February 1, 2017

Checking Down: The month of free agency arrives

Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

TORONTO — After losing five pending free agents to the NFL, the BC Lions hope to have Bryan Burnham back soon.

Plus, will Kienan Lafrance be the next Canadian running back to earn a starting gig?

As free agency talk heats up, we have the latest in Checking Down:

Jump to team:

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

BC LIONS

The Canadian Press

The Lions are hopeful that pending free agent Bryan Burnham will extend his stay in BC (The Canadian Press)

– With a new contract and some good news from the team doctors, things are looking up for Lions defensive back Steven Clarke (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).

– While Mic’hael Brooks plans to pursue NFL options well into the spring, Bryan Burnham could be ready to meet with the Lions soon and make a decision on his future (Mike Beamish, The Province).

– The Manny Show is headed to Singapore for Super Bowl Sunday, as Emmanuel Arceneaux supports U.S. soldiers stationed abroad throughout the week of the big game (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).

– Patriots star receiver and former college QB Julian Edelman said this week he once had an offer from the BC Lions to play quarterback out of college (Zac Jackson, Pro Football Talk).

– With Richie Leone out, the Lions are expected to pursue recently-released kicker Anthony Fera (Farhan Lalji, TSN).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

 

– For the Edmonton Eskimos and Adarius Bowman, a contract extension through 2018 came down to simple mathematics (Gerry Moddejonge, Edmonton Journal).

– Despite extending the contract of Brandyn Thompson, the Esks’ secondary remains a work in progress this off-season (Edmonton Journal).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca

Marquay McDaniel looks on during the 104th Grey Cup in Toronto (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)

– With free agency two weeks away, Marquay McDaniel is one of eight elite receivers primed to hit the market on Feb. 14 (CFL.ca).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Matt Smith/CFL.ca

Shamawd Chambers (centre) should be a popular topic the next week or so (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)

– Interest appears high in recently-released Shamawd Chambers, who teams will need to see stay healthy before spending big money (Gary Lawless, TSN).

– Kevin Glenn’s age, 38, isn’t such a bad number if you look around. Could Glenn be the latest aging pivot to win a championship? (Rob Vanstone, Regina Leader-Post).

– The Riders have released Fred Bennett and Levi Steinhauer and extended the contract of Ivan Brown. They’ve also signed international DL Derrick Lott (CFL.ca).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Matt Smith/CFL.ca

Quincy McDuffie is headed south of the border after reportedly signing in the NFL (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)

– Quincy McDuffie has been released by the Bombers, reportedly signing with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys according to his agent (Brett Tessler).

– With the release of Keith Shologan, the Bombers believe they can get better value for their money at the Canadian defensive tackle spot (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).

– With Shologan and national running back in Pascal Lochard out of picture, could the Bombers by eyeing Kienan Lafrance in free agency? (Gary Lawless, TSN).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca

Ticats linebacker Byron Archambault has reportedly taken on a coaching role (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)

– Ticats linebacker Byron Archambault has reportedly retired to take a coaching position with the Montreal Carabins (Drew Edwards, The Hamilton Spectator).

– Andy Fantuz sees a little bit of himself in prospective 2017 CFL Draft pick Danny Vandervoort (Kristina Costabile, CFL.ca).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca

Chris Van Zeyl is now the most experienced Argo and will be around to stay longer(Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)

– It appears the Argos could be looking ‘outside the box’ in their GM search, as Brock Sunderland, John Murphy, Brendan Taman and Eric Tillman are among names they haven’t reached out to (Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press).

– With National Signing Day arriving in the NCAA, Ohio State alum DeVier Posey looks back on what it all means (Argonauts.ca).

– Meanwhile, the Argos continue to make moves under the leadership of Assistant GM Spencer Zimmerman, signing Chris Van Zeyl to a three-year extension (CFL.ca).

– The Argos have also reportedly signed a restructured deal with national safety Jermaine Gabriel (Gary Lawless, TSN).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Ernest_Jackson_2016_GC_1

It doesn’t appear the REDBLACKS are close to a new deal with pending free agent Ernest Jackson (CFL.ca)

– With Tuesday’s contract extension, the REDBLACKS showed they aren’t worried about the Achilles injury that sidelined William Powell for the entire 2016 season (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).

– Pending free agent Kienan Lafrance could be on the move as he reportedly seeks starter money (Gary Lawless, TSN).

The REDBLACKS have signed former Michigan State linebacker Darien Harris.

– Talks appear relatively quiet between the REDBLACKS and a number of their top pending free agents, including Grey Cup hero Ernest Jackson (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).

– Of the top-ranked nationals set to hit free agency on Feb. 14, no one ranks higher than REDBLACKS tackle Nolan MacMillan (CFL.ca).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Dominick Gravel/MontrealAlouettes.com

Long-time tackle Jeff Perrett was released by the Als on Monday (Dominick Gravel/MontrealAlouettes.com)

– Recently-released tackle Jeff Perrett would play anywhere, although his preference is to stay in the East for his family (Rick Moffat, TSN 690).

– Perrett’s release likely came down to money following the contract extension for Darian Durant (Her Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– According to Moffat, Perrett’s release could also be linked to the Als trying to sign NFL free agent and former Montreal draft pick David Foucault (Rick Moffat, TSN 690).

The Als have revealed their 2017 coaching staff, including the return of Noel Thorpe as defensive coordinator and Head Coach Jacques Chapdelaine as the offensive coordinator (CFL.ca).

– The Als have swooped in quickly to sign recently-released Canadian defensive tackle Keith Shologan (CFL.ca).