2014 free agents

[TheLionKing]

Hmmm, the Lions perspective (okay, bclions.com) is a little different than many here on Lionbackers, methinks.....

http://bclions.com/article/syndicated/4 ... t-bc-lions

The statement from that piece: "BC doesn’t have any truly pressing needs which is a testament to the work of GM Wally Buono over the last number of years" is a head-scratcher. Who the heck wrote this? How about an entire D-line that can impose its will. And a couple of new pieces on the O-line so that it can do the same. And maybe a replacement for Korey Banks, a safety who can cover....

Agree, Person who wrote that need to attend a few more Lion games

[The_Pauser]

Your sounding like half the Rider fans who think they should re-sign all their pending FAs plus go after the cream of the FA crop and still come in under the cap. It's highly improbable your wish list will come true. If BC can land two of those names it will be a coup. If the reports are true that the Lions were right up against the cap last year, if not over a little bit, there is very little wriggle room to go FA shopping unless some more salary is dumped in the meantime. Banks is gone. If Moore is to return it will be at a significantly higher salary even if they can get him at a more realistic number than his reported asking price. A Bourke signing can only happen if Archibald is released. That could be a salary wash. But as an Ontario guy who spent his collegiate and pro career east of Lake Michigan would he be attracted to come all the way out to the left coast?

Of course I am...I'm expecting us to load up for a GC run this year.

With Banks's salary dumped I think we should have enough cap space to at least get 3 of these players without making any major moves. I assume Williams would come back at roughly the same salary as last year, so that's a wash. I agree Archibald would be cut in order to make room for Bourke (at probably a wash in terms of salary, though Bourke might command slightly higher). The loss of Banks's salary and Moore's salary could be enough for both Butler and Emry to come in. I don't see us bringing back Moore given what he wants, and think we'll be fine without him. It'll hurt, but we are very deep at receiver.

[Hambone]

Your sounding like half the Rider fans who think they should re-sign all their pending FAs plus go after the cream of the FA crop and still come in under the cap. It's highly improbable your wish list will come true. If BC can land two of those names it will be a coup. If the reports are true that the Lions were right up against the cap last year, if not over a little bit, there is very little wriggle room to go FA shopping unless some more salary is dumped in the meantime. Banks is gone. If Moore is to return it will be at a significantly higher salary even if they can get him at a more realistic number than his reported asking price. A Bourke signing can only happen if Archibald is released. That could be a salary wash. But as an Ontario guy who spent his collegiate and pro career east of Lake Michigan would he be attracted to come all the way out to the left coast?

Of course I am...I'm expecting us to load up for a GC run this year.

With Banks's salary dumped I think we should have enough cap space to at least get 3 of these players without making any major moves. I assume Williams would come back at roughly the same salary as last year, so that's a wash. I agree Archibald would be cut in order to make room for Bourke (at probably a wash in terms of salary, though Bourke might command slightly higher). The loss of Banks's salary and Moore's salary could be enough for both Butler and Emry to come in. I don't see us bringing back Moore given what he wants, and think we'll be fine without him. It'll hurt, but we are very deep at receiver.

I think there are some salary washes there for sure. Archibald for Bourke. Banks for Butler. Agreed on K.Williams re: coming back at roughly the same coin if he does return. But if he isn't then they'll be looking at earmarking that money for the DL. Emry? Wash for maybe a realistic salary for Moore in an extension but not a wash versus Moore's old salary. Besides where would Emry play? It's not like inside LB is a position of need. He'd have to learn a new position i.e. SAM or the Lions would have to move Elimimian or Bighill. Emry is good but I don't see him as an upgrade on the incumbents other than a ratio upgrade. FA money I think would be better spent on areas of need, not areas of depth.

[MexicoLionFan]

Honestly, why would we want Keron Williams back? His best days are long over...he's totally ineffective as a DT, and no longer nimble enough as an end...we need his salary to land some big pieces in FA...as SP said, who on the DLine should we bring back??? I can easily make an argument that NOT ONE of the imports be retained...

We are fortunate to have Westerman and Reid, and now we build from there...Khreem Smith? You have to be kidding...he was old when he first came to the Lions, and never great. Taylor? Talk about dumping a salary before a player loses it...and Wilson? Again, he's getting old too and showed very little upon his return...how did the vaunted BCLions allow their DLine to become this mediocre this fast??? Our DLine has been our bread and butter for a LONG, LONG time...

We won't win another GC until the position is properly addressed by Buono...really, almost every other piece to the puzzle is in place...yes, some key help on the OLine, an actual Safety...but we have great talent over the rest of the roster...but if we don't control the LOS, forget it come November...

[TheLionKing]

I have a feeling that the Lions will be very active in the free agent market.

