Checking Down: Ojo close to landing south?

TORONTO — The CFL off-season never sleeps.

In just the last week it’s been Jovan Olafioye, Ricky Foley and Ryan Smith making headlines across the league. So with the draft a month away, what’s next?

We have the latest in Checking Down:

Jump to team:

BC LIONS

Lions owner David Braley reportedly has multiple local prospective buyers lined up (BCLions.com)

– How did Chris Williams end up in BC? While there were other suitors, continuity and the chance to catch passes from Jonathon Jennings were the defining factors (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

– After being traded to Montreal, Jovan Olafioye says he doesn’t understand Wally Buono’s decision to move him (Mike Beamish, Vancouver Province).

– How did ‘the Manny Show’ get its name? The Snap takes a closer look in the latest from ‘TMI’ (Kristina Costabile, CFL.ca).

– David Braley reportedly has in the neighbourhood of four or five prospective local buyers interested in owning the BC Lions (Rick Dhaliwal, News 1130).

– The Lions are reportedly not interested in recently-released Argos defensive end Ricky Foley (Mike Beamish, Vancouver Sun).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

John Ojo might suit up south of the border instead of the CFL in 2017 (The Canadian Press)

– John Ojo continues to look for work south of the border, his latest stop coming in Miami with the NFL’s Dolphins (Barry Jackson, Miami Herald).

– Adarius Bowman is lending his efforts to autism awareness after launching Adarius 4 Autism (Gerry Moddejonge, Edmonton Journal).

– With the release of Chris Greaves, Danny Groulx or David Beard could be next in line for the Eskimos’ offensive front (Dave Campbell, CHED).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Stampeders defensive back Tommie Campbell defends a pass during the 2016 season (The Canadian Press)

– All charges have been dropped against Stamps’ defensive back Tommie Campbell, who reportedly faced felony drug charges (Vicki Hall, Postmedia).

– Stamps safety Josh Bell has spent part of his off-season coaching student track athletes at his alma mater, Skyline High School in Dallas, Texas (Stampeders.com).

– The Stamps have released international running back Tory Harrison (CFL.ca).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Kienan Lafrance was a key signing by the Riders during the 2017 off-season (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– While Kienan Lafrance was a big-ticket addition, he’s no shoe-in to start at running back. How else does the Riders’ current roster shape up? (Ian Hamilton, Riderville.com).

– Roughriders defensive back Tevaughn Campbell is going to the Hong Kong Sevens with the Canada rugby sevens team — he’ll train there but won’t play (Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press).

– When George Reed first arrived in Regina in 1963, he thought it’d be a short-term stay. Now he’s synonymous with football in Saskatchewan (Rob Vanstone, Regina Leader-Post).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

The Bombers now move on without the services of retired receiver Ryan Smith (CFL.ca)

– After an impressive showing at his pro day, Geoff Gray was moved into the number one spot in Marshall Ferguson’s second mock draft (Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca).

– Gray’s dominant pro day also featured a ride on a unicycle in front of scouts from both the NFL and CFL (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).

– While Ryan Smith’s retirement comes as a surprise, Darrin Bauming says the timing works out for the Bombers, who are very well equipped (Darrin Bauming, TSN 1290).

– The Winnipeg Football Club announced Wednesday that it posted an operating profit of $2.8 million in 2016 (CFL.ca).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Eric Tillman says Johnny Manziel would be a dynamic player in the CFL (Pawel Dwulit/CFL.ca)

– The Ticats have begun revealing their negotiating list, starting with former NFL draft pick and quarterback Johnny Manziel (CFL.ca).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Logan Kilgore’s time with the Argos has come to an end following his release Monday (The Canadian Press)

– Jim Popp continues to shape the Argos’ roster in his mold, this time releasing quarterback Logan Kilgore (CFL.ca).

– Recent addition Cam McDaniel out of Notre Dame could make an impact this season under Marc Trestman. McDaniel is one of three players the team signed on Monday (Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca).

– A rejuvenated Ricky Ray in Toronto? That could be, Ray revealed in the latest from The Waggle (CFL.ca).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Faith Ekakitie continues to project as a late first round pick by Marshall Ferguson (Iowa Hawkeyes)

– The REDBLACKS and Faith Ekakitie continue to be a match in the latest CFL Mock Draft from Marshall Ferguson (Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca).

– The REDBLACKS have added international defensive back Sherrod Baltimore and released national defensive back Keldyn Ahlstedt.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Jonathan Crompton’s time with the Als is up after the backup pivot was released (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– The Alouettes have reached a three-year contract extension with Jovan Olafioye a week after acquiring him from the Lions (CFL.ca).

– The Als also announced they’ve parted ways with backup quarterback Jonathan Crompton (CFL.ca).