Checking Down: Ellingson getting a look down south

TORONTO — Henry Burris will decide his playing future in January while the Alouettes are ready to pick a general manager right now.

Plus, which CFL stars are getting a look down south? More in the latest Checking Down:

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BC LIONS

Adam Bighill was granted his release by the Lions last week to pursue NFL opportunities (Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca)

– The Lions have secured the services of three nationals for 2017 in Nathan O’Halloran, Shaquille Johnson and Brett Blaszko, while also adding signing four internationals from their practice roster.

– Adam Bighill was among eight CFL players reportedly working out for the NFL’s New Orleans Saints on Monday (NEWS 1130 Sports).

– The BC Lions and the CFL are mourning the loss of Rick Klassen, who passed away at the age of 57 after a battle with cancer.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

Sean Whyte will continue to kick in Edmonton after signing an extension (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)

– The Eskimos will have the most accurate kicker from 2016 on their side next season after re-upping Sean Whyte.

– Expected to land an NFL deal this off-season, Derel Walker has recently worked out with the Chicago Bears (Dave Campbell, CHED).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Cam Thorn played 13 games for Calgary and started three on an O-line ravaged by injury (Peter McCabe/CFL.ca)

– Stamps defensive lineman Junior Turner reportedly tore his ACL during Calgary’s Grey Cup loss to Ottawa (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

– Calgary has re-upped offensive lineman Cam Thorn, who was leaned on heavily in an injury-plagued year for the Stampeders’ O-line.

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Pending free agent Otha Foster is exploring his other options before committing to anything else (Geoff Robins/CFL.ca)

– As players reflected on the life of Joe McKnight at a team memorial service on Monday, many agreed that the late Riders running back always left a lasting impression (Glenn Reid, CBC).

– Pending free agent Otha Foster is among eight players who have reportedly worked out for the NFL’s New Orleans Saints (Jamie Nye, CFL.ca).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

As the Bombers move down their off-season checklist, Matt Nichols’ name gains more prominence (CFL.ca)

– The Bombers have added three Canadians to their roster: DB Justin Warden, LB John Rush and DL Brandon Tennant.

– After contract extensions for Kyle Walters and Mike O’Shea, what remains on the Bombers’ off-season to-do list? (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).

– Word out of Winnipeg is that negotiations are developing slowly between pending free agent quarterback Matt Nichols and the Bombers (Kirk Penton, Winnipeg Sun).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Jeff Mathews isn’t a superstar but could be an appealing option in free agency (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)

– He’s not one of the big names, but Jeff Mathews could be an appealing option among pending free agent quarterbacks (CFL.ca).

– Ticats defensive tackle Drake Nevis has reportedly worked out for the NFL’s New Orleans Saints (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Argos receiver Kenny Shaw is getting a look south of the border as he approaches free agency (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)

– Argos’ pending free agent receiver Kenny Shaw is reportedly among a handful of CFL players that have worked out for the Chicago Bears (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

The future of Henry Burris is one of the biggest questions of the upcoming off-season (The Canadian Press)

– With retirement a possibility, Henry Burris will make a final decision on his football future in January (Gord Holder, Ottawa Citizen).

– Pending free agent Greg Ellingson has reportedly worked out with the NFL’s Chicago Bears (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

– Former Ottawa Rough Riders owner David Loeb, who oversaw five Grey Cup Championships for the franchise, passed away two days after the Grey Cup at age 92 (Blair Crawford, Ottawa Citizen).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Kavis Reed is expected to be named the Alouettes’ GM on Wednesday (The Canadian Press)

– The Alouettes will make an announcement on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET, presumably to announce a new general manager. Rumours have it that Kavis Reed will be named the next GM while Jacques Chapdelaine will be retained as head coach (Gary Lawless, TSN).

– For University of Montreal head coach Danny Maciocia, the timing and fit wasn’t right for him to take a high-level job with the Montreal Alouettes (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

– The Als reportedly offered Maciocia the position of president, but would not have given him control of all personnel decisions, including the selection of a new GM (Didier Orméjuste, RDS).

– Could Darian Durant have a future in Montreal? CFL.ca’s Jamie Nye ponders the thought given his connections with Jacques Chapdelaine, who’s expected to be named the Alouettes’ head coach on Wednesday (Jamie Nye, CFL.ca).