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It’s an interesting time in Toronto Argonauts history.

The team is moving into BMO Field for the 2016 season, but a question has yet to be answered – will Chad Owens be a part of the Argos moving forward?

“We’re pretty far apart,” general manager Jim Barker told TSN.ca.

Owens and his agent have submitted an offer, but have yet to hear back from the team.

The 33-year-old receiver has been one of the highest-profile players on a team that doesn’t have many, at least in the Toronto market. The CFL’s Most Outstanding Player of 2012 potentially becomes a free agent on February 9, but he’s hoping it doesn’t get that far.

“Just waiting,” Owen told TSN.ca.

There’s no question how the player hopes this is resolved.

“I want to remain in Toronto,” said Owens. “I don’t see myself playing anywhere else. This is my home.”

The family lives in the area year round, opting to spend their winters in Canada as opposed to its native Hawaii.

“The reason we moved here was we were tired of moving,” admitted Owens. “We’re trying to establish roots.”

But is there a fit for Owens from the team’s perspective? The organization has stockpiled American receivers and has gone from famine to feast in terms of quality starters and also has depth to boot.

Vidal Hazelton, Kevin Elliott, Tori Gurley and Diontae Spencer all were impressive in their rookie CFL campaigns, while Phil Bates came to the team late in the season and looked good as well, so the need for Owens isn’t as dire as it was when he first arrived in Toronto in 2010.

So where does this leave the Argos? Worried about the salary cap.
 

“We’re trying to decide how much money we can allocate to his position,” said Barker. “In a perfect world we’d bring him back. He’s been a great player and a great ambassador for us. It all comes down to how he fits in.”

The Argonauts have several free agents they are trying to re-sign before free agency hits, and that’s moved the Owens situation to the back burner, at least for the time being.

 “We have to decide whether or not he needs to go to free agency,” continued the GM. “We’d never want to insult Chad [with a low offer] because he’s done so much for me personally and for us as a team.”

That depth led to a better distribution of the football and last year Owens’ stats were well below those of his previous five seasons in Toronto when he was the main man in the offence.

Owens hauled in 55 passes in 13 games for 570 yards and just two touchdowns, though both of those were memorable. A last minute game-tying score in Regina, and TSN’s CFL Play of the Year, a one handed game-winning touchdown catch in Ottawa. He would add a third TD catch against Hamilton in the Argos lone playoff game.

He can still play, but does he fit into the team’s financial scheme? If he doesn’t, he’s willing to move.

“I want to remain in Toronto,” emphasized Owens. “I don’t see myself playing anywhere else, but I have a family to look after.”

The last couple of seasons in Toronto have been particularly bad for the Argos. They had an owner that was trying to sell them, a home stadium whose owners didn’t want them there, and “home” games being played in Ottawa, Hamilton and – still almost inconceivably – Fort McMurray, Alta.

There’s now new ownership, new executives and a new home for the team. It’s the beginning of an era Owens desperately wants to be a part of.

“That’s the thing, that’s been the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Owens. “It’s the reward for what we’ve gone through. The ownership finally on stable ground, the Grey Cup here, to even think about not being here hurts. This is where I want to finish my football career.”

It seems to both Barker and Owens that a perfect scenario has “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” back in double blue. Now it’s a question of finding the right dollar figure.