2019-2020 Offseason Signings, Trades, Releases, Extensions and Other Transactions

[jerrym]

One player I would like to see the Argos pursue is Canadian RB Johnny Augustine. He looked damn good picking up 98 yards and 75 yards in the two games that he replaced Andrew Harris during his drug suspension. Augustine also has a 6.5 yards per carry average. I can't see him wanting to stay in Winnipeg playing behind Harris, especially when they have another Canadian, Nic Demski who can play RB. Signing Augustine would likely not involve a high salary as he is still not an established starter. However, LaPolice in Ottawa may pursue him as he knows how talented he is from Winnipeg, plus he has another Canadian RB in former Argo Brendan Gillanders, who could spell him off and who started the last three games of the season. Another team with a Canadian RB who spell off Augustine is Calgary who had Ante Milanovic-Litre, who also started three of the last four games of the season, so they might be interested in him. Hamilton, on the other hand, already has two good Canadian RBs in Maleek Irons and Sean Thomas Erlington, plus Anthony Coombs, so I doubt if Augustine would want to go there, even if the team were interested. Whether the Argos would pursue him is another question.

[OV Argo]

One player I would like to see the Argos pursue is Canadian RB Johnny Augustine. He looked damn good picking up 98 yards and 75 yards in the two games that he replaced Andrew Harris during his drug suspension. Augustine also has a 6.5 yards per carry average. I can't see him wanting to stay in Winnipeg playing behind Harris, especially when they have another Canadian, Nic Demski who can play RB. Signing Augustine would likely not involve a high salary as he is still not an established starter. However, LaPolice in Ottawa may pursue him as he knows how talented he is from Winnipeg, plus he has another Canadian RB in former Argo Brendan Gillanders, who could spell him off and who started the last three games of the season. Another team with a Canadian RB who spell off Augustine is Calgary who had Ante Milanovic-Litre, who also started three of the last four games of the season, so they might be interested in him. Hamilton, on the other hand, already has two good Canadian RBs in Maleek Irons and Sean Thomas Erlington, plus Anthony Coombs, so I doubt if Augustine would want to go there, even if the team were interested. Whether the Argos would pursue him is another question.

Augustine has RE-SIGNED (;o)) with the Bombers - and good for him sticking with a GC Champ team and the club that gave him a shot to play in the pros (CFL undrafted); he will still be behind Harris (and perhaps last year's draft pick B. Oliveira - who was injured after playing some early last year); that plus. as you mention, Demski can take carries at tailback and produce.

Imagine - a CFL team going 4 deep at tailback and all Canadians - and the won the GC doing so ??? = WTF - some GOB heads must have exploded somewhere ;o)

[jerrym]

Augustine has RE-SIGNED (;o)) with the Bombers - and good for him sticking with a GC Champ team and the club that gave him a shot to play in the pros (CFL undrafted); he will still be behind Harris (and perhaps last year's draft pick B. Oliveira - who was injured after playing some early last year); that plus. as you mention, Demski can take carries at tailback and produce.

Imagine - a CFL team going 4 deep at tailback and all Canadians - and the won the GC doing so ??? = WTF - some GOB heads must have exploded somewhere ;o)

Yes they just announced it today. It still isn't on CFL Free Agent Tracker on 3downnation.

[Argo57]

I agree Jerry, Augustine did a nice job last season when Harris was out of the lineup.
Keep in mind Augustine had a much superior line blocking for him that he may in Toronto (hopefully this is addressed this off season).

[AngeloV]

I agree Jerry, Augustine did a nice job last season when Harris was out of the lineup.
Keep in mind Augustine had a much superior line blocking for him that he may in Toronto (hopefully this is addressed this off season).

Or he might become the next Kienan Lafrance (who had a great playoff in 2016) and never measure up to expectations following a very small sample size.

[Argo57]

Or he might become the next Kienan Lafrance (who had a great playoff in 2016) and never measure up to expectations following a very small sample size.

Quite possible as well.

[AngeloV]

Quite possible as well.

Having said that, he did an admirable job filling in for a steroid cheat that should be a Russian Olympian. Yes, I'm bored at work today.

[Argo57]

Having said that, he did an admirable job filling in for a steroid cheat that should be a Russian Olympian. Yes, I'm bored at work today.

LOL.
I would take a shot at signing him, Argos aren’t very strong or deep at RB.

[Argo57]

Keep the signings coming, Murphy and the gang working hard to upgrade the Argos talent level in some definite areas of need.👍
https://www.argonauts.ca/2019/12/30/...our-americans/

[jerrym]

Derek Walker has worked out with the Dallas Cowboys. If he signs and sticks with a NFL team, the Argos will need another deep threat.

