The CFL Free Agency day one narratives revolve mainly around the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and their star signings. After the market opened at noon Eastern time, the Bombers were quick to snag the big fishes out of the pond, leaving the other eight CFL teams hungry for firepower. There were other big deals, and with rumours continuing to swirl, but Winnipeg stole the show before the stars were out in the Canadian sky.
Last Word on Sports breaks down, and gives a quick summary, on all the day’s action.
CFL Free Agency Day One: Bombers Go Big
Blue Bombers Ink Harris, Shologan, Medlock, Smith and Keeping
The Bombers took possibly the biggest offensive player off the market early on when they signed Canadian running back Andrew Harris. Harris spent six seasons with the B.C. Lions and was not offered a contract prior to the deadline. He has career totals of 4,259 yards and 24 touchdowns, and outside of his rookie season, Harris has missed the 1000-yard mark in a full season only once, when he ran for 998 in 2013.
Last season was a bounce back year after injuries plagued his 2014 campaign, and he finished with 1039 yards. This is a massive signing for the Bombers after Paris Cotton and Cameron Marshall split the backfield last season. Harris will bring some stability on a team that finished fourth in the Western Division and missed the playoffs.
The Bombers rolled out the cash for kicker Justin Medlock, reportedly signing him to a two-year deal worth $175K per season, according to Gary Lawless. Lirim Hajrullahu missed important kicks last season, including a 1/5 game against Edmonton during the playoff push and the Bombers clearly needed some help with special teams. Medlock is arguably the best kicker in the league, and will help the club win games.
Ryan Smith, who starred in Saskatchewan last season, also signed in the Manitoba capital. Despite measuring in at 5’7″, Smith excelled with the lowly Riders last season, with 991 yards of receiving on 59 receptions, and 7 touchdowns.
Smith joins former Rider Weston Dressler on a revamped Bombers attack. Willy, another former Rider, will be happy to have these two small, yet powerful, receivers in his arsenal.
Luckily, he will be protected by national offensive lineman Jeff Keeping, who has been with the Argonauts since 2005. This is a great depth addition by the Bombers considering their low national depth on the offensive line.
Keeping is joined by other national big man, Keith Shologan, the veteran defensive lineman who spent the last two seasons in Ottawa. Shologan is another great addition for the club, considering the weak defence from last season. Shologan will bring leadership to Winnipeg, and his national status is certainly a ratio breaker.
Don’t expect these to be the last of moves by general manager Ryan Walters. The Bombers are clearly in rebuilding mode, and will continue to make a splash.
Harris the QB of the Future in Ottawa
With 40-year-old Henry Burris entering the final year of his contract with the Ottawa Redblacks, the team made a smart move by signing a young star to a two-year deal. Trevor Harris, who led the Argonauts for much of the 2015 season, will move to Ottawa to study under Burris for a year, before taking reigns of the team himself.
Harris had a monster season, completing 71% of his passes, passing for 4,354 yards and throwing 33 touchdowns, in 17 games. Some are questioning the Argonauts inability to resign the budding star, considering how many shoulder problems Ricky Ray has had in recent years.
The Redblacks clearly noticed a need to fill the position behind the ageing Burris, and despite Burris’ MOP season, it is unlikely the veteran will return to Ottawa, at least as a player, in 2017.
This moves signifies that the Redblacks will be Harris’ team after next season. After being the understudy to Ray, Harris will get the opportunity to learn from another legendary quarterback in Burris, before being handed the starting role.
Alouettes Lose Bourke, Sign Stafford, Re-Sign Venable and White
The Argonauts will have to worry less about a potential injury to Ray as they signed All-Star Josh Bourke, from the Alouettes. This is a huge loss for Montreal, after the offensive line seemed unstable at times last year. GM Jim Popp just did not have the money to sign the national, and had to part ways with Bourke.
He did sign former Alouette Kenny Stafford from Edmonton. After trading the young receiving away last year for Fred Stamps, Stafford had 732 yards of receiving and 9 touchdowns in southern Alberta. Popp realized it was a mistake to get rid of Stafford, and went right back after him.
Stafford joins his cousin, Duron Carter, and S.J. Green, on an attack that could be potentially dangerous in 2016. With Nik Lewis already re-signed in Montreal, the Alouettes kept their veteran depth with Sam Giguere being re-signed. They now have five solid receivers on the team, with young players like B.J. Cunningham and Cody Hoffman waiting in the wings. If Kevin Glenn plays like vintage Kevin Glenn, don’t be surprised if this team makes a splash in the East next season.
They also re-signed defensive back Mitchell White, and linebacker Winston Venable. White was a bright spot for the secondary last season, and will continue to lead the charge. Venable led the team with 104 tackles in 2015, and filled in nicely for the absence of Bear Woods. Although he wasn’t made an offer by noon, Venable signed a one-year deal later in the afternoon, according to Rick Moffat. With a healthy Woods, Kyler Elsworth and Chip Cox, the Alouettes linebacking core can return to their “Birds of Prey” mantra from 2014.
CFL Free Agency Day One: What’s Next?
Lots of rumours continue to swirl regarding the prize free agent, Ted Laurent. Lawless tweeted that both Hamilton and Montreal are making a push for the defensive lineman, and that Saskatchewan has joined the mix. Once Laurent is signed, the floodgates will open for other defensive linemen, like Justin Cappiciotti and Arnaud Gascon-Nadon.
Chad Owens has removed all Argo-related tweets from his Twitter page, and all signs are pointing elsewhere for the Speedin’ Hawaiian. Just remains is to where? With a quiet day outside of Winnipeg in the West, don’t be surprised if Owens signs in the Western Division.
With so many players still unsigned, so much more can fill the storylines of the CFL Free Agency day one.
