Adam Gagnon
CFL.ca Staff
#CFLFA14
TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts have agreed to terms with veteran offensive lineman Wayne Smith along with last year’s first round draft pick OL Matt Sewell. Smith was granted free agency at 12 noon yesterday afternoon. Sewell chose to return to school this season to complete a special accelerated MBA program.
“Wayne Smith is a veteran Canadian lineman who has been part of two championship teams in his career and understands what it takes to win in our league,” said Argos GM Jim Barker. “He has been an important and versatile member of our Club since 2012, and we’re glad to have him back.”
“It is fulfilling to be able to support a young man, and athlete, in achieving his academic ambitions. Now we expect that Matt Sewell will be ready to commit fully to our football team and being a Toronto Argonaut. We believe he has the talent to develop into a very good player one day and we are looking forward to seeing him in training camp.”
Smith first joined the Argonauts in 2012 and has spent the past two seasons in Double Blue. Originally the first overall selection in the 2004 CFL Draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Smith has played in 132 games over the course of 11 CFL seasons, winning two Grey Cup championships (SSK – 2007, TOR – 2012). In 2013, he dressed in 16 regular season games with four starts at left guard for Toronto.
“It was important for me to come back here and finish what we started two years ago,” Smith said. “I am thrilled that my final professional football contract will be with my hometown team because I wouldn’t want to finish my career anywhere else.”
Immediately after being drafted eighth overall by the Argonauts in the 2013 CFL Draft, Matt Sewell received a special invitation from his alma mater at McMaster University to enroll in a special accelerated MBA program at DeGroote Business School. He spent 2013 pursing his academic endeavours and is now officially an Argonaut. Sewell was named an OUA Conference All-Star four times (2009-12) and a CIS All-Canadian twice (2011-12) during his time with the Marauders.
Sewell remarked, “The organization showed me and my family a great deal of trust and support last year when they allowed me to pursue a rare academic opportunity at McMaster University. Now that I have completed all of my necessary school requirements, I am so excited to fully focus on the game of football. I am going to work hard to make sure I am ready for training camp because I want to show my new coaches and teammates that I am ready to make an impact.”
