Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
TORONTO — It may be the off-season but that doesn’t mean things are any less intriguing around the Canadian Football League.
Just a few weeks after winning the 106th Grey Cup presented by Shaw, quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has begun his workouts with NFL teams in Minnesota with the Vikings.
Is DeVone Claybrooks in line to be the next head coach of the BC Lions? And have the Argonauts found their new bench boss in Corey Chamblin?
All this and more in the latest from Checking Down:
Jump to team:
| BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal |
BC LIONS
Ed Hervey has his hands full this off-season looking for a replacement for Wally Buono (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– With the 2018 season in the books, Lions general manager Ed Hervey is setting his sights on finding a replacement for Wally Buono. (Matt Baker, BCLions.com)
– Five BC Lions have been named CFL All-Stars, including kicker Ty Long, defensive backs T.J. Lee and Anthony Orange, defensive lineman Davon Coleman and receiver Bryan Burnham (CFL.ca)
– Is DeVone Claybrooks in the front running for the Leos head coach position? (Arash Madani, Sportsnet)
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Williams finished the 2018 season with 1,579 yards and 11 touchdowns (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– Receiver Duke Williams was the lone Edmonton Eskimo to make the CFL All-Star list. (CFL.ca)
– As a pending free agent, is Mike Reilly on his way to BC to join his former team? James Cybulski and Davis Sanchez discuss on this week’s episode of The Waggle presented by Sport Clips. (The Waggle)
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
Chris Matthews was released from the Stamps after winning a Grey Cup with the team (Dave Chidley/CFL.ca)
– After his return to the CFL in 2018, Chris Matthews is heading back down south to reportedly explore NFL options. The team granted his release on Tuesday. (CFL.ca)
– Three Stampeders took home CFL All-Star honours including linebacker Alex Singleton, defensive tackle Micah Johnson and quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. (CFL.ca)
– Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell began his first of five NFL workouts in Minnesota with the Vikings this week (Justin Dunk, 3DownNation)
– The Stamps have re-signed five Canadian special teamers including kicking duo Rob Maver and Rene Paredes. (CFL.ca)
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Ed Gainey was named a CFL All-Star for the second year in a row (Arthur Ward/CFL.ca)
– The Roughriders have parted ways with assistant vice president of football operations and player personnel John Murphy. (CFL.ca)
– Saskatchewan has four players on the CFL’s All-Star list including halfback Ed Gainey, defensive ends Willie Jefferson and Charleston Hughes and offensive guard Brendon LaBatte. (CFL.ca)
– Riders draft pick Dakoda Shepley completed a workout for the NFL’s Denver Broncos. (Justin Dunk, 3DownNation)
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
Andrew Harris is looking to help keep some of his free agent teammates in Winnipeg (The Canadian Press)
– The off-season has begun for Andrew Harris but that doesn’t mean his work is over. The running back is setting his sights on helping keep his pending free agent teammates in the blue and gold. (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com)
– Five Winnipeg Blue Bombers were selected as CFL All-Stars including safety Taylor Loffler, linebacker Adam Bighill, offensive tackle Stanley Bryant, centre Matthias Goossen and running back Andrew Harris. (CFL.ca)
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
Orlondo Steinauer has been named the head coach of the Tiger-Cats (Ticats.ca)
– The Ticats have re-signed long snapper Aaron Crawford to a two-year deal. He was set to become a free agent in February. (CFL.ca)
– Ticats officially name Orlondo Steinauer head coach, while June Jones will return in 2019 as associate head coach and offensive coordinator. (CFL.ca)
– With his promotion to head coach, Steinauer remains surrounded by ‘greatness.’ (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca)
– Stepping aside to allow Steinauer to take over as head coach was a ‘pretty quick, easy’ decision for June Jones. (CFL.ca)
– Receivers Brandon Banks and Luke Tasker, offensive guard Brandon Revenberg, linebacker Don Unamba and cornerback Delvin Breaux were all named CFL All-Stars. (CFL.ca)
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
Will Corey Chamblin be the next head coach of the Argonauts? (CFL.ca)
– Corey Chamblin could be in the running to take over the head coaching duties of the Argonauts after he was spotted sitting courtside at a Toronto Raptors game with Argos general manager Jim Popp. (Justin Dunk, 3DownNation)
OTTAWA REDBLACKS
Rookie sensation Lewis Ward was named a CFL All-Star this week (Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca)
– Four REDBLACKS made the cut on the CFL’s All-Star list including Diontae Spencer, Lewis Ward, SirVincent Rogers and Brad Sinopoli. (CFL.ca)
– Receiver/return man Diontae Spencer worked out with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings this week, catching passes from Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. Canadian Chris Ackie was also at the workout with Spencer. (Davis Sanchez, TSN.ca)
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
Kavis Reed has built a foundation in his front office and now has to start building around it (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– With the front office and coaching staff mostly in place, the Als appear to have laid a foundation. The question, now, is how do they build on it? (CFL.ca)
– The Alouettes have extended offensive lineman Kristian Matte. Matte was set to become a free agent in February. (CFL.ca)
