2014 free agents

[Toppy Vann]

Nick Moore seems to be after more than he's worth. I don't get it - he's hardly won a championship yet nor dominated the CFL.

[MexicoLionFan]

That's true JH, but players also have to consider what team they are playing for and what city...after taxes, the difference between say $225,000 for Bourke from say the Esks, versus $200,000 from the Lions is nothing...and the quality of life between VAN and EDM is enormous.

[WestCoastJoe]

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.

Benevides talks big. He has not delivered up to this time. Talk of free agents gets the fans hopes up, and drums up interest for the coming season. But IMO signing free agents from other CFL teams is not the way to build a team.

As I have stated a number of times, it seems to me that second rate teams chase success by signing players developed by other teams, free agents. There was a time when Wally preferred to develop his own players. Now we chase free agents.

Need NI O Linemen? Sign free agents. Develop your own? Nah ...

Need import D Linemen? Sign free agents. Develop your own? Nah ...

Need a safety? Sign a free agent.

As a fan, I am a little tired of it, this chasing success by signing players who learned their trade elsewhere.

By free agents I am talking about players with CFL experience, both imports and non imports. I am not talking about all those American athletes that CFL teams bring in, from their negotiation lists, and otherwise.

[WestCoastJoe]

With non imports, we "developed" Andrew Harris, Shawn Gore, Matt Norman, Paris Jackson, Kirby Fabien, Jabar Westerman.

With imports, as examples, we brought in to Canada guys like Rob Murphy, Jovan Olafioye, Joe Smith, Travis Lulay, Buck Pierce, Cam Wake, Khalif Mitchell, Adam Bighill, Solomon Elimimian, Ryan Phillips, Dante Marsh.

IMO that is how you build a championship team. Not by signing players developed by other teams in the CFL.

Of course teams look for upgrades here and there, but I see needs for upgrades in too many places with the Lions.

O Line, non imports and imports. It ain't pretty.

D Line, need to upgrade the imports primarily. Old. Ancient. Athletic enough? More depth needed with non imports.

Linebacker -- Do we have any non imports? Yes, we have some NI guys there. Arakgi. Jones. But can they play?

Safety? God bless J.R. LaRose. But has he ever shown he can be a starting safety in the CFL?

Established receiving stars?

Hanging on year after year to a very, very old kicker, with fading strength in his leg.

This does not look like a championship nucleus to me.

Yes, we have some star power. Lulay. Harris. Gore. Bighill. Elimimian. Marsh. Is that enough to get the job done? Yes, we came close to knocking off Regina last year. But we didn't get it done. And we have yet to win a playoff game under Benevides.

Dunno. Not without hope. But I see great challenges ahead of us. Did we get old all of a sudden? Can the veterans get it done in 2014?

[Rammer]

Unfortunately I have to agree with you WCJ about the Lions lack of NI development, and that is given their abundance of selections over the years compared to other teams. This year it is imperative that the Lions find a solution to the safety position, and there is NI talent to be had, that should be priority number 1. Past that, our NI talent is strong, just not deep and the best way to make it deeper is through the draft.

If you combine that with the many needs overall and the new OC and DC, expecting a 500 team is almost as good as you can expect. You have to hope for a team that gets better as the season goes along and hopefully make a push in the playoffs and get that final home game that is almost expected of the GC hosting team in the CFL in recent years.

[WestCoastJoe]

Unfortunately I have to agree with you WCJ about the Lions lack of NI development, and that is given their abundance of selections over the years compared to other teams. This year it is imperative that the Lions find a solution to the safety position, and there is NI talent to be had, that should be priority number 1. Past that, our NI talent is strong, just not deep and the best way to make it deeper is through the draft.

If you combine that with the many needs overall and the new OC and DC, expecting a 500 team is almost as good as you can expect. You have to hope for a team that gets better as the season goes along and hopefully make a push in the playoffs and get that final home game that is almost expected of the GC hosting team in the CFL in recent years.

Yes, Rammer, lots of grounds for concern.

On the positive side, however, with this crew, we almost knocked off Regina last year. But we are a year older now in the D Line. Anything is possible, I suppose, but grounds for concern are noted.

[The_Pauser]

Looks like Bourke received an offer from the Lions, before deciding to return to Montreal. Other FA's receiving offers include Butler, Wayne Smith, Shea Emry, and Nick Moore. Pretty much everyone on my list except for the DL's.

[The_Pauser]

Cool seeing RP on twitter trying to recruit Craig Butler.

[WestCoastJoe]

Bourke re-ups with Alouettes

Posted: February 11, 2014 12:00 PM

CFL.ca Staff
#CFLFA14

MONTREAL -- Troy Smith and Tanner Marsh can breathe a little easier today.

Tuesday, the Montreal Alouettes announced the re-signing of left tackle Josh Bourke to a new contract. Bourke, 31, was the ranked as the fourth best free agent available by CFL.ca.

After being selected by the Alouettes in the third round of the 2004 CFL Draft, Bourke took his time honing his skills behind a deep Montreal offensive line.

But the Windsor, ON native blossomed into one of the league's elite offensive lineman, eventually earning the daunting task of protecting Anthony Calvillo's blindside for the last seven seasons.

Not a surprise.

Popp could not let this guy slip away. Developed by the Alouettes. They deserve to keep his services.

"After being selected by the Alouettes in the third round of the 2004 CFL Draft, Bourke took his time honing his skills behind a deep Montreal offensive line." Draft and develop.

Of course Buono had to make an offer. But it had a snowball's chance in Hades it seems to me.

[Shi Zi Mi]

Shea Emry signs with Toronto

[WestCoastJoe]

Shea Emry signs with Toronto

So Benny says we are going to be aggressive in the FA market. LOL

The mere making of an offer does not amount to being aggressive. Landing some big fish amounts to an aggressive stance.

[The_Pauser]

Shea Emry signs with Toronto

I had hoped that Emry would come here given he's a local kid. Guess the money was much better in Toronto.

[WestCoastJoe]

OK, playing the FA game.

We do need to upgrade, as our in house development program is not hitting many home runs.

Craig Butler?

Ted Laurent?

Those would be big fish to land. But I would be surprised, and pleased, if we got got either one.

[Shi Zi Mi]

Shea Emry signs with Toronto

I had hoped that Emry would come here given he's a local kid. Guess the money was much better in Toronto.

In an SMS world, you can only spend so much on any individual player.......as MLB isn't a need, they wouldn't have gone high with the offer......no surprise he signed elsewhere.

Craig Butler is a different story.

[Shi Zi Mi]

OK, playing the FA game.

We do need to upgrade, as our in house development program is not hitting many home runs.

Craig Butler?

Ted Laurent?

Those would be big fish to land. But I would be surprised, and pleased, if we got got either one.

Ted Laurent has an NFL workout scheduled for next week.....I doubt you'll see him sign in the CFL before then.