Jim Mullin
CFL.ca
Wally Buono may be known for a lot of things, but wheeler-dealer is not one of them.
In past years Buono the general manger developed a reputation for standing pat as far as free agency is concerned. He has also been reticent to engage with his CFL lodge brothers in drafting up a blockbuster trade.
The knock on Wally for not diving into the free agent pool is undeserved. While he hasn’t made a splash with a cannonball or a belly flop, he has been there close to the deep end over the last few years.
Two years ago, the Lions secured the services of linebacker Anton McKenzie who let his time run out in Saskatchewan.
Last year, three important free agent acquisitions were made. On the defensive line the Lions added multi-purpose lineman Keron Williams. At corner, non-import Davis Sanchez came back to play in his own backyard. The final piece of the 2010 free agent puzzle was at tailback when they secured Jamal Robertson away from the Argos.
 |
|
With CFL Free Agency officially opening at 12:01 am ET on February 16 click here to see the status of your team’s free agents |
However, in 2011 many of the free agents the Lions may have targeted have been dropping off the radar one-by-one.
So when it comes to retooling this team, free agency on this side of the line will only be one of three ways the club will look to. The other two avenues are the well-travelled US free agent camps – there’s one in Florida at the end of this week – and the not so familiar trade route.
The wildcard in all of this is what the Lions have to offer up in a player swap. Buono has been holding onto a pair of jack-of-all-trades kickers in his hand for two years and he is primed for a discard.
Buono held onto the team’s Most Outstanding Player in 2010 Paul McCallum. He had the option of letting the kicker go before February 1, but retained his services and paid out a contract bonus which was due. The Lions GM was willing to hold onto an asset knowing full well that quality non-import kickers are a hot commodity these days.
The other kicker/punter is former South Surrey Ram junior Sean Whyte, who would seem to be the heir apparent to McCallum. He’s looked solid in 14 regular season games, while patiently hanging around camp for over two seasons. He’s hit on 30 of 35 field goals and averaged 41 yards per punt.
The Lions seem to be hurtling down the trade trail, ready to cast off one of the two toes when they hit the fork in the road.
Usually to fill the gap and address turnover Buono has relied on birddog Roy Shivers and Bob O’Billovich before him to find off-the-map talent. Lions’ free agent camps south of the line orchestrated by the pair have produced Cameron Wake, Stefan Logan and Martell Mallett among others.
The problem was that the finds were so good, the NFL came calling in all three cases.
This year it’s receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux who will try his luck on that side of the line with the Minnesota Vikings.
That leaves the first spot to be filled at receiver which could be achieved via a trade, and not by free agency.
According to The Province, both Montreal and Hamilton have inquired about the Lions kickers, and Ticat receiver Marquay McDaniel has been dangled as trade bait.
Buono will hope to fill the gap on his defensive line left by retired tackle Jonathan Brown.
Tearrius George, who left the Stampeders for the NFL and bounced back to Calgary had an uneven year last season and found himself watching from the press box on occasion. He can play inside and outside, and may be due for a bounce back season in the right situation.
Pickering, Ontario native Jermaine Reid of the Tiger-Cats may be an answer in the D-line rotation for both the short and medium term. The four-year veteran at tackle can fill the gap at 6’4”, 275. Brent Johnson is the non-import in the current rotation, and the three-time All-Canadian will only be around for one more season.
Kevin Huntley of the Argos may also be a solution in the middle of the D-line as well.
The Lions defensive line was riddled with injuries last season, and could pick from holdover imports Jeremy Geathers, Dominie Pittman, and Khalif Mitchell, all of whom showed promise but lacked either health or consistency.
On the offensive line, Simon Fraser University grad Obby Khan may think about coming back to the coast. He may be an answer to filling a non-import spot that was left vacant when Sherko Haji-Rasouli was cut in the off-season.
