Contrary to popular opinion, money can not always buy happiness. Just ask Chad Owens.
Not if you’re Toronto Argonauts receiver and kick returner Chad Owens. The reigning special teams player of the year in the CFL has turned down a chance to make more money as a member of the New York Jets so he could re-sign with the Argos.
So why would a man who admits that playing in the NFL was always a dream of his end up accepting less money to remain in the CFL?
It’s because Owens isn’t ruled by money. There are things that are far more important in Owens’ life than money. Faith, family, football and a sense of peace he admits that was missing in his life before joining the Argos in 2010 and playing for Jim Barker.
"The moment I stepped foot in the Toronto facilities, coach Barker welcomed me with open arms," said Owens. "He showed a lot of Aloha. And that’s something that me and my family take to heart. You don’t get that kind of love and Aloha in this business wherever you go.
"My career thus far has been sort of a roller coaster ride for me; I finally found peace where I’m at.
While he wouldn’t get into specific numbers, Owens admitted that he could have made more money by signing with the Jets.
"A whole lot more money," he explained. "You’re talking about the NFL man, it’s the biggest stage. I took the money out of the equation. I believe I can play in NFL. I believe that. If it came down to money, yeah the Jets were the thing. But if I go to New York, I’m just another guy."
Owens is anything but "just another guy" with the Argos. He’s one of the team’s most important players. The appeal of living in Toronto was just as important to the likeable Hawaiian as playing for coach Barker.
"The whole city of Toronto, it’s a beautiful city, the fans, the way they embraced me. I mean I go to games and I see people with Aloha shirts making signs for me," said Owens. "I felt like I was back in college playing football and playing for them."
Owens admitted that this was the toughest decision he has ever had to make in his professional career. But after weighing all of the options, it all came back to his love of the Argos.
"Coach Barker and the Argonauts didn’t just give me an opportunity to play football," he said. "(They) gave me an opportunity to draw closer to the Lord and to be a part of something bigger than myself. It’s not about me, it’s about my family.
Now that he’s locked up through the 2013 season, Barker and the Argonauts will be relying on Owens to repeat his award-winning season of 2010 where he returned four kicks for touchdowns and led the CFL in both kickoff and punt return yardage.
As good as he was in 2010, Owens aspires to be mentioned in the same sentence as the ultimate Argonaut, Michael Clemons.
"If I can be close to doing a little but of what he’s done, I will be very happy and have a successful career," he said.
Now that Owens has been locked up, the Argos can turn to their attention to more pressing matters, such as finding someone to compete with Cleo Lemon for the starting quarterback job.
But on a bitterly cold day in February in Toronto, the focus was on a guy who is known as the "Flyin’ Hawaiian"
Of course, Owens signed off his interview the way he started it.
"Aloha."
