The Canadian Press
TORONTO — As Feb. 14 draws a little bit closer, all eyes are on the two starting quarterbacks slated for free agency.
Plus, who’s headed south after a busy week of signings both in the CFL and NFL?
We have the latest off-season news in Checking Down:
Jump to team:
BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal |
BC LIONS
– Recently-released defensive end Alex Bazzie has joined the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts on a future contract.
– The BC Lions have signed international linebacker Gionni Paul to an extension and added defensive lineman David Perkins.
– Recently-released Anthony Gaitor is set to join other CFL players Adam Bighill and Forrest Hightower on the NFL’s New Orleans Saints (Farhan Lalji, TSN).
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
– Who will fill the voids left by the departed Deon Lacey and Derel Walker in Edmonton? Expect the Esks to hire from within (CFL.ca).
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
– The Calgary Stampeders are sticking with their winning formula, retaining their entire coaching staff for the 2017 season (CFL.ca).
– Frank Beltre is reportedly joining the New York Jets, where he’ll join another former Stamps D-lineman in Freddie Bishop III (Adam Caplan, ESPN).
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
– By this point, unless the Riders up their offer, Darian Durant may be better off waiting for free agency to determine his true value (Darrell Davis, CJME 980).
– Corey Chamblin hopes to one day return to the CFL but his chances of doing so this coming season appear slim (Don Landry, CFL.ca).
– The rumours are all over the map as it pertains to contract negotiations with Durant, but word is the Riders want him back on an incentive-based deal (RodPedersen.com).
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
– Bombers GM Kyle Walters says contract negotiations with Matt Nichols have been ‘tough sledding’ as he remains without a new deal (Kelly Moore, CJOB).
– The Bombers have added national linebacker Akeem Whonder to their roster, the team has announced.
– While the Bombers’ depth chart remains a question mark at QB, Dominique Davis remains on the radar as the only pivot under contract (BlueBombers.com).
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
– As Jeff Reinebold continues to grow his legacy as a CFL coach, what’s next for the Ticats’ current special teams coordinator? (Roger Kelly, American Football International).
– The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have re-signed offensive lineman Landon Rice, the team has announced, keeping him off the free agent market.
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
– The Toronto Argonauts have released offensive lineman Josh Bourke one year after joining the team as a free agent (CFL.ca)
OTTAWA REDBLACKS
– Taylor Reed’s work down the latter half of last season has earned him a one-year contract extension with the Ottawa REDBLACKS (CFL.ca).
– Ottawa has re-signed national DL Andrew Marshall and also added American pass-catcher Armon Binns (OttawaREDBLACKS.com).
– Recently-released Jeff Richards has a chance to pursue his NFL dreams after signing a futures deal with the Carolina Panthers (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).
– Mitchell White, another former REDBLACK, reflects on how the CFL has become a breeding ground for NFL defensive backs (Aaron Kasinitz, PennLive).
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
– The Alouettes have added three international players on two-year deals — DB Desmond Cooper, RB LaVance Taylor and DL Reuben Frank.
– Als coach Jacques Chapdelaine says recently-released Kevin Glenn is not in the team’s plans moving forward (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).
– Als receiver Nik Lewis says he can still be one of the best players on a CFL field. The 34-year-old recently signed a two-year contract extension (Pat Steinberg, Sportsnet 960).