Receiver and return man Chad Owens has agreed to terms with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, per Canadian Football League sources.
Owens will turn 34 on April 3 and has played six seasons in the CFL, the last five the Argos. His career numbers are Hall-of-Fame worthy, including a 2012 season that saw him set a league record for all-purpose yards and earn the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award. He did, however, miss five games last season due to injury.
Reaction from his new Ticats teammates was positive.
Welcome to the dark side my friend! @ChadOwens2 .. you’re going to love it here! @Ticats
— Zach Collaros (@ZCollaros7) February 11, 2016
Return game was already gonna be a problem. Now…………………….. yes lawd.
— Alex Hoffman-Ellis (@Hofftimus_Prime) February 11, 2016
Owens will likely fill the role of the departed Terrell Sinkfield, who has signed with the Minnesota Vikings, as a receiver and special teams threat. Owens and his family live full time in Mississauga so the move mades sense from a geographic point of view.
But the idea of Owens – a long-time nemesis as a member of the Double Blue – joining the Ticats will no doubt take some getting used to for some fans…
I’m trying to find the positives, but this is a dark day. And don’t compare this to the Arland Bruce trade. It’s not the same.
— Josh Smith (@JoshSmith_82) February 11, 2016
I would like to immediately apologize to Chad Owens for anything negative I may have said about him over the years. #oskeeweewee #Ticats
— Shaun Blight (@shauntzyB) February 11, 2016
Argonaut general manager Jim Barker has made it clear that Owens, despite being the face of the franchise for the past several years, wasn’t in the team’s plans. The Hawaii native took to Twitter to thank Argo fans after news of his departure broke.
More later.
