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In the end, it was the number of previous terms served that did him in, while fellow 30-something defensive linemen Marcus Howard, Phillip Hunt and John Chick were also shown the door.

“We just decided to get younger, at the end of the day,” Maas said. “All of our guys last year were well over 30 and we decided to go younger there. And we are happy about the guys we have in the building.

“And I’m sure B.C.’s happy to have Odell there. So, I wish him nothing but the best. Excited to play against him? Absolutely, when you go against the best guys in the league, you’re excited to play against them.”

The best, though? At one time, maybe. But his forced departure would indicate the Eskimos feel the bang for the buck just isn’t there anymore.

Still, there is no denying what the six-foot-two, 255-pound West Georgia product can bring to a team, even at 33 years old.

“It was nothing more than that and we live with our decisions,” Maas said. “He’s moved on, we moved on and you’ve got to play ball still.”

And on Friday, it just so happens it will be against each other, along with former B.C. Lion pass rusher Alex Bazzie and a host of former Eskimos who followed ex-Edmonton general manager Ed Hervey to B.C.

Willis, for one, has had this matchup circled on the calendar ever since the trade on Feb 2.

“I’m going to be honest with you, yes, it has,” Willis said Wednesday, during the Game of the Week media conference call the league is kicking off this season. “I’m ready to play and chase my buddy, Trigger Mike (Reilly), around. They’ve got an explosive offence and I’ve been going against him in practice for the last five years and now I get to do it live.