Checking Down: Free agency fast approaching

TORONTO — Free agency is fast approaching and there are plenty of new signings across the league.

Alex Mateas (Ottawa) and Duron Carter (Saskatchewan) would have been top-ranked free agents before signing new deals this week, but some other big names remain.

Meanwhile, Darian Durant is ready to be a backup, the top-30 list has been released and, finally, which eight players are looking for redemption in 2018?

More in this week’s Checking Down:

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BC LIONS

Lions receiver Shaq Johnson is looking to take another step forward in his third season (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– Ed Hervey has said the Lions must be better in the trenches, and it appears Canadian pass rusher David Menard will play an important role in that (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).

– The Lions have added another young quarterback to their roster, signing former Virginia passer Michael Birdsong to a contract.

– Ronnie Yell and Chandler Fenner both made the top-30 free agents list, but the most intriguing Lion on the list has to be veteran quarterback Travis Lulay (CFL.ca).

– Forget the Stampeders; the top redemption story of 2018 might come in BC, where both Ed Hervey and Jonathon Jennings are leading bounce back candidates this year (Matthew Cauz, CFL.ca).

– After a breakout season in 2017, Canadian receiver Shaq Johnson is hoping to become an even bigger part of the Lions’ offence this season (TSN 1040).

– With the Senior Bowl putting prospects in the spotlight this week, Lions linebacker Jordan Herdman reflects on his chance to participate before going pro (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

The Eskimos could have a decision to make with star receiver Adarius Bowman this off-season (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)

– Adarius Bowman is reportedly due a significant roster bonus early in March, sparking some speculation that a restructured contract could be in the works (Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press).

– Tevaun Smith, the Eskimos’ first round pick in 2016, has signed a futures contract with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars (Scott Dochterman, Land of 10).

– The Esks have brought back safety Neil King on a two-year contract extension. He was pending free agency on Feb. 13 (CFL.ca).

– The Esks have released Marcus Howard after seven seasons and 36 sacks in 68 career games. Also released were Cauchy Muamba, Danny Groulx and Phillip Hunt (CFL.ca).

– After three pending free agents were released, could more be on the way for the Double E before free agency opens on Feb. 13? (Dave Campbell, CHED).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Players from around the league lauded the impressive career of retired fullback Rob Cote (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– Former teammates took to social media on Tuesday to congratulate Rob Cote, who retired following an impressive 11-year career (Robbie Abrahamson, CFL.ca).

– The CFL’s list of the top 30 pending free agents came out on Monday, and the Stamps have nearly a quarter of the players on the list with a league-high of seven (CFL.ca).

– Cote wasn’t just unheralded on the field, but off it, too, from his leadership in the locker-room to his devotion to community service (Daniel Austin, Calgary Herald).

– The Stampeders and the CFL are in mourning after former quarterback Jerry Keeling and former head coach Bob Vespaziani passed away.

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

The Riders and new quarterback Zach Collaros agreed to a restructured contract last week (Riderville.com)

– After signing a new one-year deal with the Riders, Duron Carter is expected to have three roles as a receiver, kick returner and defensive back (Dave Naylor, TSN).

– The Riders and Zach Collaros have reached a restructured deal for 2018, an arrangement that most would agree benefits both sides (Rob Vanstone, Regina Leader-Post).

– The Riders only have a couple of players on the CFL.ca Top 30 Free Agents list, but one, Willie Jefferson, is the second-ranked player (CFL.ca).

– It’s Saskatchewan vs. the world as the junior Riders take part in the NFL Flag Championship tournament taking place during Pro Bowl week in Flroida (David Grossman, CFL.ca).

– Former Riders receiver and coach Travis Moore is back on the team, rejoining the Green and White as the receivers’ coach (Ian Hamilton, Riderville.com).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

For the first time since arriving in the CFL, Darian Durant will be a full-time backup in Winnipeg (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– For the first time since entering the league, Darian Durant is ready to fully embrace his role as a backup quarterback in Winnipeg (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).

– Travis Bond, T.J. Heath and Jamaal Westerman are key players listed among the top 30 pending free agents, which were put out this week (CFL.ca).

– The Bombers have added three to their roster, including former second round pick Brendan Morgan and linebacker Steven Clarke (BlueBombers.com).

– It took some time, but Kyle Walters and Mike O’Shea have rewarded the fans’ patience with back-to-back playoff appearances. Now they look to take the next step (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Terrence Toliver is looking for a bounce back season after missing almost all of 2017 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– Former Ticats defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer has helped spark one of the biggest turnarounds in college football, his Fresno State Bulldogs going from 1-1 to 10-4 (Steve Milton, The Hamilton Spectator).

– After suffering a season-ending injury in the first game of the season, Terrence Toliver is a leading bounce back candidate for the Ticats in 2018 (CFL.ca).

– With Larry Dean and Ted Laurent both in the top-six pending free agents, the Ticats currently stand to lose two key defensive players on Feb. 13 when free agency opens (CFL.ca).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Ricky Ray’s decision on retirement will have an impact on the Argos’ off-season plans (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– Ricky Ray’s pending decision on retirement could come soon, while talks between the Argos and Ray have reportedly been positive (Farhan Lalji, TSN).

– With free agency only a few weeks away, the Argos have two of the league’s top 10 pending free agents in the duo of S.J. Green and Ricky Ray (CFL.ca).

– New Argos president Bill Manning has plenty of new ideas for the Argos, including closing off some parts of the stadium to create a different game day atmosphere (Kurtis W. Larson, Toronto Sun).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Alex Mateas was the third-ranked pending free agent according to CFL.ca (Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca)

– Ed Ilnicki was Canada West’s most dominant running back this year, but is the Ottawa REDBLACKS’ 2017 draft pick ready to make the jump to the pros? (TSN 1260).

– Despite his solid numbers in 2017, Trevor Harris has a lot to prove this coming season according to CFL.ca’s Matthew Cauz (Matthew Cauz, CFL.ca).

– The REDBLACKS have brought back former first overall pick and offensive lineman Alex Mateas on a two-year contract (CFL.ca).

– Diontae Spencer, Alex Mateas and Taylor Reed lead Ottawa’s top pending free agents, with Spencer topping the annual CFL.ca Top 30 list (CFL.ca).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Josh Freeman is expected to compete to be the Als’ starting quarterback this camp (The Associated Press)

– The Als have added four to their roster, including a pair of quarterbacks in Garrett Fugate and Nick Shafnisky (MontrealAlouettes.com).

– While the timing didn’t work out the first time around, Josh Freeman is an Alouette. The Als’ new QB talks about what brought him to Montreal (MontrealAlouettes.com).