One name off BC's pending FA list.

Tue Dec 15, 2015 9:00 pm

Kirby Fabien has signed a new 2 year deal.

Tue Dec 15, 2015 10:20 pm

Hambone wrote:Kirby Fabien has signed a new 2 year deal.

Wally didn't have much of a choice. When you consider Tedford only had two Canadians that he felt could start on the offensive line and one of those was Cody Husband, an undrafted offensive lineman that began the season low on the Leos depth chart and assumed the starters role part way through the season.

Canadian offensive lineman depth is not a strength right now, to say the least, although a healthy season from Steward would be huge.

I'm very pleased to see Fabian back. I see him as a talented Canadian offensive lineman who came off knee reconstruction surgery and still had a very good season, especially considering what he was recovering from.

Wed Dec 16, 2015 10:35 am

This is very good news. LU mentioned soon after the playoff loss Fabian and the Lions were "miles apart" in contract talks and he didn't think he would be back given his demands. This club simply couldn't afford to lose a national starting offensive lineman that have suddenly become an endangered species around here in recent years.

Rick Dhaliwal also reporting good progress in contract talks with Manny Arseneaux and a new deal expected to be announced in the new year.

Wed Dec 16, 2015 10:43 am

I heard a radio report today (not sure which station) that the Lions are also close to re-signing Manny Arceneaux.

Wed Dec 16, 2015 10:59 am

Excellent news!

Fabian isn't an all-star, but he's definitely good Canadian depth and a guy you can't just let walk away. Glad to have him back.

Also excited to hear that Arceneaux is close to re-signing. I identified him as possibly our most key free agent this offseason, so seeing him back is huge. I know in practice towards the end of the season he and Jennings would go off to the side and work on their chemistry. If they can build on that going into next year both could be in for a huge year (I recall seeing Dickenson and Simon do the same thing back in 2003, though I'm sure a lot of QB's/WR's do this).

Wed Dec 16, 2015 11:22 am

It's far too early to tell but player personnel-wise the offseason seems to be starting off to a typical Buono start which is to say a methodical process of retaining the players the Lions really want to retain. Many of us fear loss of several key players given what is for the Lions an unusually long list of pending FAs. Keep in mind most other teams have as many or in some cases double the number of pending FAs as BC. With a record 200+ pending FAs at this early stage (last year it was around 135) we may be seeing a buyer's market. Having so many players potentially available isn't necessarily a good thing for those FAs. Agents may look at staying put with new deals prior to free agency as paying off better than the gamble of free agency in a saturated pool.

Wed Dec 16, 2015 1:44 pm

Wonder how contract talks are coming with Andrew Harris.

Wed Dec 16, 2015 10:26 pm

My gut feeling is Andrew Harris is a goner to Calgary or Winnipeg. Buono blasted him in the media after Harris's comments during locker clean out day. It is personal now and unless there is some fence mending, he is moving on. I would bet on it.

Thu Dec 17, 2015 8:38 am

JohnnyMusso wrote:My gut feeling is Andrew Harris is a goner to Calgary or Winnipeg. Buono blasted him in the media after Harris's comments during locker clean out day. It is personal now and unless there is some fence mending, he is moving on. I would bet on it.

Harris had some of his best results as a Lion when he was teamed with Stefan Logan in the backfield. I would love to see him teamed with a big international RB in a two back set where in passing situations the int. RB stays in the backfield to block and Harris becomes a pass receiver out of the backfield or even line up as a slot back or WR.

Wally isn't Offensive minded or innovative enough to properly utilize Harris but I suspect some other team will be very successful building an Offense around Harris, making him both a RB and pass receiver.

Thu Dec 17, 2015 10:54 am

The Lions have confirmed that Manny Arceneaux is locked up for two more seasons. Here's the text of a team email:

The Manny Show to stay on the air with Lions through 2017

Your Lions announced today that wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux has agreed to terms on a contract with the team through the 2017 season. Arceneaux was set to become a free agent in February.

“Manny is an important part of our offense and leader in our dressing room,” said GM and head coach Wally Buono. “This is a critical signing for the club heading into next season and I know our fans will be very happy to see him remain with the Lions.”

The five-year vet who led the Lions with 1,151 receiving yards last season on 76 receptions recently earned his first CFL All-Star nod.

“There was only one place I wanted to play and that’s in BC for Wally and Lions fans ,” said Arceneaux from his offseason home in Louisiana. “We’re going to be back in a big way in 2016 and I can’ t wait to get started.”

Arceneaux sits just 87 yards from 5,000 on his career and has piled-up 2,056 receiving yards over the past two season, a total only surpassed by Calgary’s Eric Rogers.

Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:09 pm

Manny's comments support my argument that his poor play prior to Jennings taking over at QB was about him not wanting play for Tedford. We may never hear the full story but I think Tedford really lost the room when he would not give Jennings a chance. Remember, it was only because of injury that Jennings got on the field in the first place. I have no doubt that prior to Beck going down a lot of guys on that team were already calling for Jennings to get a shot.

Fri Dec 18, 2015 4:06 am

I know someone who knows someone who knows Jason Araki and apparently after the season was over Jason wouldn't names but said that there were Lions players who were not giving it their all.

Fri Dec 18, 2015 7:19 am

Belize City Lion wrote:Manny's comments support my argument that his poor play prior to Jennings taking over at QB was about him not wanting play for Tedford. We may never hear the full story but I think Tedford really lost the room when he would not give Jennings a chance. Remember, it was only because of injury that Jennings got on the field in the first place. I have no doubt that prior to Beck going down a lot of guys on that team were already calling for Jennings to get a shot.

If you remember, the game Lulay got hurt in was the first game they scrapped the tight end and moved manny in. His production was going to go up.

Fri Dec 18, 2015 8:31 am

Belize City Lion wrote:Manny's comments support my argument that his poor play prior to Jennings taking over at QB was about him not wanting play for Tedford. We may never hear the full story but I think Tedford really lost the room when he would not give Jennings a chance. Remember, it was only because of injury that Jennings got on the field in the first place. I have no doubt that prior to Beck going down a lot of guys on that team were already calling for Jennings to get a shot.

Tedford lost the room in training camp.

Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:04 pm

The_Pauser wrote:
Belize City Lion wrote:Manny's comments support my argument that his poor play prior to Jennings taking over at QB was about him not wanting play for Tedford. We may never hear the full story but I think Tedford really lost the room when he would not give Jennings a chance. Remember, it was only because of injury that Jennings got on the field in the first place. I have no doubt that prior to Beck going down a lot of guys on that team were already calling for Jennings to get a shot.
Tedford lost the room in training camp.

And we know this how?

One name off BC's pending FA list.

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