It’s crunch time in the CFL West and the BC Lions are in the driver’s seat for a home playoff game as they head to Winnipeg to open a back to back series versus the Blue Bombers. We look back at the shootout win over the Ottawa Redblacks and then get the scoop from Winnipeg, with our Bombers insider Darrin Bauming of TSN 1290.
Darrin Bauming
Twitter: @DarrinBauming
This show was recorded on September 28th, 2016.
Music: Randy Bachman: Prairie Town via You Tube
Traditionally Wally Buono has never been big on building his team through free agency. But after four years of a declining on field product and with the man himself returning to the sidelines, Buono signed three players on day one of CFL free agency. There is also the change of landscape that Buono has spoken of, where turnover of players is much greater with the elimination of option years for veteran players, meaning free agency has become a more valid route for the Lions GM.
The Lions day began with speculation that the club had signed Edmonton running back John White, thanks to tweets by News 1130 sports that White was on the way to Vancouver to take a physical. This tweet made no sense since White had tweeted weeks ago that he would be back in Edmonton. Yours truly questioned that report, but when Dave Campbell of 650 CHED in Edmonton seemed to confirm that White was signing with the Lions, myself and other Lions fans got pretty excited.
Hearing #BCLions are flying EDM running back John White into Vancouver for a physical.
— NEWS 1130 Sports (@NEWS1130Sports) February 9, 2016
Looks like RB John White will indeed sign with the B.C. Lions. #Eskimos #CFL
— Dave Campbell (@Dave_CHED) February 9, 2016
Alas, it wasn’t to be and the Eskimos officially announced he had re-signed later in the day.
The Lions also made an offer to offensive lineman Corey Watman, but lost out to the Argos for his services who also plucked Josh Bourke out of Montreal to beef up their offensive line.
It’s also been reported that BC has made an offer to Canadian defensive lineman Justin Capiciotti but with Ted Laurent re-signing later in the day in Hamilton and setting the bar, the Lions will have to wait and see what it will take to get him and whether their offer can lure the Simon Fraser product out West.
Now for the players the Lions did snag on day one.
This one came out of the blue, but I guess it’s true that you can come home again. After a two-year stint with the Bombers in Winnipeg, Nick Moore returns to the Lions on a one year deal that will pay him considerably less than the $185,000 he left BC for when he was last a free agent.
Wally Buono said that both Khari Jones and new addition Marcel Bellefeuille pushed hard to bring the former Leo in. Moore is of course familiar with BC and Wally Buono and should give another deep threat for the Lions offence. He runs excellent routes and has a penchant for making the big catch.
The knock on Moore is his ability to stay healthy, but even with missing considerable time last season, he still finished with 889 yards of receiving.
During the 2013 draft the Lions tried to move up to select Mike Edem, but were unable to do so. He was an all-star in his first CFL season and the Lions are thrilled to get him into the den. Edem is big, physical and a solid contributor on special teams as well. He should plug a hole in the secondary after the departures of Steven Clarke and Josh Johnson to the NFL and has the right amount of youth, experience and potential growth to make Lions fans excited about this signing.
The Lions now have two possible Canadian starters in the secondary after re-signing safety Eric Fraser earlier this off-season.
The Lions added some solid CFL experience to their secondary when they inked Brandon Stewart. The veteran defensive back will be entering his 10th CFL season when he suits up for the Lions. A versatile player, Stewart has played for Calgary, Winnipeg and Hamilton over his nine CFL seasons. The Lion feel he can play corner or nickleback and will try to use his experience and big play ability to solidify their secondary.
The club announced prior to the start of free agency that several players would either not be offered contracts or would be free to test the market and three players found new homes on day one.
It was no surprise that Andrew Harris landed with the Bombers, who were throwing out money like they printed it. Pascal Lochard followed Harris to the Bombers, while Alex Hoffman-Ellis found a home in Hamilton with the Ticats.
CFL.ca Free Agent Tracker | @BCLionsDen #CFLFA Twitter List | TSN.ca CFL Page
The Lion is out of the bag regarding the status running back Andrew Harris.
BC Lions General Manager and Head Coach Wally Buono told the TEAM 1040 Tuesday afternoon that the Lions would not be making an offer to the 8-year Lion and pending free agent.
“At this point, I’m not saying we’re going to make him an offer. I don’t believe that we will. I think that at this point, it’s time for the club to look at doing things differently.” When you look at the eight years he’s had here – he’s had eight great years. There’s times that you say, ‘okay, we’re going to go in a new direction. We appreciate all an individual has done, and sometimes it’s just good to find a new place to go.” – Wally Buono on Andrew Harris.
It didn’t take long for the popular player to acknowledge that his time in BC was done as he took to Twitter to thank the fans, his teammates and like the classy person he is, he thanked Wally Buono and Neil McEvoy for giving him a chance.
Well I guess that's it BC Lions fans. Thanks for all the love and support throughout my journey here in BC! ???? https://t.co/v4fHd5Ttxc
— Andrew Harris (@andrewharris33) February 3, 2016
Gonna miss my @BCLions #teammates most of all.. You all know who you are.. When you shed blood, sweat and tears.. That's BROTHERHOOD! ??
