Eskimos release Terrell Owens from negotiation list

The Edmonton Eskimos have released Terrell Owens from the team’s 45-player negotiation list, per sources.

That means he’s free to be signed or added to any other CFL teams negotiation list.

Owens activated the 10-day window on July 14 that made the Eskimos consider whether or not to offer him a contract or release his rights and that’s what’s happened. The move by Owens was a sign he’s interested in coming to play in the CFL.

Edmonton has the top two receivers in the league by yards – Duke Wiliams and Derel Walker – while Kenny Stafford is fifth, reigning MOP quarterback Mike Reilly really likes Bryant Mitchell and Vidal Hazelton is on the six-game injured list, all highly thought of by the Eskimos. Canadians Nate Behar and Natey Adjei have become reliable targets on offence and that led to a ratio shift among the receivers spots which meant not as many Americans were needed.

The 44-year-old Owens has not played in a professional game since 2010 with the Cincinnati Bengals. But he can still run – fast, clocking a 4.43 40-yard dash.

In 2012 he played eight games with the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League making 35 receptions for 420 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Seattle Seahawks signed Owens during training camp in 2012 but released him a few weeks later. Owens captained and played for the self-named Team Owens in the inaugural game of the American Flag Football League last June.

During 16 NFL seasons, Owens had 15,934 career receiving yards which rank second all-time in NFL history and 153 receiving touchdowns put him third. He was a five-time first-team All-Pro in the NFL. Owens was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2018 class.