Former 49ers star Terrell Owens and current San Francisco wide receiver Deebo Samuel got into a war of words this week.
Owens, who amassed 8,572 receiving yards in eight years with the Niners, recently questioned whether Samuel was consistently giving his best effort when he was on the football field.
“Devo doesn't really live up to Devo standards,” Owens said during a recent appearance on 95.7 The Game in San Francisco.
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Deebo Samuel Sr. of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Shearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Owens went on to suggest that Samuel wasn't always at his best when he was on the football field. They also took aim at Samuel's fashion.
“He seems to be more focused on his pregame attire than the game. If we can change that focus, maybe that will give him more energy and create more productivity from an offensive standpoint. You could. I'm just joking about it.”
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Samuel is often photographed on his way to the locker room before games. The 49ers' social media accounts frequently share photos of Samuel's outfit choices. The 28-year-old's fashion statements have been a hot topic all season.
February 11, 2024. Paradise, Nevada, USA. Former San Francisco 49ers receiver Terrell Owens before Super Bowl III vs. the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium. (Stephen R. Silvany-USA TODAY Sports)
Samuel, who earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2021, appeared to sense Owens' comment and responded with four words. “Please don't do that, fam!!!!,” Samuel wrote on Thursday, on X, formerly known as Twitter.
From a statistical standpoint, Samuel's production in 2024 would not be considered underwhelming. He has 490 receiving yards in nine games played this season. Usually a two-way playmaker, he has just one receiving touchdown and one rushing touchdown this year.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, 19, runs for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, November 28, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. . (AP Photo/Jed Jacobson)
Samuel only gained 79 yards on the ground in 2024. He finished 2021 with a career-best 365 yards and finished the 2023 season with 225 yards on the ground.
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Owens is a Pro Football Hall of Famer who developed a reputation for being one of the hardest-working players on his teams during his NFL career. However, Owen's career has been marked by controversy and at times his maturity has been questioned. Owen's off-field antics only exacerbated some of those concerns.
The 49ers will look to further improve their playoff odds when they take on the Green Bay Packers on November 24th.
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