The Province article is posted below:
Return of Stefan Logan a possibility
By Lowell Ullrich, The Province October 6, 2013 6:00 PM
The possible remedy to the B.C. Lions’s offensive problem isn’t as big as the reason why it can’t happen at the moment, but it’s still intriguing nonetheless.
The CFL team has had preliminary talks with the agent for former tailback Stefan Logan, who had a memorable season for the Lions before spending four years returning kicks in the NFL.
It’s early days as to whether Logan would actually return northward, and definitely isn’t happening immediately because of a financial issue that is slightly more complex than whether the Lions could ever come to contract terms.
Logan would be unable to make a comeback because he currently can’t get a passport, and won’t be getting one until U.S. lawmakers compromise and find a way to end the current federal government shutdown. Talk about a tall order for a 5-foot-6 runner.
It’s not as if the 32-year-old has alternatives at present, however, as Logan did not attend a training camp this summer after being released by the Detroit Lions, where he earned alternate Pro Bowl status four seasons ago.
There also isn’t any apparent need by the Lions to make changes to their return game, unless there is a thought being kicked around as to how to improve their futile ground attack.
The running game edged further towards the bottom half of league statistics following Friday’s 31-17 home loss to Saskatchewan, and while the Lions were forced to go to the air more in an attempt to get back in the game,there’s little denying the fact a problem was exposed even further.
Andrew Harris equalled a season-low with just 10 yards along the ground, making it nine games since he has had a 100-yard game on his own. Harris has had virtually no help running inside all season, but the Lions appear to be looking at all their alternatives. Logan had 1,366 yards from scrimmage for the Lions in 2008, earning him a shot as a returner with the Pittsburgh Steelers the following year.
“We have to run the ball better,” general manager Wally Buono said emphatically, acknowledging Logan has been discussed.
A change where Logan replaced Harris would be significant and would force the Lions to adjust the ratio by starting a non-import elsewhere. But with Stu Foord gone for the year, the move to an import runner could be supported with the club already having Tim Brown in the lineup.
A more conventional method for improvement would be similar to the trade which brought Steve Myddelton from the Calgary Stampeders to bolster the Lions offensive line.
It didn’t help the play of the offensive line Friday, and it will be even more difficult when the Lions meet the Riders Oct. 19 after Saskatchewan obtained premier rush end Alex Hall in a trade with Winnipeg Sunday.
Buono has three days to pursue a similar approach, with the CFL’s trading deadline arriving Wednesday. But in a year in which the Lions have already reached back into the past to sign defensive end Chris Wilson, a chat with Logan would be more in keeping of a mindset where their GM often has leaned toward players with a past before going to a limited trade market.
