Checking Down: Looking towards the draft

TORONTO — With the combine all wrapped up, next up for CFL teams is the draft on May 3. Who turned heads over the two days of testing in Winnipeg?

Plus, Johnny Manziel is back in the news after announcing his intention to play professional football in 2018, either in the NFL or the CFL.

More on that and some bytes from Mark’s CFL Week in the latest from Checking Down.

Jump to team:

BC LIONS

Brent Johnson and Barron Miles are two former Lions heading into the Hall of Fame (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– The CFL is mourning the death of former defensive lineman James ‘Quick’ Parker, who passed away at age 60. He played for the Lions, Argos and Eskimos (CFL.ca).

– Geroy Simon says the offensive line is once again probably the deepest position in this year’s CFL Draft. That could benefit a Lions team looking for more depth in that area (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).

– As he heads to the Hall of Fame, Brent Johnson is now widely considered one of the greatest nationals the three-down game has ever seen (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province).

– Will the Lions rally around Wally Buono in 2018? The CFL’s all-time winningest coach is ready for one last turn on the sideline in BC (Terry Jones, Edmonton Journal).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

After a one-year hiatus, Jason Maas is back in charge of the Esks’ offence as the offensive coordinator (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– The Eskimos have released veteran defensive back Marcell Young after five seasons with the team (CFL.ca).

– It was confirmed late last week that Jason Maas will take on double duties again as the team’s head coach and offensive coordinator following the departure of Carson Walch (CFL.ca).

– At age 18, Hank Ilesic walked into an Eskimos locker-room on the verge of five straight Grey Cups — and didn’t flinch (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca).

– The Esks are mourning the death of defensive lineman James ‘Quick’ Parker, whose 18.5 sacks in 1981 remain a team record (CFL.ca)

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Terry Williams’ speed could change the outlook of the Stampeders’ offensive attack (The Canadian Press)

– While the Stamps will miss Jerome Messam, the speed of Terry Williams and Roy Finch could change the dynamic of Calgary’s offence — and the receivers are excited (Daniel Austin, Calgary Herald).

– The loss of Marquay McDaniel will test a young group of Stamps’ pass-catchers, but Kamar Jorden and DaVaris Daniels say they’re ready to step up (Daniel Austin, Calgary Herald).

– The Stamps never intended for Charleston Hughes to end up back in the West, and now their former pass rusher says he can’t wait to finally sack Bo Levi Mitchell (Daniel Austin, Calgary Herald).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Former Esks corner John Ojo fills an immediate need on the Riders’ defence at the boundary (The Canadian Press)

– The quiet addition of John Ojo fills a significant void for the Riders at boundary corner, left by the departed Kacy Rodgers III (Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post).

– Ojo hasn’t played in a game since 2015, going to the NFL after suffering a devastating injury. But the former standout corner says he has no doubt he can return to form (Ian Hamilton, Riderville.com).

– While Trent Richardson is still eyeing an NFL return, the Riders running back won’t rule out making the team and the CFL his long-term home (Mark Inabinett, Alabama.com).

– The Riders have reportedly dropped quarterback Trevone Boykin from their negotiation list after a domestic violence allegation. Boykin has denied the claims against him (The Associated Press).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

It looks like Bombers GM Kyle Walters has his sights on a receiver in the upcoming draft (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– In a recent injury update, Bombers defensive back Maurice Leggett said he’s further along than planned and that he expects to be ready for training camp (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).

– The Bombers appear to have their eye on the CFL Draft’s top receivers, including Mark Chapman and Rashaun Simonise, who both tested at the CFL Combine in Winnipeg (Ted Wyman, Winnipeg Sun).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Johnny Manziel remains a topic of interest as he announces his intention to play in the NFL or CFL (Texas A&M)

– According to TSN‘s Dave Naylor, Johnny Manziel has revealed that he will play in the CFL if he fails to get an NFL opportunity (CFL.ca via Dave Naylor, TSN).

– Speaking of Manziel, the former Texas A&M star says he’s turned a new leaf and feels like a different person as he pursues his pro football comeback (Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press).

– According to a report, Ticats president Scott Mitchell says the team will not prepare a bid to host CFL Week in 2019 (Drew Edwards, The Hamilton Spectator).

– With three selections in the CFL Draft’s first 11 picks, this year’s draft has a ‘Christmas morning’ feel to it for Ticats assistant GM and director of Canadian scouting Drew Allemang (Drew Edwards, The Hamilton Spectator).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

James Wilder Jr. reflected on a length contract dispute during Mark’s CFL Week in Winnipeg (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– James Wilder Jr. says there’s no ill will towards the Argos, but maintains that he wouldn’t have returned without the new deal signed earlier this month (Herb Zurkowsky, Postmedia).

– A date has been announced for the Argos-REDBLACKS pre-season game, which will take place on June 7 in Guelph due to a scheduling conflict at BMO Field (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).

– While James Franklin is being considered ‘the next big thing’ at QB for the Argos, Marc Trestman says the former Eskimo will have to earn the backup job (3 Down Nation).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Marcel Desjardins will have a void to fill at kicker if Brett Maher stays in the NFL (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)

– REDBLACKS head coach Rick Campbell says he’s excited for the energy Noel Thorpe will bring to the team’s new-look defence (CFL.ca).

– For electrifying returner/receiver Diontae Spencer, a record-breaking season in the nation’s capital in 2017 was merely the opening act (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).

– The REDBLACKS are still hoping kicker Brett Maher returns in 2018, but the international is attempting to catch on with an NFL club (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

CFL active sack leader John Bowman is hoping to put the team’s recent struggles in the past (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– New director of national scouting Miles Gorrell is going to play a key role in the Montreal Alouettes’ rebuild (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– After winning a Grey Cup in his first year with his new team, former Als GM Jim Popp says he’s moved on and has no hard feelings towards the franchise (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– Money played a role in Jamaal Westerman’s decision to sign in Montreal, but the team’s new defensive end also says Kavis Reed provided a clear sense of direction (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– CFL active sack leader John Bowman truly thought his career was over at the end of last year. Then, he had a change of heart (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).