December 21, 2016

Checking Down: Tying up loose ends

Chris Hofley/Ottawa REDBLACKS

TORONTO — The Alouettes need a new assistant GM while pending free agents continue to push their luck south of the border.

Other than that it’s the calm before the storm as teams take care of business in the month of December — one that, for most teams, has been more about tying up loose ends.

We have the latest off-season news in Checking Down:

Jump to team:

BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal

BC LIONS

BCLions.com

– The Lions are set to announce they have signed all-start LB Solomon Elimimian to a new deal.  He was set to become a free agent in February.

– The Lions have bolstered their special teams and national depth by re-signing Mike Benson and Nehemi Kankolongo.

– Getting Jeremiah Johnson signed up brings some more continuity for the upstart BC Lions.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

The Canadian Press

The NFL could be an option for Deon Lacey in 20127 free agency (The Canadian Press)

– Will John Ojo be the latest star to rebound from the dreaded torn Achilles injury? Why he’ll be one to keep an eye on in 2017.

– Esks linebacker Deon Lacey continues to take his talents down south, this time trying out for the Green Bay Packers (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Bo_Levi_Mitchell_2016_GC_1

A shot of Bo Levi Mitchell during the 104th Grey Cup in Toronto (The Canadian Press)

– A Katy, Texas native, Bo Levi Mitchell couldn’t be happier to make Calgary his permanent home.

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca

Armanti Edwards will be a player to watch in his second season as a Rider (Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca)

– Four Riders made the list of 17 sophomores to watch in 2017, led by receiver Armanti Edwards.

– Linebacker Marvin Golding has been handed a two-game ban for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

– Could Montreal be a likely landing spot for Riders’ pending free agent Darian Durant? (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

BlueBombers.com

Chad Rempel warms up before a game at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg (BlueBombers.com)

– The Bombers have inked three players from their 2016 draft class, including defensive lineman Rupert Butcher.

– Why is Chad Rempel an underrated re-signing for the Bombers? As Ed Tait writes, he just makes it look easy (BlueBombers.com).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

orlondo-steinauer-2016-1

Ticats defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer has taken a job with Fresno State (Ticats.ca)

– The Ticats have locked up a key special teams piece after re-signing national Mike Daly.

– Is CJ Gable’s ability limited in Hamilton’s offence? TSN’s Derek Taylor thinks so in an interview with CFL.ca’s Matthew Cauz.

– Despite his departure, Orlondo Steinauer has left a lasting legacy on the Ticats, Argos and football in southern Ontario (Steve Milton, 3 Down Nation).

Jeff Reinebold is considered a possible candidate to replace Steinauer as the defensive coordinator (Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Jason Halstead/CFL.ca

Thomas Gordon showed his versatility in 2016 on the Argos’ defence (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)

– In what’s been a quiet off-season in Toronto thus far, Thomas Gordon and Ken Bishop have made CFL.ca’s list of sophomores to watch in 2017.

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Chris Hofley/Ottawa REDBLACKS

REDBLACKS running back William Powell will be on the rebound this off-season (Chris Hofley/Ottawa REDBLACKS)

– University of Regina receiver Riley Wilson has reportedly signed with the Ottawa REDBLACKS (Mitchell Blair, CKRM).

– William Powell is another player that could slip under the radar this off-season as he looks to rebound from a season-ending injury.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Kavis_Reed_2016_1

Kavis Reed continues to shape his new-look front office and support staff in Montreal (The Canadian Press)

– Catherine Raîche is reportedly in the running to fill the void left by the departed Joey Abrams for assistant GM (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– Raîche, formerly a lawyer, is gaining a positive reputation around the league and aspires to one day become a general manager (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– If Darian Durant gets to free agency come Feb. 14, the Alouettes might be the most logical choice for the veteran pivot (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).