CFL.ca
CFL.ca Staff
MONTREAL — With free agency just over two weeks away, the Montreal Alouettes have decided to give a trio of players a bit of a head start.
Friday, the Als announced that they have released QB Adrian McPherson, receiver Brian Bratton and kick returner Trent Guy.
McPherson and Bratton were slated to become free agents on Feb. 15.
The release of McPherson ends months of speculation of whether or not the five-year veteran would enter free agency.
It was expected that the 29-year-old pivot would leave the Alouettes after perennial starter Anthony Calvillo announced that he’d be returning under centre in Montreal for another two seasons.
In five years with the Als, McPherson has thrown 243 passes for 1,505 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Florida State product is also effective on the ground, as he’s registered 1,035 rushing yards and nine majors on 41 attempts.
However, having never thrown more than 49 passes in a season, McPherson still remains to be a relatively unproven commodity.
Should he be signed by another team, expect him to compete for the starting job behind centre.
Bratton, meanwhile, is coming off an up-and-down year with the Alouettes.
The 30-year-old receiver appeared 13 games for the Als in 2012, as his season was interrupted by a knee injury that he suffered in a Week 12 matchup with the Roughriders.
However, Bratton was effective when healthy, compiling 469 yards and four touchdowns on 28 receptions. He leaves the Alouettes – the only team he’s suited up for in his six year career – with 3,127 yards and 23 touchdowns under his belt.
Guy played one season in Montreal emerging as their most viable option on kick returns in the second half of the 2012 season. He finished with 32 kick returns for 720 yards.
He also added a record-tying 129-yard missed field goal return vs. Toronto in September.
