Checking Down: Rogers on the market?

TORONTO — Mini-camps have wrapped up and the CFL Draft is only days away.

Meanwhile, cuts south of the border could have an impact as Eric Rogers and Alex Bazzie hit the market.

With questions abound, we check in on the latest around the league in this week’s Checking Down:

Jump to team:

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

BC LIONS

The Canadian Press

Steven Clarke (left) could bump Mike Edem out of the starting safety position in BC (The Canadian Press)

– What are the Lions doing to try and force more turnovers? It could start with a change at the safety to an American as Steven Clarke could be the one to move over (Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press).

The Indianapolis Colts have released former Lions defensive end Alex Bazzie. Bazzie signed with the Colts this winter after a standout 2016 CFL season (CBS Sports).

The BC Lions and the CFL are in mourning following the passing of Tracy Lasorsa-Simon, the wife of the club’s director of Canadian scouting Geroy Simon (CFL.ca).

– The Lions have added a new member to their coaching staff as Stanley Franks joins the sideline as an assistant defensive backs coach. Franks played for the Lions from 2009 through 2011 (BCLions.com).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

Esks.com

Len Rhodes (left) and Brock Sunderland (right) pose during an introductory press conference (Esks.com)

– Eskimos 2016 second round draft pick Arjen Colquhoun will attend Seattle Seahawks rookie camp, according to Justin Dunk. The defensive back has been a free agent since being released by the Dallas Cowboys last August (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

– A week into his dream job, new Eskimos GM Brock Sunderland says his biggest role right now is to ‘fit in and keep things afloat’. The Eskimos conclude their voluntary three-day mini-camp on Tuesday (Gerry Moddejonge, Edmonton Journal).

– One key in the Esks’ hiring of Brock Sunderland could be the new GM’s past connection with current head coach Jason Maas (Pat Steinberg, CFL.ca).

– With 54 players on the roster, the Esks’ new GM has some space to fill before camps open on May 28 (Dave Campbell, CHED).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

CFL.ca

Marquay McDaniel and the Stamps continue to lament what went wrong last November (CFL.ca)

– With hopes of being one of the greatest CFL quarterbacks ever, Bo Levi Mitchell has no thoughts of heading south of the border right now (Kristina Costabile, CFL.ca).

– Former Stamps receiver Jabari Arthur has made the jump to coaching, taking a job as the receivers coach for the University of Calgary Dinos (Stampeders.com).

– After a near-perfect campaign ended in disaster for the Stampeders, Marquay McDaniel says it’s going to feel like a long regular season. He’s already thinking about next November (Vicki Hall, Calgary Herald).

– Former Stamps star pass-catcher Eric Rogers is a free agent after being released by the San Francisco 49ers. He’s working on getting healthy after suffering a torn ACL last August (49ers.com).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Riders_QBs_Young_Glenn_Mini_Camp_2017_1

Could the Riders’ quarterback huddle also have included former NFL star Michael Vick? (Riderville.com)

– After a few years out of football, former CFL QB Marcus Crandell has joined the University of Saskatchewan Huskies’ coaching staff as the offensive coordinator under Scott Flory (Kevin Mitchell, Saskatoon StarPhoenix).

– The Riders have released 10 internationals following their three-day mini-camp in Florida last week (Riderville.com).

– According to Justin Dunk, the Riders pursued Michael Vick before the former NFL star officially retired on Feb. 3 (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

– The Baines family football tree continues to grow as Mitchell Baines, the second of three brothers, tracks down a roster spot with the Riders (Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

The comfort level progressed for Andrew Harris throughout his first season in Winnipeg (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– The Bombers have parted ways with a dozen international players following mini-camp, including quarterback Myles Carr (BlueBombers.com).

Geoff Gray’s status as the likely first overall pick has quite possibly evapourated after he was signed by the Green Bay Packers following the NFL Draft (Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca).

– It was a mix of excitement and pressure for Andrew Harris when he chose to join the team he grew up watching. CFL.ca’s Jim Morris has more on Harris’ journey home (Jim Morris, CFL.ca).

– While the NFL Draft has shaken up draft boards this side of the border, Bombers GM Kyle Walters says it’s also brought some clarity ahead of Sunday’s CFL Draft (The Canadian Press).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca

Jake Olson’s return to the lineup could provide a major boost to the Ticats’ O-line (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)

– One major key to the Ticats’ success this coming season? The tackle position, says Ticats analyst John Salavantis, and it starts with the health of Jake Olson (Tatti and Ferguson, TSN 1150).

– Former Ticats kicker Brett Maher has been released by the NFL’s Cleveland Browns (Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland.com).

– The Ticats have added some more competition to their secondary, acquiring Khalid Wooten while swapping draft picks with the Alouettes (CFL.ca).

– In need of a new leg for the upcoming season, the Ticats have reportedly signed kicker Craig Peterson.

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

CFL.ca

Recently-acquired Argonaut Jeff Perrett has announced his retirement from pro football (CFL.ca)

– A week after signing with the Argos, offensive tackle Jeff Parrett has announced his retirement following 10 CFL seasons (TSN.ca).

– While Jim Popp continues to put his stamp on the new-look Argos as training camp approaches, how does the team’s opening day depth chart project? (Anthony Ciardulli, Argos Admirals).

– Former Argos linebacker Marcus Ball has been released by the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers (49ers.com).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Chris Hofley/Ottawa RedBlacks

Kenny Shaw and the REDBLACKS held their annual mini-camp in Ottawa last week (Chris Hofley/Ottawa REDBLACKS)

– Two years after a brief shot at glory in an NFL playoff game, quarterback Ryan Lindley is seizing his opportunity with the REDBLACKS (Tim Baines, Ottawa Citizen).

– REDBLACKS GM Marcel Desjardins says that while the quarterback position has changed, he’s comfortable with Harris and Tate as his 1-2 punch (Tim Baines, Ottawa Citizen).

– Defensive back Sherrod Baltimore faced a youth surrounded by drugs, crime, killing and rivalries — all of which he avoided on his path to becoming a football player (Tim Baines, Ottawa Citizen).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Mississippi State Athletics

No. 1-ranked prospect Justin Senior was the only Canadian picked in the NFL Draft (Mississippi State Athletics)

– The Alouettes have received internationals Denzel Perine and Cierre Woods in a trade with the Ticats, sending defensive back Khalid Wooten the other way (MontrealAlouettes.com).

– Montreal native Justin Senior has been selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the sixth round of the NFL Draft (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).