Friday Roundup: Maze Re-Signs

There was a lot of activity acorss the CFL this week... which was in stark contrast to the prairies where the cold spell had people going out of their way to avoid activity. Let's get you caught up...

Biggest news came yesterday with news that Terrell Maze has re-signed with the Riders. This is great news as I really don't think Maze gets enough credit or recognition for how good he is. He is a key piece of our defense an I'm glad he will be staying here.

Maze is the first of what I am calling "The Big 6" Rider Free Agents... Dressler, Sheets, Butler, Maze, Milo and Smith. All except Dressler are coming off a rookie contract and deserving of a raise and its not like we have any extra cap space just kicking around. Shedding Shologan's salary will help but something else will have to give in order to make the numbers workable. Just glad Maze is not one of those things to give.

In other Rider news, there are reports that KR/RB Clifton Smith will be signed soon. Smith was ProBowl returner with Tampa Bay in 2008 and spend the end of last year in Calgary and managed  a TD and a long return in limited action. Should be a solid addition to the competition at returner and RB.

The court case for the "Dewdney Brawl" has been adjourned until February 27.  Look I got the tactic to stall until after the season but you would think the Riders would want some closure on this sooner rather than later now so they know how they can proceed. I wonder how much the lawyers have made of this despite their only contribution being a bunch of stalls/delays.

One last general CFL note, Lansdowne Stadium in Ottawa will be called TD Place – except when Winnipeg is in town at which point it will temporarily assume the title of either Scoreless Draw Place or Participant Ribbon Place.

Coaching Moves

Barron Miles extends 2 years with Riders as DB Coach (meaning that we may get our entire coaching staff back in 2014 except Khari Jones)

Craig Dickenson is deciding between staying in Winnipeg and jumping to Edmonton

Stamps hire OL coach Pat DelMonaco

Winnipeg hires Queens DC Pat Tracey as STC

NFL Watch

Dontrell Inman – signs with San Diego

Cordarro Law - workout with Pittsburg Steelers

Chris Matthews - workout with Seattle Seahawks 

Nick Moore - workouts with Houston and San Diego

CFL Ins and Outs

Calgary

In: QB Adrian McPherson, RB Martell Mallett (free agent signing)WR Yannick Morin-Plante, RB Charlie Power (2013 draft pick signing), OL Brad Erdos (2012 draft pick signing), WR Simon Charboneau-Campeau (trade w/ Ham)

Out: WR Spencer Armstrong (trade w/ Ham)

In a shocking turn of events McPherson will actually live to play in a CFL that does not include Anthony Calvillo. In a cruel twist of fate he will experience this Calvillo-less world as a back-up on a different team.

Actually have no clue why Calgary even wants McPherson. Mitchell is clearly the future and should be their starter next season in my opinion. Drew Tate is a capable back-up. Why not start developing a new 3^rd stringer rather than bring in McPherson? Unless Tate is not in the future plans…

Montreal

In: DB Ed Gainey  (contract extension), DB Trevard Lindly,  DB Mitchell White, DE Collins Ukwu, DL Ameet Paul (free agent signing), OL Ryan White (2012 draft pick signing), OL Jake Piotrowski (2013 draft pick signing)

Hamilton

In: K Justin Medlock (free agent signing), WR Spencer Armstrong (trade w/ Cal)

Out: WR Dave Stala (released), WR Simon Charboneau-Campeau (trade w/ Cal)

Toronto

In: WR Andre Durie, RB Anthony Woodson (contract extension), RB Tristan Davis, RB Jeremiah Johnson (free agent signing)

Word is Durie is making $140K 

Ottawa

In: K Nick Setta, OL Brendan Dunn (free agent signing)

Monday Morning Sentimonies: Welcome to 2014

 Welcome to a New Year. I would say Happy New Year but you are all likely so cold that any suggestion on my part that there is something happy about all of this is likely to be responded to with a middle finger… or at least a middle finger under three layers of mittens. I’m with you… do you have any idea what wind-chill like this will do to a guy who wears a robe?

I hope Santa was good to you… I hear the good boys and girls got Grey Cup Champion gear while bad kids got Blue Bomber gear. Actually my New Year’s resolution is to only insult the Bombers when they really, really deserve it this year. Fortunately since they are a train wreck, this will likely not result in a decrease in Bomber insults.

To help warm your souls and fill the football-less void that is the offeseason, let’s get you caught up on what happened throughout the CFL during the break.

Coaching Moves

Big news here is that with the departure of Khari Jones, George Cortez will reportedly assume the duties of QB coach. While there has been no announced extension of Cortez’s 1 year contract, I am assuming that means he will be staying put in Saskatchewan. This is fantastic news. Coming off a career year, the consistency of keeping the same OC should lead another top notch year from Durant and our offense.

Marcel Bellefeuille – named OC in Winnipeg (I’d beak but honestly a Bellefeuille offense would be an improvement over whatever they call last year)

Edmonton – word is Steve McAdoo will be the OC with Jarious Jackson and Kevin Strasser as offensive assistants.

Ottawa announcd the rest of their coaching staff including: Mark Nelson (DC), Mike Gibson (OC), Marcus Crandell (QB coach), Travis Moore (WR coach)

NFL Watch

Chris Williams - signed with the Chicago Bears with a signing bonus reported in the $100,000 range

Michael Ola (Mtl) – signed with Miami Dolphins (not like they have OL issues or anything)

Derrius Brooks (Cal) – signed with New Orleans Saints

CFL Ins and Outs

Montreal

In: QB Troy Smith, QB Tanner Marsh, OL Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, DB Billy Parker (contract extension), WR Geoff Coventry (free agent signing)

Out: OL Michael Ola (signed with Miami)

With respect to Anthony Calvillo’s future, its pretty telling that the Als and Troy Smith have agreed to a 3 year contract extension. Unless Smith is morphing into Adrian McPherson 2.0 expect a retirement press conference in the near future.

Winnipeg
In: DL Jason Vega (free agent signing)

Vega (who I will forever refer to as Savio Vega) returns to the Bombers after spending 2013 in the NFL. He can’t like his current career trajectory though: He started 2013 in New England, got cut and ended up in Dallas, got cut and is now back in Winnipeg. I guess the good news is that it’s not really possible to go down any further.

Toronto

Out: FB Jeff Johnson (retired), WR Dontrell Inman (released)

Inman had interest from 5 NFL teams and will likely be signing soon with 1 of them… unless he pulls a Scott Flory and signs with 2.

Hamilton

In: LB Rico Murray, K Brett Lauther (contract extension)

Edmonton

In: FB Smith Wright (2013 draft pick signing)

Calgary

In: LB Juwan Simpson, WR Jabari Arthur (contract extension)

Out: DB Derrius Brooks (signed with New Orleans)

Ottawa

In: WR Simon LeMarquand, OL Anthony Barrette (free agent signing)