[South Pender]

I think there are some salary washes there for sure. Archibald for Bourke. Banks for Butler. Agreed on K.Williams re: coming back at roughly the same coin if he does return. But if he isn't then they'll be looking at earmarking that money for the DL. Emry? Wash for maybe a realistic salary for Moore in an extension but not a wash versus Moore's old salary. Besides where would Emry play? It's not like inside LB is a position of need. He'd have to learn a new position i.e. SAM or the Lions would have to move Elimimian or Bighill. Emry is good but I don't see him as an upgrade on the incumbents other than a ratio upgrade. FA money I think would be better spent on areas of need, not areas of depth.

My view is that, given the sorry state of our D-line, Mark Washington might be wise to build on our strength at linebacker and go to a 3-4 front. That's where Emry would fit in. He'd be an inside LB alongside Elimimian. I think Bighill could be a good outside LB and sometimes pass-rusher. We just need to find a guy for the other side and could, I suppose, fall back on Anton McKenzie. Then, Wally has to find a big nose tackle and try to fill the two DE positions. This might be easier than trying to find a good starting 4-man D-line. Just a thought.

[SammyGreene]

LU with a much more accurate version of the Lions' wish list heading into tomorrow compared to that article served up by cfl.ca

Butler definitely on Lions' radar screen. Perhaps Emery or Johnson as well.

Ullrich: Plenty of uncertainty in CFL free agency
 

 
BY LOWELL ULLRICH, THE PROVINCE

There are a finite number of pleasant distractions for a football player who has spent weeks guessing as to the location of his next job, but Keron Williams found one of the best.
Perspective, Williams agreed, came each morning last week when he drove to St. Paul’s Hospital to be with his wife after the birth of his second child.
Regardless of whether he’ll feed his growing family by playing again for the B.C. Lions, he said, “I haven’t had time to dive into anything else.”
That will change Tuesday morning, when Williams and four teammates are expected to jump into a CFL free-agent pool amid uncertainty due to the absence of a collective agreement and salary cap.
It is also one of the largest free-agent classes — and if he desired, Lions general manager Wally Buono could select from one of the largest lists of players with B.C. ties (see list below) in some time.
For a team that already has dumped Korey Banks, and could also lose two other starters — free agents Nick Moore and Josh Bell — in the days ahead, plenty of choice is a good thing.
B.C. has no fewer than eight linemen along the line of scrimmage who are over 30. So the loss of Williams, 29, and 27-year-old reserve offensive guard Steve Myddelton to free agency would be slightly counterproductive.
But the trade of Banks not only has created an opening at a nickelback, it has also given the Lions the financial wiggle room to go after others in the days ahead. There’s nowhere to go but up after Buono missed badly in free agency a year ago when defensive end Julius Williams didn’t make it out of training camp.
“We didn’t get it right. Sometimes you stretch and try to get something that’s not there,” coach Mike Benevides said. “So as an organization we’re going to be real aggressive.”
To fix some of their holes, B.C. plans on selling the Lotusland lifestyle to at least one free agent who doesn’t need a sales pitch, Craig Butler, and could use the same game plan on others.
Butler, a non-import linebacker with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, moved to the Lower Mainland this winter and is aware the Lions would like to upgrade at safety, where he began his career three seasons ago.
“Without a doubt, B.C. is interested,” said Darreh Gill, the agent for the 25-year-old.
Vancouver College product Shea Emry of the Montreal Alouettes and ex-B.C. linebacker Jamall Johnson of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who lives in Vancouver in the off-season, could also get closer to home, providing they fit the vision of a rapidly changing defence.
“This is a good place for either of them,” Benevides said.
But it might come at the expense of Moore, who can sign Tuesday with an NFL team after three winter workouts and expects better CFL offers than what the Lions have presented.
“We’re at one spot. They’re at another,” agent Fred Weinrauch said of contract talks with the Lions.
Williams was in a tougher spot until the Lions Tuesday made him a contract offer. He turned down a deal before the 2013 season, but struggled playing out of position and fired his agent.
“I had a slump last year,” said Williams, who could draw some interest from Montreal if he does not re-sign.
“The bad part is you’re still asked to produce. I don’t think the door’s closed (in B.C.). But wherever I end up, it’ll be good.”
The little bundle of joy at home is proof.
lullrich@theprovince.com

[The_Pauser]

I think there are some salary washes there for sure. Archibald for Bourke. Banks for Butler. Agreed on K.Williams re: coming back at roughly the same coin if he does return. But if he isn't then they'll be looking at earmarking that money for the DL. Emry? Wash for maybe a realistic salary for Moore in an extension but not a wash versus Moore's old salary. Besides where would Emry play? It's not like inside LB is a position of need. He'd have to learn a new position i.e. SAM or the Lions would have to move Elimimian or Bighill. Emry is good but I don't see him as an upgrade on the incumbents other than a ratio upgrade. FA money I think would be better spent on areas of need, not areas of depth.

