Terrell Owens has caused an awful lot of controversy recently. The former wide receiver will finally be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame later this year, but last week announced his decision to forgo the induction ceremony in Canton.   

A STELLAR CAREER

The now 44-year-old, who spent 16 years in the league between 1996 and 2012, had a career that's no doubt worthy of the HOF.

Owens went to the Pro Bowl six times and was named a first-team All-Pro in five of those six seasons. 

He also led the NFL in receiving touchdowns on three separate occasions and was named in the league's 2000s All-Decade Second Team - cementing his place as one of the best of his generation. 

LONG OVERDUE INDUCTION

Arguably then, Owens should have been voted into the Hall of Fame much sooner than 2018.

On the pitch, he was one of the best wide receivers to play the game. However, it was his attitude off the pitch that likely delayed his induction into the HOF.

And he's recently proved that he's still got that famous TO attitude that fans were used to seeing - and his decision to refuse an invite to his own induction has got analysts and former players alike talking. 

Jason Whitlock and Michael Irvin respond

Two people that have been very vocal about Owens decision are Jason Whitlock and Michael Irvin. FS1 journalist Whitlock went on a rant about the snub last week - and he didn't hold back.

He called Owens "The worst teammate in the history of professional football" and claimed that he's now "the worst teammate in the history of the Hall of Fame" before arguing that voters made a mistake on him. Check it out below.

Irvin has also been very outspoken, criticising the ex-wide receiver on the NFL Network last week by saying:

"It's not about the voters. Don't give the voters the pleasure of knowing that they meant that much to you that when you finally got in, you're not even showing up," he said, per SportsDay.

"And the whole while you campaigned about being in." 

OWENS HITS BACK WITH A SAVAGE RESPONSE  

Owens has since responded to both men. He tweeted this shortly after Whitlock's outburst. 

The journalist actually replied saying he would be up for a meeting - but it turns out Owens may not have been serious.

His next reply was rather uncalled for - as he insulted Whitlock's weight - before bringing Irvin into the conversation. 

There's no question that TO really crossed the line with his latest comments. And it's unlikely he'll actually attend even if Whitlock takes him up on that sarcastic challenge.

But with months until the induction ceremony, expect to hear a lot more from Owens - and those that disagree with his decision, because there's bound to be a few more back and fourths.