Star receiver/kick-returner Owens signs extension with Toronto Argonauts

OAKVILLE, Ala. – Chad Owens is putting his fledgling mixed martial arts career on hold.

The Toronto Argonauts receiver/kick-returner has signed a two-year contract extension with the CFL club and says he won’t return to the Octagon during the course of his new deal.

The 31-year-old Owens was the CFL’s outstanding player last season after accumulating 3,863 all-purpose yards and helped Toronto win the Grey Cup.

Owens was entering the option year of his previous agreement and would’ve become a free agent in February 2014.

But Owens raised eyebrows in April when he participated in his inaugural MMA event in his native Hawaii, winning his match.

There was nothing in Owens’ CFL contract preventing him from fighting in the MMA event but his decision was initially criticized by the Argos management.