Owens, Argos far apart in contract talks

**Will** · 02-09-2016, 11:33 AM

Wow!

**Scooter McCray** · 02-09-2016, 11:36 AM

Why would an offer not have been extended. Less money, but perhaps incentive laden contract. Something at least. He is deserving of an offer that would keep in Toronto to finish his career. Then the ball is in his court to accept or not.

**ArgoGabe22** · 02-09-2016, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Scooter McCray

Why would an offer not have been extended. Less money, but perhaps incentive laden contract. Something at least. He is deserving of an offer that would keep in Toronto to finish his career. Then the ball is in his court to accept or not.

Barker mentioned awhile back that they didn't want to insult Owens with their offer. Maybe this was the case. Owens still may re-sign once he realizes he needs to drop his price. It's just a matter if we truly want him back and no bridges were burned during negotiations.

**jerrym** · 02-09-2016, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Scooter McCray

Why would an offer not have been extended. Less money, but perhaps incentive laden contract. Something at least. He is deserving of an offer that would keep in Toronto to finish his career. Then the ball is in his court to accept or not.

I agree and fan-wise it would have been smart to make an offer. However, Buono has made a winning career out of letting players go a year or two before the end and using the money to sign others. Furthermore, the Argos have more depth at receiver than at any other position and need to sign some of their three DL or get other teams free agents, as its hard to recruit so much new talent in one area.

**Scooter McCray** · 02-09-2016, 11:54 AM

i think a contract similar to Ricky Ray's such that if you play the season and produce like we still expect you to, you will be paid equivalent to what you earn now. If you miss time due to injury and are no longer as productive you will earn less, allowing us as a team to remain competitive and keep others on the roster. It is a win win. If he wants to be paid equivalent from the get go, he is free to explore but an honest, fair and respectful negotiation takes place to a player that has been the face of a franchise.

**Wobbler** · 02-09-2016, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by ArgoGabe22

Barker mentioned awhile back that they didn't want to insult Owens with their offer.

Bingo. It's what you do when your assessment of a player's value is a lot lower than their own, and you want to be nice.

**AngeloV** · 02-09-2016, 12:40 PM

Looks to me like they are going to allow him to test the market. If he doesn't find something satisfactory, then he will come to the Argos with a $ figure that they can negotiate around.

**R.J** · 02-09-2016, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by argofan87

Wow!

Is this for my comment ?

**Will** · 02-09-2016, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by SnowRogue

Is this for my comment ?

Nope over the fact that the Argos hadn't extended him an offer. It was posted by Wobbler just before yours.

**R.J** · 02-09-2016, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by argofan87

Nope over the fact that the Argos hadn't extended him an offer.

Oh okay. As others have mentioned though, it would make sense if Barker didn't want to insult Owens and allow him to see the market for himself; then if Owens really wanted to keep wearing double blue; he'd come back with a lower number. SMRT actually; good on Barker.

**ArgoGabe22** · 02-09-2016, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by SnowRogue

Is this for my comment ?

May have been mocking Owen's last mysterious tweet as well.

**Will** · 02-09-2016, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by ArgoGabe22

May have been mocking Owen's last mysterious tweet as well.

No mocking intended. I thought his last tweet had something to do with the Super Bowl.

**ArgoRavi** · 02-09-2016, 07:24 PM

Let's be honest, folks. Once the first two or three days of free agency pass, whatever players remain unsigned will be in scramble mode at that point and I suspect that Owens will be one of them. This isn't any disrespect to Owens as I want him to remain an Argo and believe that he can still make significant contributions to the team but that's the reality of the situation IMO.

**Argo57** · 02-10-2016, 07:49 AM

Barker has to remove any emotion from the equation and look at the facts, which can rub many fans the wrong way but is also necessary to make tough decisions.
Paying Owen's top dollar at this point of his career and possibly sacrificing quality at another position would be foolish.
If Owens stands firm on his expectations he won't be here, the deal has to make sense to the organization.
Won't make it any easier to watch him play in another uniform (especially Hamilton)!

**paulwoods13** · 02-10-2016, 08:36 AM

But other than to stick it to the Argos, would the Ticats really be that interested in him? They have a lot of depth and talent at receiver even with the departure of Sinkfield. I guess he might be offered a lowball amount to sign there. If it comes down to $100k in Ham or $100k in Toronto, I imagine he will stick with his current team.

**Double Dare** · 02-10-2016, 10:19 AM

Good move ... cut him loose and see where he lands (if anywhere new).

**Stevoman** · 02-10-2016, 10:20 AM

With Ray back at the helm, I really hope the Argos get Owens back.

**Will** · 02-10-2016, 10:35 AM

I reckon that whatever Fantuz got might be what Owens will go for.

**Rocket** · 02-10-2016, 01:32 PM

Well the way I look at it I think Owens would take a substantial pay cut to stay in Toronto.i think if any other team would offer him a $175,000 contract that he would come back to sign in Toronto for $125,000. Only team I would say that he might take the bigger contract is to sign in Hamilton. I think Owens is a family man that wouldn't want to bother with moving all his stuff and his family to a new city.