The Associated Press
TORONTO — Luke Tasker and Hunter Steward are reportedly nearing new deals.
Meanwhile, Johnny Manziel’s self-imposed Jan. 31 deadline has arrived, with no word on a possible contract.
Free agency is two weeks away and the clock is ticking for teams and their pending free agents.
More in this week’s Checking Down:
Jump to team:
| BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal |
BC LIONS
Getting Hunter Steward back would be key for a Lions’ O-line looking to bounce back in 2018 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– The Lions signed Maxx Forde to a one-year extension, while they’re also reportedly close to a deal with Hunter Steward, two key Canadians (Farhan Lalji, TSN).
– The Lions announced Wednesday that linebacker Micah Awe has been released to pursue NFL opportunities (CFL.ca).
– BC has added three receivers to the club, including the University of Saskatchewan’s Mitchell Hillis, who will attend his second Lions training camp this May (BCLions.com).
– For Ed Hervey, there are no days off. The Lions’ GM reflects on what’s been a busy off-season since moving into his new office (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Adam Konar could be a highly-coveted free agent should be test the market on Feb. 13 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– Vidal Hazelton may be in the second tier of free agent receivers next month. After the Esks kept Derel Walker and lost Brandon Zylstra, will Hazelton be in their plans for 2018? (CFL.ca).
– After flying under the radar through most of 2017, Adam Konar is ranked second among Canadian talent pending free agency by CFL.ca (CFL.ca).
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
DaVaris Daniels is putting his NFL workouts on hold to cheer for his dad’s Eagles in the Super Bowl (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– With his dad ready to coach in the Super Bowl, DaVaris Daniels is putting his NFL workouts on hold. Phillip Daniels, a former NFL player, will make his first appearance in the big game with the Eagles (Molly Campbell, Stampeders.com).
– The Stampeders will have defensive end Ja’Gared Davis back in the lineup next season, after the 16th-ranked pending free agent signed through 2018 (CFL.ca).
– Last year was a roller coaster for Stamps defender Joe Burnett, with the biggest twist coming Grey Cup week when he was left off the Stamps’ active roster (Jim Morris, CFL.ca).
– Where will Jerome Messam play in 2018? That’s one of the biggest questions as free agency approaches (CFL.ca).
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Chris Jones and the Riders have had a busy off-season trying to uncover new talent (The Canadian Press)
– It appears the Riders have their eye on Canadian running back Johnny Augustine after reportedly adding him to their neg list (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).
– A piece of Riders history is up for sale, as the giant Roughriders logo from Taylor Field, standing at 17 feet wide and nine feet tall, is up for auction (CTV Regina).
– When Tobi Antigha came to an off-season camp last year, the Riders moved him from receiver to defensive end. Jeremy O’Day and the Riders are busy trying to uncover more hidden gems this off-season (Ian Hamilton, Riderville.com).
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
T.J. Heath remains one of the top-ranked pending free agents for the Bombers going into February (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– Clarence Denmark may not be back in Winnipeg, but the veteran should still be productive wherever he ends up in 2018 (CFL.ca).
– While Kyle Walters has a short list of pending free agents, it includes some pretty big names, from T.J. Heath and Maurice Leggett to Travis Bond (CFL.ca).
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
The Ticats could be close to bringing back Luke Tasker, as the two sides work on an extension (Dario Ayala/CFL.ca)
– The Ticats are reportedly in talks with receiver Luke Tasker about a contract extension (Drew Edwards, 3 Down Nation).
– Jone Jones has hinted that a Johnny Manziel decision will come this week, at least according to a cryptic tweet by the Ticats’ head coach (CFL.ca).
– According to TSN‘s Farhan Lalji, Manziel and the Ticats are not close on a deal as the Jan. 31 deadline comes and goes (Farhan Lalji, TSN).
– Jones said on air this week on TSN 1150 that the team is also close to a deal with offensive tackle Tony Washington (TSN 1150).
– Defensive back Demond Washington has reportedly signed a new deal that will keep him in Hamilton through 2018 (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).
– While June Jones wants Johnny Manziel, the Ticats’ coach says he’ll have to beat out Jeremiah Masoli to be the starting QB — and it won’t be easy (Drew Edwards, 3 Down Nation).
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
After a career year in 2017, S.J. Green is considered one of the top pending free agents (The Canadian Press)
– For Catherine Raîche, recently added to the Argos’ front office, the opportunity to continue her football career has been a dream come true (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca).
– Argos receiver S.J. Green leads a top-heavy group of pending free agent receivers. Will the Argos’ receiver return to Toronto in 2018? (CFL.ca).
OTTAWA REDBLACKS
The REDBLACKS got younger and shed some cap by trading Patrick Lavoie to Montreal (The Canadian Press)
– The REDBLACKS’ decision to trade Patrick Lavoie to the Als for J.C. Beaulieu was motivated by the salary cap, GM Marcel Desjardins says (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).
– While the REDBLACKS are still holding out hope with many of their pending free agents, they could have to wait on Diontae Spencer and Jonathan Rose, who are believed to be looking for NFL opportunities (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
Josh Freeman is expected to compete to be the Als’ starting quarterback this camp (The Associated Press)
– Patrick Lavoie says that he was shocked to be traded on Tuesday, but outside of Ottawa, Montreal is the one place he’d like to be (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).
– Josh Freeman always knew he wanted to play for Mike Sherman, and now the opportunity has arrived with the Montreal Alouettes (CFL.ca).
