Owens to skip Hall of Fame induction

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Terrell Owens will not attend the induction ceremony for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.

Owens was voted into the hall in February after being denied in his first two years of eligibility.

In a statement released Thursday by his publicist, Owens said: “While I am incredibly appreciative of this opportunity, I have made the decision to publicly decline my invitation to attend the induction ceremony in Canton.

“After visiting Canton earlier this year, I came to the realization that I wish to celebrate what will be one of the most memorable days of my life, elsewhere,” Owens added. “At a later date, I will announce where and when I will celebrate my induction.”

EDELMAN FACING SUSPENSION » Reports broke Thursday that one of the Tom Brady’s favorite receivers, Julian Edelman, could be suspended for violating the league’s performance-enhancers policy.

Edelman, who missed the 2017 season after tearing his right ACL in a preseason game in Detroit, is facing a four-game suspension.

Edelman was the last player on the field for practice and later could be seen having a long talk with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

According to the report, the 32-year-old Edelman is appealing the suspension, saying he had passed “hundreds of tests” in the past.

Tennis

DEL POTRO, NADAL ADVANCE TO FRENCH OPEN SEMIS » Juan Martin del Potro is back in the French Open semifinals for the first time since 2009 and will next face Rafael Nadal, the man with the most appearances at this stage of the clay-court Grand Slam.

The fifth-seeded Del Potro beat third-seeded Marin Cilic, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, Thursday. Ten-time champion Nadal completed a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Diego Schwartzman. Both matches had been stopped by rain on Wednesday.