CFL's Eskimos pass on future HOFer Owens

Future Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens is now a Canadian Football League free agent after being released from the Edmonton Eskimos' negotiation list Friday. According to multiple reports, Owens last weekend invoked the 10-day clause for the Eskimos, who held his negotiating rights, to offer him a contract or release him. Owens' agent, Jason Staroszik, said the Eskimos' decision won't discourage the 44-year-old wideout's plan to play again. "It's definitely not over," Staroszik said. "Terrell could still sign as a free agent with any team that's interested. We might see another team put him on their negotiation list. Hopefully there's another team with an interest. I feel there is, so we'll see what happens." Owens told ESPN on Wednesday, "I know that I do have the ability to play. I know everybody sees the shape that I'm in. There's a lot of athletes that play their prospective sports, but there are few guys that defy the odds. I think I'm one of those guys." "It's unfortunate that I haven't been able to continue my career, but again, I'm not actively seeking to get into the NFL," he continued. "But again, if there's an opportunity for me to play, then yeah, I will entertain that, as well as the CFL. ... If it happens, it happens, but if it doesn't, it's not the end of the world." Owens is set to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 4, although he opted not to attend the ceremony. Instead, he intends to hold a celebration and make a speech at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In his last NFL action, Owens had 72 catches for 983 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010, turning 37 during the season. The five-time All-Pro selection ranks second in NFL history with 15,934 receiving yards, third with 153 touchdown catches and eighth with 1,078 receptions. --Field Level Media