THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — One big star is headed south but another could be returning to the CFL, as the off-season continues to heat up less than a month out from free agency.
Former Most Outstanding Rookie Dexter McCoil has landed a job with the San Diego Chargers as he departs the Grey Cup-winning Edmonton Eskimos, while former CFL All-Star Duron Carter could be on his way back after being released by the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
From retirements and trades to updates on pending free agents, we look at the latest around the league in another off-season edition of Checking Down:
| BC LIONS
– The Lions revealed five members of their 2016 coaching staff on Wednesday, including Mark Washington as defensive coordinator and secondary coach along with Khari Jones as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
– Steven Clarke, released by the Lions this month to pursue NFL opportunities, has landed a futures contract with the Tennessee Titans, according to WKRN-TV Nashville. The defensive back spent two years with the Lions and last year played in 17 games, recording 49 tackles, one sack, one interception and a forced fumble.
– The 2015 season was one of ups and downs for the BC Lions. The team has put out a four-part photo series on all the best shots of the past year, so you can relive an exciting season on the west coast — from an early-season overtime thriller against the Riders to the emergence of young star Jonathon Jennings.
– Speaking of Jennings, the Lions’ 23-year-old starting pivot was named the CFL’s top sophomore to watch in 2016, barely edging Eskimos’ superstar Derel Walker. Who will have the better season next year?
– With all that talk about free agency, the BC Lions aren’t going to forget about this May’s CFL Draft. The Lions are gearing up for three major scouting opportunities on the calendar this month with the Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Game and NFLPA Bowl all on the horizon.
| EDMONTON ESKIMOS
– Outside linebacker Dexter McCoil revealed Tuesday on Instagram that he has landed a job with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. McCoil, 24, agreed to a deal with the Eskimos last month that would allow him to pursue NFL opportunities until May 1:
– CHED‘S Dave Campbell reported Thursday that defensive lineman Willie Jefferson has agreed to a contract with the NFL’s Washington Redskins. The 24-year-old recorded six sacks and three forced fumbles in 15 games last season.
– The Edmonton Journal‘s Norman Cowley reported Wednesday that Kenny Stafford, Aaron Grymes and practice roster defensive back Kacy Rodgers — all pending free agents — have attended workouts with various NFL teams during the past several weeks.
– All remains quiet on the Eskimos’ defensive coordinator front. The Winnipeg Sun‘s Kirk Penton reported last week that former All-Star defensive back Barron Miles is joining Edmonton’s coaching staff, but nothing has been announced and it’s unknown whether he could take on the role.
– The kicker position has been the least talked about this off-season so far, but the Eskimos have made sure to lock up theirs. The team extended pending free agent Sean Whyte this week, keeping him in Green and Gold through 2016. Whyte nailed 24 of 26 attempts after signing with the Eskimos as a free agent on Sept. 4, 2015 and was one of the most reliable kickers in the league.
| CALGARY STAMPEDERS
– The Stamps continued what’s been a busy off-season for them with three more moves on Tuesday, announcing the signing of lengthy receiver Kamar Jorden and the release of veterans Tim Brown and Edwin Harrison.
– While Calgary’s defence will look a little different in 2016, one familiar face will be veteran defensive back Brandon Smith, who on Monday agreed to a contract extension. Smith has built a strong connection with the city and the team, writes the Calgary Herald‘s Rita Mingo.
– The signing of Kamar Jorden didn’t make earth-shattering headlines this week, but the move could be a significant one down the road writes the Calgary Sun‘s Scott Mitchell. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound pass-catcher is in his third stint with the Stamps but could have a golden opportunity to contribute in 2016, particularly with Eric Rogers and Jeff Fuller slated for free agency on Feb. 9.
| SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
– The Riders added a dynamic speed threat to their offence this week, acquiring Maurice Price from the REDBLACKS in exchange for a pair of late draft picks. Price signed a contract extension the next day, while CFL.ca’s Jamie Nye says he’ll have a chance to make a substantial impact for the Green and White in 2016.