— Andrew Harris (@andrewharris33) February 3, 2016
I wouldn't be where I am today if @GM_Brillo and Neil McEvoy never gave me a shot.. I appreciate and thank you for the opportunity!
— Andrew Harris (@andrewharris33) February 3, 2016
This is yet another in a long line of tough decisions the CFL’s all-time winningest head coach has made in his career. In his line of work, he can’t be concerned with the public opinion, which is largely in the camp of Harris based on early reactions from fans on social media.
Some have questioned based on Harris’ tweets whether he found out Buono’s plans through the media. If that’s the case, it’s unfortunate and it should not have been handled that way.
That said, both sides likely knew that this was the outcome they were headed for. Harris made no bones about doing what was best for himself at the end of last season, and has been visibly frustrated with the offence here on multiple occasions the past couple of seasons.
Buono publicly voiced his displeasure over some of the comments Harris made and gave early hints that the Lions could be looking at making the running back position more of an import position going forward and it seems as though they will look to do just that.
Buono became aware of Harris in 2008 and quickly made the young junior player a territorial protection of the club. It wasn’t until 2010 that Harris claimed a starting spot on the Lions roster, despite looking like the best running back in training camp in 2009.
He was named top Canadian of the 2011 Grey Cup, his only championship with the team.
Last off-season Harris moved to Vancouver full-time and started a local restaurant here, saying he wanted to lay down roots here for his post-football career. That career will now likely continue in Winnipeg if the Bombers are interested, as Harris’ young daughter lives there, and it is his hometown.
Harris’ time as a Lion ends with 4,259 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns across five seasons. He also added another 2,639 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air.
Wally Buono has done a nice job with his free agent list so far this off-season. The club has locked up the some of the bigger names on their list early and extended a few other key players as well. Manny Arceneaux, Eric Fraser, David Menard, Ryan Philips, Kirby Fabien and Jovan Olafioye all have new deals, while defensive back Steven Clarke was released and signed in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans.
The Lions still have 12 players on their list to decide on so let’s take a look at each and predict whether or not they re-sign in BC, move on to another team, or even retire.
If you’ve read between the lines on both sides, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where one of the most popular BC Lions returns to the den in 2016. From Harris’ own end of the season comments to comments on ratio structure from Buono, to the fact that Harris’ young daughter lives in Winnipeg, there are many reasons to think that the national back may be moving on.
Harris’ frustration with the offence in BC has been evident the past few seasons and at his age this is a big contract for him. The Lions have made reference to the restrictions of starting a Canadian running back, and are at least considering the option of going with an import, simply because they are easier to find and generally cheaper than a Canadian back.
Harris grew up in the Lions system and he’s put down some roots here with a local business. Those are a couple of reasons there could be a change of a heart on both sides. The two sides have talked, but Buono recently stated he won’t be making a decision on Harris until after meeting with his coaching staff to see how they are going to approach the roster from a ratio standpoint.
But the biggest draw could be his daughter Hazel and if the Bombers are interested and make a solid offer, there is a solid chance Harris returns home.
Outlook: Harris likely signs with the Bombers.
Simply put, the BC Lions want Travis Lulay back. At the same time, Lulay still has a desire to be a starter, or at least put himself in the position for a chance to be one somewhere in the CFL.
Lulay has been a huge face of the Lions for a long time now and has put down significant roots in the community. His love of the game, his experience and his commitment are qualities that are valuable in any organization.
With a 23-year old Jonathan Jennings about to be anointed the next starting quarterback for the club, Lulay would be an ideal backup. The two have an excellent relationship and it’s hard to see Lulay being anything but supportive and a source of knowledge for the sophomore. It’s always desirable to have a backup with CFL experience, never mind one that has been a league MOP and led his team to a Grey Cup championship.
When you look around the league you don’t see a lot of places where Lulay could jump right in as a starter, as most clubs are solid as they sit. With Ricky Ray extending with the Argos, Trevor Harris will also be on the market for any team looking for a QB.
When you take that all into account, unless a team makes him an offer he can’t refuse there’s a good chance Lulay stays with the Lions and perhaps starts to groom himself for a coaching career, following a similar path that Dave Dickenson did with the Stampeders.
Outlook: Good chance he re-signs with BC.
Rainey revived a lackluster Lions special teams unit last season showing his great speed and football sense returning kicks. He also voiced his opinion that he should be more involved in the offence and when he was he had some impressive production. He’s particularly dangerous coming out of the backfield if you can hit him in stride.
If Andrew Harris moves on and the Lions look towards more of an international backfield, Rainey would be a good option as a scat back type of runner, combining him with a more powerful running back when you need tough yards or blocking.
The kicker here is Rainey’s skill returning kicks. Field position is key in the CFL and it’s no coincidence the Lions offence was more productive after Rainey arrived and started giving them better real estate to start drives from.
Rainey likely knows this as well and may test the waters to see where he can get the best deal money wise but also in how he’ll be used.
