Owens still playing, not ready to give up on NFL comeback

Terrell Owens said Wednesday that he has no plans to file retirement papers with the NFL, adding that he was surprised no team signed him during the 2011 season after he had knee surgery on his torn anterior cruciate ligament, according to ESPN.

The former 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys, Bills and Bengals receiver spoke Wednesday night, as he was introduced to hundreds of football fans at the Allen Events Center near Dallas, Texas, where Owens is scheduled to play for the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League.

"It was an opportunity for myself and my family," Owens said. "It's a way for myself to keep in shape. I haven't retired from the NFL. I want to play a couple more years. This right here will allow me to do that and assess where I am. I know I'm physically fit to play the game still."

Owens was introduced to the cheering crowd by Wranglers general manager Drew Pearson, himself a former Cowboys great. The Wranglers are set to open their season on Feb. 25.

The 38-year-old Owens also expressed disappointment that he wasn't able to retire as a member of the Cowboys, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

"I think everybody knows after the first three years, (that I wanted to retire with the Cowboys)," Owens said. "I had signed an extension and after that season I got that call or whatever, that meeting that said they wanted to part ways ...

"I'm not bitter about it. At that time it was disappointing considering the stadium was about to be open and he (Cowboys owner Jerry Jones) had told me I was going to be a big part of that process and then it's like having the wind knocked out of you. But life goes on."

Owens, ensnared in recent money troubles, told the newspaper that he's broke because he's too trusting of people.

"I am a very trustworthy person," Owens said. "I allowed people to tell me they were taking care of my situation, go out and focus on football. And they were going to be taking care of their end. I am partially fault for that. It was an eye-opener for me and my family. it is an eye-opener for a lot of people in the National Football League that are going to be put in this particular situation.

"I feel like I have been put on this platform to allow people to tell these guys, 'Be on top of your finances.' Because they say they are doing one thing and they're not and they're doing another."

Owens ranks second in NFL career receiving yards with 15,934, and is tied for second in receiving touchdowns with 153.