Cornerback Javier Arenas played five seasons in the NFL. Now the former Alabama All-American is in the Canadian Football League, and he's trying to do the things that might have allowed him to enjoy a longer career in the NFL.

"I had my opportunity," Arenas told Tim Baines of the Ottawa Sun. "I know I could have done more. I know why I'm not playing in the NFL right now. I had the opportunity to come up here. I can do all the things I should have done - little, extra things like taking care of my body, watching more film and being better prepared.

"I didn't take things for granted, but I feel like I didn't give it that extra. It's professional football. It's our job 24/7. There are things I may not have taken advantage of when I was playing. The beautiful thing about it is the same mistakes won't be made. I've never been in trouble. They weren't bad mistakes. I was a young kid. It was the extra study that helps you get the extra edge. It was a great opportunity. This is a great opportunity."

Arenas signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on March 2. Ottawa won the CFL championship last season.

Ottawa defensive-backs coach Ike Charlton said Arenas' "skill set is for the CFL."

The Redblacks play their first preseason game on June 8 and kick off the regular season on June 23.

Arenas' most recently played in an NFL regular-season game with the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 28, 2014. The New York Jets released him at the end of training camp before the start of the 2015 season. Last year, Arenas was part of the Buffalo Bills' offseason program, but he was released on Aug. 7 before playing in a preseason game.

Arenas entered the NFL as a second-round selection of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2010 draft. He played three seasons with the Chiefs, one with the Arizona Cardinals and one with the Falcons.

In 69 NFL games, Arenas ran back 106 punts for a 9.7-yard average, returned 74 kickoffs for a 21.2-yard average, intercepted two passes, recovered two fumbles, made 152 tackles and carried the ball four times for 17 yards and a touchdown. His 1,029 punt-return yards are the second-most among Alabama's NFL players, behind the 1,610 of David Palmer.

"When I was at Alabama with coach (Nick) Saban, nobody ever caught passes on our secondary," Arenas said. "In the league, if somebody caught like an out route on me, I would carry it into the next play. You can't do that. Each play has a life and history of its own and needs your undivided attention. Honestly, I didn't do that."

At Alabama, Arenas was a consensus All-American defensive back for the Crimson Tide's 2009 BCS national-championship team. He set SEC records with 1,752 career punt-return yards and seven punt-return touchdowns.