James Lofton can't believe Owens hasn't gotten Hall of Fame nod

Many people were shocked when Terrell Owens was left off the list of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees for a second consecutive year.

The case against the six-time Pro Bowl receiver centers around the antics that earned him a reputation as a locker-room problem.

Hall of Fame wideout James Lofton, who happens to have a spot on the voting committee, doesn't buy into that narrative.

Lofton explained his stance on Owens' candidacy in an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show" this week, explaining that everything he witnessed on the field was undoubtedly worthy of football's highest individual honor.

"When Terrell Owens came up, his presenter came up," Lofton said, according to CSN Bay Area. "And I may have been the second person to chime in. I looked at what happened on that 100 by 53 1/3-yard field. And what I saw was pretty special. What I saw was Hall of Fame worthy. The thing I'm concerned about with Terrell Owens is that, is he being treated like these who used steroids in baseball. And I don't think that should be the case at all."

Lofton, a member of the 2003 Hall of Fame class, went so far as to compare Owens' numbers to that of his own stellar career. While the eras were certainly different, there's no comparison in terms of production.

"I had 75 touchdowns during the course of my career," Lofton said. "The guy that we didn't let in had 153. I can look at all of T.O.'s other numbers, but I had a hard time with that. Here's a guy that I looked at, and what he did on the football field, I just thought was phenomenal. And from a person who did the same thing and really appreciates the position, I'm at a loss for words."

It's likely only a matter of time before Owens gets the call he's been waiting for. Missing out in his first two years of eligibility hardly suggests he isn't considered a Hall of Fame player, but he arguably accomplished enough that he shouldn't have to wait.

The former third-round pick was one of the league's most dominant receivers for the majority of his time with the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys. He maintained an impressive level of play well into his late 30s, making an impact with the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals over the final two seasons of his 15-year career.

Owens ranks second only to Jerry Rice with 15,934 career receiving yards, third behind only Rice and Randy Moss with 153 touchdown catches, and eighth among all-time leaders in receptions.