However , the contract was heavily back - loaded .
While the $49 million figure was routinely touted by the sports media as an example of Owens ' greed , the money guaranteed to him was under the annual average for a top - tier wide receiver .
However , the contract was heavily back - loaded , and while the $49 million figure was routinely touted by the sports media as an example of Owens ' greed , the money guaranteed to him was under the annual average for a top - tier wide receiver .