Terrell Owens isn’t one to forget a grudge. Owens still has beef with Cris Carter after a playoff game in 1998 when the 49ers took on the Vikings.
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Owens and Carter are both Hall of Famers, and they both racked up plenty of battles against each other during their primes. However, Carter and Owens also clearly had their differences.
This was made especially clear during that 1998 playoff game when the 49ers walloped the Vikings 38-22. Carter had 6 catches for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns while Owens put up 4 catches for 49 yards and one touchdown. So, what triggered the beef? Read on to find out.
Why Do Terrell Owens & Chris Carter Have Beef?
Owens hasn’t forgotten the post-game antics of Cris Carter. Despite being on the losing side, Carter felt like he needed to let everyone know the Vikings defense let Owens and the 49ers take the game away. Jerry Rice, perhaps the greatest wide receiver of all time, was out for this game, and thus Owens and teammate J.J. Stokes had to step up.
Stokes turned in a 101 yard performance on 9 catches, and that clearly didn’t rest well with Carter. After the game he basically belittled both Stokes and Owens.
Terrell Owens recounted the story on his Getcha Popcorn Ready With T.O. & Hatch podcast:
“Jerry had gotten hurt that year so it was basically me and J.J. (Stokes). We played the Minnesota Vikings and they had (cornerback) Dwayne Washington and (Corey Fuller). I had one or two touchdowns (he had one). After the game, we won and we’re in the locker room and one of the reporters came over to my locker. “He’s like, ‘I just came over from the Vikings locker room and Cris Carter said his DBs made two mediocre receivers look like Pro Bowlers today.’ Mediocre. Dude, I’ll never forget it. So I never forgot it. I’ve never liked him ever since.”
Calling a future Hall of Famer mediocre? Wow, that was a bold a shot by Chris Carter, but it’s expected as he played well while the defense let up 38 points without the 49ers best receiver on the field.
However, Owens definitely isn’t pass the incident as he said above. Owens was one of the best competitors in the game, and it looks like even after retirement, he still has that competitive flame in him.
