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Bo Lokombo appeared on the Rod Pedersen Show today to discuss his football career and his decision to return to the Lions. It's great to see another quality local product getting a chance to play for his hometown team. He said the Lions expect to start him at WILL but they'll likely also have some packages for him at safety. Bo's interview starts around 1:20:00.

The Lions have extended long-snapper Tanner Doll on the eve of free agency. That's a position that never gets much attention unless the player makes a mistake, and I don't recall Doll making any mistakes in 2019. It probably helps that he earned a Grey Cup ring playing for Rick Campbell in Ottawa in 2016.

https://www.bclions.com/2021/02/08/lion ... extension/

Another blow to the Stamps O line with Brad Erdos announcing his retirement. Both Erdos and Bergman were good players. Curious if this is about money.

Huff says to not expect much in FA

I read that the Stamps may go with 3 imports along the O-line. And as much as I would enjoy seeing Bo running for his life, I am not concerned about that group. They are always extremely well-coached by Pat DelMonaco.


DH

According to Farhan Lalji, the Lions have agreed to terms with veteran kick returner Chris Rainey. I was hoping the Lions would take a run at Lucky Whitehead but they probably don't have a role for him in the receiving corps and Rainey can be used as a rotational running back, with fellow Americans Brandon Rutley and John White both unsigned.

Farhan Lalji has tweeted that Chris Rainey has be re-signed by the Lions. I was beginning to wonder if any of the veteran tailbacks would be back with us, though he's likely primarily back for kick-returner duty.

Gridiron Ernie wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 08, 2021 5:35 pm

Farhan Lalji has tweeted that Chris Rainey has be re-signed by the Lions. I was beginning to wonder if any of the veteran tailbacks would be back with us, though he's likely primarily back for kick-returner duty.

Yeah, but Rainey is quite capable at tailback too IMO; even as a change of pace platoon guy - dangerous ability to break big gainers.

B.C.FAN wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 08, 2021 5:34 pm

According to Farhan Lalji, the Lions have agreed to terms with veteran kick returner Chris Rainey. I was hoping the Lions would take a run at Lucky Whitehead but they probably don't have a role for him in the receiving corps and Rainey can be used as a rotational running back, with fellow Americans Brandon Rutley and John White both unsigned.

It could make for a bit of a juggling act to have Rainey as a DI, returner first and rotational RB second, without an American TB starter. The CBA is pretty clear that when a DI enters the game on either side of the ball another American must come out from the same side of the ball. Typically when Rainey came in Jeremiah Johnson or Tyrell Sutton would come out; one for one swap. If the starting TB is a NAT as it was when Andrew Harris was in BC then to insert Rainey means having to pull a starting American OL or receiver. That's by no means a show stopper. Just means that instead of a 1 for 1 swap they would have to do a double switch.

Agreed; great change-of-pace potential, if platooning at TB. Yet, if I recall from his 2015--2018 span with us, one thing he wasn't consistently great at was remembering the play and/or his blocking assignments. He could be the cause of some coaches and on-field comrades tearing their hair out, now and again. But then he'd go and do something brilliant again!

There has been a lot of discussion about the defensive line being the Lions' biggest area of need in free agency, with 2020 FA defensive tackles Micah Johnson and Ryan Brown unsigned, along with 2-year Lion Claudell Louis. Johnson is likely headed back to the Prairies as one of the league's top free-agent prizes.

Matt Baker of the Lions seemed to dampen FA expectations, stating on the team's website that fans might be pleasantly surprised by new DLs already signed for 2021, including DE Obum Gwachum and DT Ufomba Kamalu, who both have NFL experience. They join re-signed FA edge rushers Chris Casher and J.R. Tavai.

Gwachum (6 ft. 5, 250 lbs.) is 29 and had NFL stints with the Saints and Jets before making brief appearances in the AAF and XFL. Kamalu (6 ft. 6, 285 lbs.) is 28 and has bounced around the NFL for 4 years, with the Texans, Cardinals, Patriots and Ravens before getting into legal trouble last year.

The Micah Johnson negotiations or lack there of is a strange one given it took acquiring Shawn Lemon 2 straight seasons to bolster an ineffective pass rush. Now he is with a divisional rival and Johnson is rumoured to be returning to the Riders.

It just didn’t seem wise to trim their cap on the defensive line and that seems to be the route they’re going with Ryan Brown unsigned too.
Meanwhile Farhan and JC Abbott are among many to say they overspent on Lemar Durant.

Here’s hoping they are overdue to recruit impact and cheap American d-line help.

Would be nice to see the Lions at least match a contract offer for Micah Johnson. Theoretically there is lots of room under the upper sms cap number.

Believe Willy Jefferson was reported to have taken $215,000 and guess that is a number Johnsons agent is looking for. Sewell news would also be relevant.

These are the days when good GM's make good decisions. News forthcoming on that.

No big surprise but Dave Naylor of TSN expects Micah Johnson to sign in Saskatchewan shortly after free agency opens at 9 a.m. PT.

Naylor expects the Lions to sign former Edmonton RB Shaq Cooper. The American had 65 carries for 352 yards (5.4-yd. avg.) and 2 TDs in 2019. 3downnation.com is confirming it.

https://3downnation.com/2021/02/09/b-c- ... aq-cooper/

Cooper highlight reel:


Cooper is small for a primary CFL RB at 5 ft. 10 and 190 lbs. but he's a bit younger than John White and Brandon Rutley. He turns 28 next month.

The Riders have signed twins Jordan and Justin Herdman-Reed.

https://3downnation.com/2021/02/09/ride ... dman-reed/