Outlook: Good chance he re-signs in BC
Hoffman-Ellis filled in nicely when Solomon Elimimian went down last season. He’s an aggressive linebacker that has great speed and a knack for being around the ball. He’s also a special teams demon so getting him back in the fold would likely be favourable to the Lions. They also have Bo Lokombo after he made great strides last year.
If teams are looking for a linebacker, Hoffman-Ellis could get a better offer to move and could likely be a starter on multiple CFL clubs. With Elimimian coming off a major injury to his Achilles, there is always concern about how that type of injury heels, so the Lions may be willing to pay to keep the talented player around.
While the Lions would likely love to have him back, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him sign with another club.
Outlook: 50/50 he re-signs with BC.
Johnson has been a solid find by the Lions in the Secondary. He’s an aggressive player, who at times takes bad penalties, but he certainly made strides in his last couple of seasons in BC. Johnson is getting NFL tryouts and according to a recent Lowell Ullrich tweet, could be the next Lion to sign an NFL contract, following in the footsteps of teammate Steven Clarke.
Outlook: Likely signs in the NFL
One of the surprises of 2015 was that Cord Parks fell out of favour and became a healthy scratch for much of the season. After appearing in 26 games his first two seasons with the Leos, Parks played just 8 games in last year’s campaign.
Perhaps it was the emergence of the now departed Clarke that bumped him from the lineup, or maybe Mark Washington just wasn’t thrilled with his play. Regardless, Parks has shown he can play in this league but with little field time last season, it’s unclear how much attention he might garner on the free agent market.
With Clarke leaving and Johnson rumoured to be doing the same, the Lions may make an effort to re-sign Parks, and they may just bring in more DB’s from their free agent camps.
Parks was a solid teammate and didn’t rock the boat when he lost his roster spot. He could come back hungry to reclaim it.
Outlook: 50/50 he re-signs in BC
Khreem Smith has been a fixture on the Lions defensive line for 5 seasons now and even at the age of 36 he notched 6 sacks last year. Smith has been kept around because he’s a respected leader in the dressing room and he can still be an effective player. But at some point the Lions must get younger, and that’s likely this off-season. Smith isn’t likely to command much interest considering his age, and if the Lions don’t want to keep him around he may just retire.
At 36 Smith has already defied the odds on a Wally Buono built team. He’s a warrior though and may be open to a continued reduced role if the team decides they still need that veteran presence on the defence.
Outlook: Likely not re-signed by BC.
2015 was a bust for Matt Norman. Heading into training camp there were rumblings that Norman was going to be replaced at centre and moved back to guard. An injury to his knee took care of any decision that had to be made and Norman never dressed for the Lions last season.
He was never comfortable at centre but did have a solid rookie year at the guard spot. He has to be ready to compete at camp and show that he can stay healthy. His birth certificate and the Lions current national o-line depth likely means the Lions will try and bring him back for another look. Whether Norman is looking to return back east could be another factor.
Outlook: 50/50 he re-signs in BC.
Lochard has been a special teams player during his two-year tenure with the Lions. The Native of Montreal has appeared in 16 games for the Lions. With the club debating the Canadian running back option, whatever direction they decide to go could also determine the fate of Lochard. Eastern players often like to play closer to home as well, so if Lochard gets interest there, he could decide to jump. Either way he’s a role player for the team, and while he’s a Canadian, he could likely be replaced if Lions wanted to go in another direction.
Outlook: 50/50 he re-signs in BC.
Taylor was returning from a foot injury in 2015 and never really got back on track, eventually losing his spot in the line-up to Bryan Burnham. He was the Lions most reliable receiver for a time in past seasons and is also a great team first guy.
The Lions have some solid receiving talent to work with and may be looking to add a younger option via free agency. I find it hard to see a situation where Taylor is back with the Lions.
Outlook: Not likely re-signed by BC.
Curran was brought in for depth after Solomon Elimimian went down and saw time mostly on special teams in 2015. After some promising work in Edmonton, Curran took a gamble and tried his luck down south without success before signing with the Lions.
If the Lions re-sign Hoffman-Ellis I don’t see them bringing Curran back. If they don’t they may look at re-signing him as experienced depth.
Outlook: 50/50 re re-signs in BC.
Valli has been a warrior for the Lions for seven seasons. He lost his starting spot in 2015 and told more than a few people that last season would be his last. He has a successful junk removal business which is growing and will likely announce his retirement prior to training camp.
Outlook: Likely to retire.
The BC Lions season ended with a thud in Calgary and it’s time to look at the year that was, and where the BC Lions are headed in the future. We talk about the game, free agency, management and are joined by Lowell Ullrich of TSN 1040 to help us break it all down.
Jason Smith , President of the 103rd Grey Cup Festival joins the show from Winnipeg as that city gets prepared to welcome CFL fans from across the country next week.
Follow our guests::
Lowell Ullrich: @FifthQtr :: 2015 Grey Cup Festival: @GreyCupFestival
This show was recorded on November 18th, 2015.
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