Terrell Owens fires back at Jerry Jones for criticism on Hall of Fame induction absence

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones fired a shot at Terrell Owens, and the soon-to-be Hall of Fame receiver quickly struck back.

Owens, who played for the Cowboys for three seasons from 2006-08, recently announced that he would celebrate his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame by delivering his acceptance speech at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Aug. 4 instead of in Canton, Ohio.

“I had one of the great experiences that ever happened to me last year,” Jones said Wednesday of his Hall of Fame induction in 2017. “He did not ask my advice. Had he asked my advice or had I been compelled to, I would have shared with him that this is a mistake. For (his) own reasons, but more importantly because the fans should participate. I didn't give him that advice and consequentially you see where he's going, but he is making a mistake. That's his decision. Terrell, as you know, has a mind of his own.”

Owens quickly responded on Twitter.

“Jerry ‘made a mistake’ of releasing me after listening to others when I produced, gave my ALL, sacrificed my health for the team but who am I?!” Owens wrote in a post on his verified account. “But hey I thought Jerry had a mind of his own too. #GOFIGURE What I'm doing is for the FANS. #THISISFORYOU”

Hall of Fame executive director Joe Horrigan said recently that Owens will not be introduced at either the Gold Jacket Dinner Friday, Aug. 3, or Saturday’s induction ceremony. Instead, Horrigan said the Hall of Fame will mail Owens’ gold jacket Saturday morning.

Owens had been vocal in his criticisms of the Hall of Fame voting process after being denied in his first two years of eligibility in 2016 and '17, This February, however, the panel voted him in, and his decision to decline the invitation to Canton is unprecedented for any living inductee.

Owens played 15 seasons and caught 1,078 passes for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns.

Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.