Ottawa Redblacks Thread

[jerrym]

Here's a look at the Redblack's in terms of their free agents, Canadian personnel, and a breakdown of the team's talent by position early in the offseason.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/12/26/off-se...awa-redblacks/

[jerrym]

GM Marcel Desjardins and his assistant Jerry Snyder answer questions about the past season and the upcoming year below.

https://ottawasun.com/sports/footbal...-jeremy-snyder

[jerrym]

Former Argo Diontae Spencer, who had a 1,000+ yard 2018 season with the Redblacks, has signed a Reserve/Future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, after Ottawa released him early so he could look for a NFL contract.

[jerrym]

It looks like former Argo OL SirVincent Rogers could become a free agent. At the right price he could be a good pickup for the Argos.

The 32-year-old all-star offensive lineman told the Redblacks he wanted to come back and they told him they wanted him back. Sounds like a recipe for a new contract. Except for this: Rogers, who played in Ottawa for four seasons after leaving the Toronto Argos as a free agent, doesn’t think much of hometown discounts.

“I don’t think you can get into that hometown discount,” said Rogers, who will be one of 24 players from the Redblacks’ 2018 roster eligible for free agency on Feb. 12. “Over my career, year after year I’ve been trying to prove I’m among the best, if not the best at my position (left tackle). If you do that, the money takes care of itself. Guys know what they deserve, organizations know that, too. I know it’s a tough job trying to figure out how to pay everybody to get all the players you want. That’s not a decision I have to make, it’s a decision the Redblacks have to make.”

It’s not unreasonable to think Rogers would want something above $150,000 per season in a new contract. The Redblacks may look at his age as a factor, or maybe they just don’t want to pay that kind of money to a guy who in 2015 was voted the CFL’s most outstanding offensive lineman while protecting quarterback Henry Burris’ blind side. ...

“I’m one of the best, I figure I’m top two, top three at my position (with Derek Dennis and Stanley Bryant),” said Rogers. “There were some statistics that came out and we were pretty identical. I’ve gone on record as saying I thought they both had a good year (Bryant was named the 2018 most outstanding offensive lineman), I thought Derek had a better year. I guess I was wrong on that — our stats were all identical. The way I look at it is my agent’s going to handle the negotiation. I feel like I’ve done everything I can do as far as my play on the field and with my leadership. I think I’ve been a big part of our success; hopefully everybody sees that. It’s hard for (the Redblacks) to figure out what a player’s worth is. It gets tricky. I try not to get caught up in that, I try to let my agent handle that.”

https://ottawasun.com/sports/footbal...town-discounts

[jerrym]

GM Marcel Desjardins has informed LB Kyries Hebert that the Redblacks will not sign him for 2019. Not surprising considering he is 38.

[jerrym]

There has been no significant progress in signing former Argo QB Trevor Harris, increasing the likelihood he could become a free agent on February 12th, according to GM Marcel Desjardins.

[jerrym]

Ottawa has extended DL Danny Mason, who had 29 DT and 6 sacks in 15 games last year, through 2019.

[jerrym]

The Redblacks have signed the following players: National RB Greg Morris, who was one of the final Argo TC cuts but was later signed by the Redblacks and made it into four games in 2018, with five carries for 16 yards and two returns for 51 yards; National former Laval WR Tyrone Pierre, who was on the Bombers' PR last year; former University of Manitoba WR Stephen Ugbah; International WR R J Shelton, who was on Ottawa's PR last year but later released; and International RB Dalton Crossan, who attended Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers TCs.

[jerrym]

Ottawa has refused to allow the Riders to interview former Argos coach Jamie Elizondo for their HC job.

[jerrym]

Below is a video interview with Lewis Ward, who set a professional football record with 48 consecutive FGs enabling him to win the Most Outstanding Canadian and ST awards.

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/video?clip...r&_gsc=cWMtNHL

[jerrym]

The Redblacks have signed former Bomber 2017 All-Star DB Chris Randle, who was cut by Winnipeg before a $15,000 bonus came due.

[jerrym]

Ottawa has extended International backup QB Dominique Davis through 2019. Davis was 24/39 for 373 yards in his first year with the Redblacks. Against the Argos in the final regular season game he had 220 yards passing and one TD in a half of play.

[jerrym]

National OL Nolan MacMillan has resigned with Ottawa for his sixth season in 2019. He was the Redblacks first ever draft choice and his ongoing presence in the lineup is a reflection of the good job Ottawa has done in selecting players.

[jerrym]

National OL Jason Lauzon-Seguin has extended through 2020 while International DL Avery Ellis has resigned through 2019. Several core potential free agents are still unsigned.

Lauzon-Séguin has played in two Grey Cup games in his three CFL seasons, winning it all as a rookie in 2016. The Laval product played 15 games for the Redblacks in 2018 and has appeared in 47 CFL games since being drafted by Ottawa seventh overall in 2016. ...

While limited due to injury last year, Ellis had 15 defensive tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble in nine games. He had 28 tackles and six sacks in his rookie season with the Redblacks in 2017. ...

Several key players remain unsigned throughout the league. Quarterback Trevor Harris is the big one on the Redblacks’ wish list. But the closer he gets to the Feb. 12 free-agency period, it seems the more unlikely he will sign. Other potential free agents for Ottawa include receiver Greg Ellingson, running back William Powell, defensive backs Jonathan Rose and Rico Murray, offensive lineman SirVincent Rogers and defensive lineman Michael Klassen.

https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/foo...f-b6401a63b49d

[jerrym]

Former Argo QB Trevor Harris says that he has taken up boxing and tap dancing in order to improve his footwork for football, in addition to studying video of NFL top QBs Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, in the hopes of improving his game. So far there is no sign of a deal with Ottawa as free agency nears.

[jerrym]

The Redblacks have extended 2018 CFL All-Star International DB Jonathan Rose through 2019. Rose still has to serve a one game suspension for contacting an official that he appealed, thereby enabling him to play in the Grey Cup game.

[CFLfan]

With Reilly going to the Lions and BLM likely to the Argos, I think Harris will likely stay in Ottawa. The Lions and Argos willing to pay $700k for a QB which now narrows down the bidding for Harris. If the Esks wouldn't give Reilly a big raise to stay they aren't going to pay the big bucks for Harris.

[paulwoods13]

With Reilly going to the Lions and BLM likely to the Argos, I think Harris will likely stay in Ottawa. The Lions and Argos willing to pay $700k for a QB which now narrows down the bidding for Harris. If the Esks wouldn't give Reilly a big raise to stay they aren't going to pay the big bucks for Harris.

The Eskimos are reported to have offered Reilly $700k, actually.

[CFLfan]

The Eskimos are reported to have offered Reilly $700k, actually.

So he jumped to Vancouver for a different reason, could be that he's not happy with the coach in Edmonton or to be closer to his family in Washington State or both.

[AngeloV]

With Reilly going to the Lions and BLM likely to the Argos, I think Harris will likely stay in Ottawa. The Lions and Argos willing to pay $700k for a QB which now narrows down the bidding for Harris. If the Esks wouldn't give Reilly a big raise to stay they aren't going to pay the big bucks for Harris.

I'm still not convinced BLM is coming to Toronto. My guess is he wants to stay in Calgary and his agent is using this to try and get as much as he possibly can out of Huff.

The Eskimos are reported to have offered Reilly $700k, actually.

PR move. They knew he was leaving so it's damage control to make Reilly out to be the bad guy in Edmonton with their fan base.