My view is that, given the sorry state of our D-line, Mark Washington might be wise to build on our strength at linebacker and go to a 3-4 front. That's where Emry would fit in. He'd be an inside LB alongside Elimimian. I think Bighill could be a good outside LB and sometimes pass-rusher. We just need to find a guy for the other side and could, I suppose, fall back on Anton McKenzie. Then, Wally has to find a big nose tackle and try to fill the two DE positions. This might be easier than trying to find a good starting 4-man D-line. Just a thought.

Pretty much this. Though Wally did want to get bigger at the nickel, I wonder if Emry might be a fit there?

Alternatively, what about signing Butler for the Nickel, and Jovon Johnson for safety?

[MexicoLionFan]

Wally and Shivers can only round up so many DLinemen prospects for camp, some of the improvement there MUST come from FA...and while adding players like Butler, Emery or Jamal Johnson are great ideas, they don't control the LOS, and ultimately that's what's going to count...

I agree with so many posters here about Moore...while I would like to have him back, paying him "Geroy Money" is absurd, no matter what his agent thinks...Moore has had ONE good CFL season, with a back history of dropped balls and mediocre efforts...again, I hope we re sign Nick tomorrow, but only around the amount Wally was suggesting...ultimately we can find someone else...CGY does every year...

[MexicoLionFan]

There are a bunch of great options for the Lions off of this list from the CFL.ca


http://www.cfl.ca/article/cflcas-top-20 ... ts-of-2014

[MexicoLionFan]

Bombers kick things off...


Bombers strike early, acquire Randle from Stamps
1
Posted: February 10, 2014 09:00 PM
Updated: February 10, 2014 10:19 PM
CFL.ca Staff
#CFLFA14

WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Blue Bombers got a head start on free agency Monday night, acquiring the rights to defensive back Chris Randle from the Stampeders, and then signing him to a contract extension.

The Bombers also acquired the 26th pick in the 2014 CFL Draft, in exchange for Winnipeg's 24th overall selection in this year's CFL Draft. As per team policy, details of the agreement are not disclosed.

Related Links
Bio: Chris Randle
2014 Free Agent Tracker
Top 20 free agents of 2014
"We are really excited to add Chris to our roster. This is a player who is very versatile, has been very impressive in his first two seasons in our league, and someone we had targeted extremely high on our free agent list,” said General Manager Kyle Walters.

“The trade was made to ensure we could get Chris under contract and we are very pleased to make that announcement this evening.”

Randle has spent the past two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, starting 16 games in 2013 and registering 34 defensive tackles, eight special teams tackles, four interceptions (tied for team lead), one sack and one forced fumble.

His first CFL season, Randle was Calgary's nominee for the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie award after finishing with 35 tackles, eight special teams tackles, two knockdowns and one interception in only 12 starts -- missing three games due to injury.

"This is a great day for me as an athlete. To be going to a team that really wants me, and to an organization with great fans, a new stadium, and desire to win, I really couldn't be more excited," said Randle.

[TheLionKing]

Wonder if Buono is interested in Chris Milo ?

[MexicoLionFan]

TLK you would think so...McCallum is no longer a "safe bet" moving forward, and the kid from the OK Sun has talent but is very raw...in a GC host year, I am not sure either approach would be very savvy.

[Toppy Vann]

I've heard that Craig Butler is high on the Lions' list of FA targets. He's a hard-hitting non-import who can play safety or linebacker, giving Mark Washington lots of options.

And I read he moved to the Lower Mainland in the off season. That has to be a positive sign.

On another front at TSN I see that Arland Bruce (Is he an FA???) has done it with a Tweet that will get him in the deep do do concerning some US college player announcing he's gay just before the draft. Arland is not too smart with this one. Shades of Michelle Bachmann.

ALS' BRUCE DIRECTS OFFENSIVE MESSAGE TO GAY PROSPECT SAM

Montreal Alouettes receiver wrote an offensive message towards Sam over Instagram on Tuesday night, suggesting that the Missouri defensive end Sam should "submit to God."

"YOW!," he wrote. "Mr/MSam you scared to rub on ------- and --- and ------- you gaey. Man up and do some --- push UPS and get on your knees and submit to God fully. Come out of her" Americas Trap. Lil homie don't go thru with it it's a trap bruh."

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=443568

[JohnHenry]

Every team in the league will want to sign Bourke, Emry and Butler. Bourke will probably command a $200k+ salary. While Benevides said the team will be "real aggressive" in FA, the Lions are normally penny-pinchers and could get outbid for the ratio breakers by teams like Ottawa, Wpg and Edm.