Former Eagles WR: I could still be playing at 50 if NFL didn’t black ball me

At 50, former Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens appears fit enough to play in the NFL: Must be all of those driveway sit-ups. And if it weren’t for all of the self-sabotaging craziness that surrounded him when he was in uniform — and almost daily after his retirement — Owens says he could still be playing pro ball.

“It’s all about the condition that you put yourself in,” Owens told USA TODAY on Saturday at the Super Bowl. “I’ve been able to take care of my body.

“If you think about the playoffs, a lot of these games are won by third downs and, obviously, red-zone situations. Could I go out and play 70 snaps right now? Absolutely not. But I’d be a viable option if I were on the team, that’s for sure.”

That silliness aside, it’s important to note that Owens blames the NFL — not himself — that he played his last NFL game in 2010. Aside from the deterioration of his skills, Owens wore out coaches and front offices with a diva drama — controversial statements and spotlight-grabbing behavior — that was part of his DNA.

While playing for the San Francisco 49ers, Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, Owens — a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro — caught 1,078 passes for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns.

“They blackball you and they don’t put your name in the good graces of a lot of organizations,” Owens he said.

While Owens helped lead the Eagles to Super Bowl XXXIX, his stint with the team didn’t last long. He played only 21 regular-season games with the franchise before he was released.