Checking Down: Pre-Camp shuffle continues

TORONTO — Training camps are barely a week away from opening and GMs are putting the finishing touches on their rosters.

The Bombers and Stamps have signed quarterbacks while, on the other hand, the Ticats have made a few releases that are at least mildly surprising.

All of that and more in this week’s Checking Down:

Jump to team:

BC LIONS

The Lions shipped national safety Mike Edem to the Riders last week (Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca)

– For Lions quality control and assistant running backs coach Mike Lionello, the East-West Bowl practices last week were a chance to get a jump on 2018 draft evaluation (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).

– Trading Mike Edem signals a ratio change for the Lions at safety — potentially a move to try and force more turnovers, says Wally Buono (Steve Ewen, Vancouver Province).

– They aren’t the defending champs, but the Calgary Stampeders are still the team to beat — at least if you ask Lions head coach and GM Wally Buono (Pat Steinberg, Sportsnet 960).

– With Shawn Gore retiring after seven seasons to join the Vancouver Police Department, who are some other stars that have had memorable careers after football? (Andrew Bucholtz, CFLPA).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

Despite an impressive showing at the combine, Johnny Augustine went undrafted on May 7 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– After going undrafted, 17th-ranked prospect Johnny Augustin has signed with the Edmonton Eskimos (CFL.ca).

– Fifth round pick Kwaku Boateng tried out with the Chicago Bears over the weekend but did not receive a contract following their mini-camp (Dave Campbell, CHED).

– The Eskimos can also expect to have Nate Behar in camp later this month, as Behar reportedly has not been offered a contract following his tryout with the New York Giants (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Stamps’ head coach Dave Dickenson says there’s no need to address what happened last November (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– The Stampeders have added a new quarterback to their rookie camp roster, signing former NFL pivot Ricky Stanzi (CFL.ca).

– For Bo Levi Mitchell, growing up in football-mad Katy, Texas was like a real-life Friday Night Lights (George Johnson, Stampeders.com).

– The Stamps have added a trio of new American defensive backs as well as two new linebackers to their rookie camp roster (Stampeders.com).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Chris Jones continues to tinker with his roster as training camp draws near (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– With the addition of Mike Edem, the Riders have plenty of national depth at safety with Marc-Olivier Brouillette and Jeff Hecht also both in the fold (Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post).

– The Riders’ coaching staff lost plenty of sleep over a 5-13 season in 2016 — now Chris Jones and co. are focused on redemption a year later (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca).

– It appears Riders second overall pick Cameron Judge will be in camp with the team after reportedly not being signed by the NFL’s Houston Texans (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Bombers general manager Kyle Walters during the 2017 CFL Combine presented by adidas (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)

– The Bombers have added a pair of quarterbacks to their roster in Austin Apodaca and Malcolm Bell (CFL.ca).

– After having to scrap and fight to make ends meet, football helped Bombers draft pick Qadr Spooner get on the right path (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).

– At 30 years old, the clock is ticking on Drew Willy’s chance to be ‘the guy’. Paul Friesen has more on where Willy falls in the Argos’ quarterback room (Paul Friesen, Winnipeg Sun).

– The Bombers have released former second round pick and national defensive back Brendan Morgan. Morgan played in 11 games last season for the Blue and Gold.

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Cassius Vaughn had a rocky start with the Ticats and on Tuesday he was released (Arthur Ward/CFL.ca)

– There were a few mild surprises among the Ticats’ recent cuts, including what could have been potential starters in Cassius Vaughn, Travis Lee and Delano Johnson (Drew Edwards, 3 Down Nation).

– Despite his age (34), re-signing John Chick makes perfect sense for the Ticats, CHML‘s Rick Zamperin says (Rick Zamperin, 900CHML)

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Ricky Ray throws during the Argos’ mini-camp last month in Vero Beach, Fla. (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– With Ricky Ray in the driver’s seat and plenty of qualified help behind him, the Argos are feeling good about their quarterback depth going into the season (CFL.ca).

– The Argos announced they’ll hold their training camp at York University this spring, hoping the homecoming will engage local fans (Morgan Campbell, The Toronto Star).

– Not long after being released by the Ticats, Cassius Vaughn has headed across the QEW to join the Argos (CFL.ca).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

REDBLACKS quarterback Trevor Harris is ready to pick up the torch this season (Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca)

– After a career year with the Calgary Dinos, sixth round pick and receiver Austen Hartley has signed with the Ottawa REDBLACKS (CFL.ca).

– In his Monday Morning Quarterback, Pat Steinberg says he’s confident the nation’s capital will see a smooth transition from Henry Burris to Trevor Harris (CFL.ca).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Nik Lewis will play his 15th and possibly final season in 2017 (Dominick Gravel/Montreal Alouettes)

– If 2017 goes according to plan, Nik Lewis says he’s got one more CFL season left in him — although nothing is guaranteed (Jeff Krever, CFL.ca).

– Als general manager Kavis Reed says Darian Durant ‘knows how to win’, bringing some much-needed stability to the quarterback position (Douglas Gelevan, CBC News).

– Former defensive back and The Waggle‘s very own Davis Sanchez is ready to take on a new challenge. Sanchez is the new analyst for TSN 690 for home and away broadcasts (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– CFL.ca has more on Sanchez’s progression from Grey Cup Champion and three-time all-star to budding broadcaster (CFL.ca).