– Also added this week by the Riders was experienced veteran defensive back Derrius Brooks, a free agent coming off a stint in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brooks previously played with the Stampeders, collecting 52 defensive tackles and five interceptions in 20 regular season games.
– Paul McCallum knows what it’s like being blamed for a playoff loss. The veteran CFL kicker reflected on his two missed field goals in the Riders’ Western Final loss in 2004 to BC, resulting in Saskatchewan’s elimination — this in the wake of Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh’s missed 27-yard field goal with 22 seconds left to cost his team in the NFC Wild Card game.
– In an interview with CFL.ca’s Rod Pedersen, Riders assistant VP of Player Personnel John Murphy talked about the team’s recent additions of Maurice Price and Derrius Brooks — from Brooks’ physical nature to the big-play ability of Price.
– If you’re a Riders fan living in Arizona or just want to go on a fun trip, Riderville is returning to the desert this year with what’s become an annual event — an Arizona Coyotes hockey game. More on The Snap.
| WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
– Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Free Press is reporting the Bombers are interested in free agent receiver Duron Carter. Carter was a 2014 CFL All-Star before heading to the NFL last season, but on Tuesday was released by the Indianopolis Colts. If Carter does test the CFL free agent waters, expect him to be among the most coveted available players.
– The Bombers have added international receiver Ricky Collins, the team announced Wednesday. Collins, 6-foot-1, 200-pound receiver just 23 years old, caught 71 passes for 1,187 yards and 14 touchdowns in his senior season at the Division II level in 2014.
– American cartoonist and author of the Crankshaft comic strip Tom Batiuk is a Blue Bombers fan, revealed by a comic strip this week with Ed Crankshaft’s son-in-law wearing Bombers logos on his sweater and tuque. Batiuk became a long-distance fan in 2011 during the NFL lockout.
| HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
– The Ticats have been busy re-signing pending free agents, this week adding receiver Kealoha Pilares and defensive back Tevrin Brandon. Still, many of the team’s top free agents remain unsigned, including Emmanuel Davis, Ted Laurent, Courtney Stephen and Terrell Sinkfield among others.
| TORONTO ARGONAUTS
– Sean Hatchard of the Times & Transcript is reporting that Kelly Jeffrey, former Mount Allison University head coach, is joining the Toronto Argonauts as special teams coordinator. Mount Allison University confirmed the news on Twitter.
– After thinking his football career might be over following a season-ending injury last summer, Andre Durie is feeling good about his off-season progress and is anxious to return to the Argos in 2016.
– The Toronto Argonauts honoured legendary musical artist David Bowie with an interesting twist this week, posting a series of captions of his hit songs on Twitter with corresponding images.
| OTTAWA REDBLACKS
– The REDBLACKS have reportedly signed linebacker Damaso Munoz to a two-year contract extension, according to the Ottawa Sun‘s Tim Baines. Munoz recorded 74 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumble and an interception in 18 games with the REDBLACKS last season.
– Jaime Elizondo has big shoes to fill as he takes the spot of Jason Maas as offensive coordinator in Ottawa, but he isn’t about to back down. Elizondo said in a one-on-one interview that he expects not just continuity for Ottawa’s offence, but overall growth.
– With four 1,000-yard receivers last year ahead of him on the depth chart, the Ottawa REDBLACKS have decided to move on from receiver Maurice Price. Price was traded to the Riders in an exchange involving low draft picks.
| MONTREAL ALOUETTES
– The Alouettes extended the contracts of offensive lineman Kristian Matte and fullback Jean-Christophe Beaulieu this week, adding two more nationals that will return to the team in 2016. Also extended was offensive lineman Jake Piotrowski.
– TSN’s 690‘s Rick Moffat reported Wednesday that talks with pending free agents Josh Bourke and John Bowman are ‘slow’. Bowman led the CFL with 19 sacks last season while Bourke is a seven-time CFL East All-Star at left tackle and two-time East Division Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
