's not feeling well, you know I use my judgment to call 911.

It's not Terrell

MEDIA: Are you upset at the report? Any recourse?

ETHEREDGE: I'm just upset that I feel they take advantage of Terrell again, had this been someone else, this may not have happened but the bottom line is I called 911, Terrell was not feeling well. I'm happy that I'm sitting here before you guys today with Terrell because I made that call.

He had an allergic reaction. Anything could have happened.

MEDIA: Were you trying to get pills out of his mouth?

ETHEREDGE: Again, Terrell was sitting at the table with me. and he was taking his supplements, and when I was asking him a question is when I didn't really get the response I was looking for. So I went over to him. If a pill had fallen .. I have to tell you guys, it's been a really long night; I can not remember everything.

MEDIA: Did you take pills out of his mouth?

ETHEREDGE: I don't take anything out of his mouth.

MEDIA: How did police take advantage of him?

ETHEREDGE: I just think, again, this is sad. Terrell had a reaction to different pills and just to state he was trying to commit suicide it's just, it's unfair. Terrell has 25 million reasons (emphasis) why he should be alive.


OWENS AGAIN: I just want to sit up here and just give some thank yous out to the Dallas fire and rescue and the Dallas police department, and also the Baylor medical center for attending my situation.

I definitely want to reach out to all my friends and family that reached out to me during this course with the last 24 hours. There were a number of people, some former teammates, and across the league that have reached out to see and care about my well-being. I just want to take that time to thank all the people that reached out to me.

MEDIA: Will you practice Thursday?

OWENS: I should.