don corleone wrote: ↑Tue Feb 27, 2024 5:53 am
Sounded earlier there was zero interest in bringing Lucky back but he might be just the guy they need while waiting on Hatcher. Qualifies as a marketable personality if nothing else although it seems he may not be a Rick Campbell favorite similar to the way Loucheiz Purifoy was . He does know the playbook and brings speed that others do not have. Probably won't have too many options but in a Grey Cup hosting year it never hurts to have game breakers on the roster. I don't think Terry Williams replaces him as a receiver.
I don't see Williams as replacing Whitehead either, at least not as a regular starter. He still could be rotated in on occasion or be an in-game injury replacement. He looked really good in his TC reps as a receiver last year. If they were to use him in a regular receiving role it would come with a change at primary kick returner. I expect him to remain in his KR Specialist/depth WR role. However I think Lucky no longer possesses that same game breaking speed he displayed back in 2021. Seems like he's constantly been battling ankle injuries over the past two seasons that may have permanently robbed him of that top-end speed. However when I do see Lucky's name while looking at my spreadsheet on this year's remaining pending FAs something in the back of my mind tells me the door may not be totally closed on him returning yet. Still the price has to be right and what might be right for the Lions might not be right for Lucky.
Regardless I do believe the Lions will attempt to start the season with Hollins, Cottoy, McInnis and two CFL newcomers starting with Harty being the primary back up for all 5 as I think they will dress only 6 with Williams serving as a 7th in a pinch. One area of strength in Rigmaiden's group has been ability to find receivers. At the same time having a bunch of veterans on the 46 has been a roadblock to getting guys like Hatcher then Hollins into the lineup until well into the season and only thanks to injuries to starters. Personally I like the idea of filling Hatcher's spot and the other vacancy with newcomer(s) to the CFL versus plugging up the depth chart with veteran(s) who are on the decline.
The list of remaining FA receivers, including ages on Week 1, is fairly thin. Several big names in there almost of them having their best years in the rear view mirror. I include the first 6 in the following plus Wieneke as being past their best before date. Phillips is the one name that could be interesting.
BCL WHITEHEAD Lucky A - 32
EDM ARCENEAUX Emmanuel A - 36
HAM WALKER Derel A - 32
HAM WILLIAMS D’haquille A - 31
MTL ELLINGSON Greg A - 35
OTT EVANS Shaq A - 33
OTT MARINER Siaosi A - 27
SSK WIENEKE, Jake A - 29
TOR PHILLIPS Cameron A - 28
WPG GRANT Janarion A - 30
BCL PETERMANN Daniel N - 28
CGY HUNCHAK Colton N - 26
HAM MAYALA Hergy N - 28
HAM OSEI-KUSI Chris N - 26
OTT SMITH Tevaun N - 31
SSK BRESCACIN Juwan N - 31
I never saw Purifoy as being a Campbell favourite. If anything the way Purifoy left Ottawa most here were surprised to see him resurface in BC. As it was the reunification lasted only one season with Purifoy losing his SAM job to Rugamba half way through the season.
You're as old as you've ever been and as young as you're ever going to be.