Quick Slants: Terrell Owens, Power Rankings, and More

Published: Friday, Jul 20th 2018, 4:07am
by: Greg McCulloch (@GregOnSports)
Quick Slants looks at some of the weekly stories in the CFL and beyond.
Does T.O. stand for “Too Old”?
In probably one of the most insane CFL stories this week Terrell Owens activated the 10-day clause on Edmonton’s neg list.
What’s the 10-day clause you ask?
Any player who is on a CFL neg list can inform the team they are activating their 10-day clause forcing the team to offer a contract within those 10-days. If the team decides not to the player, they can sign with any other team in the CFL. Or if they offer the contract and the player declines the offer the player remains the team’s property for one year from the initial offer then is a free agent.
So, what does that mean?
It means Terrell Freaking Owens wants to come to the CFL!!! The Hall of Fame Wide Receiver feels he has more football left in him and wants a deal. Who saw that coming? If it wasn’t for the video oh a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, that he posted a few weeks back Edmonton never would have added him to their neg list.
The only problem is Owens is 44 years old.
You are not going to get many athletes on the upswing of their careers north of 35, let alone over 40. There are several people concerned that while he is in shape for his age, there is no way he could play at a high level in the CFL.
Maybe they are right, maybe they are wrong.
All I know is August 2nd is Riders at Edmonton and it is Mic’ed up! If the Eskimos and T.O. agree to a deal here is hoping that the Riders put Duron Carter on him.
Power Rankings, Schmower Rankings
I really don’t understand the obsession with power rankings.
With the way they CFL has been this season its Calgary locked at 1. Montreal at 9, and then 2 through 8 is a complete crapshoot. Anyone can beat anyone this season, which is either thanks to the parity of the league or the teams are still massively inconsistent this season. And having watched a lot of football this season, it is more the latter than the former it seems.
I get its fun to shuffle the teams based on how they did each week, but when did they become the gospel?
If you want to see who the best team is compared to the worst team, check the league standings, the records will tell you everything you really need to know.
Alouettes Release Xavier Fulton… This Time They Mean It
Poor Xavier Fulton, it is one thing to be released by the Alouettes but it is another to be released by them twice in less than 2 months.
On cutdown day, Fulton was one of the names that the Alouettes cut but that was quickly rescinded because according to the Als it was a “clerical error” and he wasn’t supposed to get released. But this week, the Alouettes signed highly touted National Offensive Line prospect Tyler Johnston and released Fulton to make room.
I loved Fulton as a Rider and wish his career ended on a better note, but his play was slipping the past few seasons and I would wager the Als had intended on cutting Fulton the first time but had no one ready to take his spot.
Thank You, Andy
Andy Fantuz announced he was stepping away from the CFL this week. Fantuz who spent 6 seasons with the Riders and 6 seasons with the Ticats it just made sense that it was before the Riders visited Hamilton.
Fantuz was a fan favourite in Rider Nation and was a big part of the “Canadian Air Force” group of receivers alongside Rob Bagg, Chris Getzlaf, and Jason Clermont.
Though my favourite Fantuz memory was the 2007 Grey Cup touch down, nothing was going to keep him from scoring on that play.
Thank you, Andy, for the memories, Fantuz Flakes, and being a great ambassador for the Riders and the CFL.
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