For someone needing to have his off-field life quiet as he tries to return to the NFL, troubled receiver Terrell Owens again made noise in a way that does not inspire positive thoughts. He missed a child support hearing that angered an Atlanta judge so much that he threatened to have Owens arrested if he does not appear for the next one in six days.
Owens is $20,000 behind on the child support payments. Judge John Goger, according to WSBTV.com, met with Owen’s attorney David Hartin and Melanie Page Smith’s attorney, Randy Kessler, in his chambers before resetting the case for next Thursday and declaring that Owens could face jail time if he does not attend.
.The report stated that Hartin accepted blame for the wide receiver’s absence, claiming he didn’t communicate with his client.
Smith, the mother of Owens’ 7-year-old daughter, has alleged that Owens has not made any payments in months, according to the report. The six-time Pro Bowler previously had agreed to pay Smith $5,000 per month.
“It’s a tragedy, not only that we are here today; this is the third case she has had to file in the last year,” Kessler told WSBTV.com. “We are hoping next week the case will come to a resolution and Mr. Owens will pay and pay every month.”
Owens, 38, was released by the Indoor Football League’s Allen Wranglers in late May and has not played in the NFL since 2010 with the Cincinnati Bengals. He ranks second all-time in NFL history in receiving yards and touchdown catches but has drawn little interest from teams since suffering an off-season knee injury after the 2010 campaign.
He has claimed to want another opportunity in the NFL, but he has not been considered by any team yet as a viable option. He just might be able to still be a factor as a player, but his reputation as a malcontent, even at the height of his success, has given teams pause.