[Argo57]

Derek Walker has worked out with the Dallas Cowboys. If he signs and sticks with a NFL team, the Argos will need another deep threat.

Walker is a game breaker but I don’t see him returning to Toronto (especially at $275,000).

[paulwoods13]

Masoli re-signing (ahem) in Hamilton takes a big name out of the pending FA QB market. Arbuckle, Nichols, Collaros, Streveler and MBT are available at the moment along with Franklin, Prukop and (I assume) Jennings. Three teams (Wpg, Tor and Ott) need a starter and backup, and at least three other teams (BC, Edm and Sask, likely also Calgary) are likely looking for a backup. I'd still like to end up with Collaros and MBT, but could live with Arbuckle instead of either guy. Would hate to lose Prukop but I don't think I'd be comfortable with him as the No. 2, and we need to continue developing O'Connor.

[Argo57]

Masoli re-signing (ahem) in Hamilton takes a big name out of the pending FA QB market. Arbuckle, Nichols, Collaros, Streveler and MBT are available at the moment along with Franklin, Prukop and (I assume) Jennings. Three teams (Wpg, Tor and Ott) need a starter and backup, and at least three other teams (BC, Edm and Sask, likely also Calgary) are likely looking for a backup. I'd still like to end up with Collaros and MBT, but could live with Arbuckle instead of either guy. Would hate to lose Prukop but I don't think I'd be comfortable with him as the No. 2, and we need to continue developing O'Connor.

I figured Masoli would re-sign with Hamilton, it has been reported that he may start the season on the 6 game.
If Arbuckle is the guy Toronto wants heading into 2020 they must also be target a more established QB as their other option.

[Treblecharger1]

Some of our new recruits played in the United Bowl of the IFL last year.. Sheppard looks https://youtu.be/TnaNpiHlDBs

[doubleblue]

Some of our new recruits played in the United Bowl of the IFL last year.. Sheppard looks https://youtu.be/TnaNpiHlDBs

Looks like Murph signed all the outstanding players from this game. Talent is talent no matter where they come from. I like the size of these guys too.

[Jon Gonzo]

In the CFL having a great bird-dog is essential.

Jim Popp was one of those guys, at one time, but I sensed that he was getting lazier or more out of touch. If you're not in it, you lose touch with it instantaneously...I am quite certain.

To get someone young and hungry, like Murph-Dog, can only help. Both Jim Barker and Jim Popp were very good recruiters at one time, but really didn't replace themselves when they became fat cats. And then, just like that, they are out of touch.

For the past several seasons, when the Argos recruited well, they usually developed good/great players for other teams. But more than not, they have not recruited well...and I now expect that to change with the arrival of John Murphy.

[Argo57]

In the CFL having a great bird-dog is essential.

Jim Popp was one of those guys, at one time, but I sensed that he was getting lazier or more out of touch. If you're not in it, you lose touch with it instantaneously...I am quite certain.

To get someone young and hungry, like Murph-Dog, can only help. Both Jim Barker and Jim Popp were very good recruiters at one time, but really didn't replace themselves when they became fat cats. And then, just like that, they are out of touch.

For the past several seasons, when the Argos recruited well, they usually developed good/great players for other teams. But more than not, they have not recruited well...and I now expect that to change with the arrival of John Murphy.

Things do in fact get stale over a period of time, glad the Argos have moved on with a new vision.
Player personnel and the coaching staff need to be on the same page which seems to have been a major issue in the last couple of seasons.

[jerrym]

The Argos have added two more Americans to their roster: DL Ronald Ollie and LB Jason Beck.

Ollie, 23, was signed by the Oakland Raiders in May of 2019 and spent time in training camp with the NFL club. The Mississippi native spent two seasons at Nicholls State (2016, 2018) where he tallied 74 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, seven sacks and two fumble recoveries in 22 games for the Colonels. The 6’2, 292-pound lineman started his collegiate career at East Mississippi Community College (2014-2015) where he was named All-State Second Team Defense in 2015. Ollie was one of the stars of the hit Netflix reality show ‘Last Chance U’ during its first season.

Beck, 6’1 and 220-pounds, played four seasons at the University of Eastern Michigan (2014-2017) where he racked up 353 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and one fumble recovery in 49 career games. The Indianapolis native played the most games in school history and his tackles total was seventh best all-time for the Eagles.

https://www.argonauts.ca/2020/01/06/...ie-jason-beck/

[jerrym]

Some of our new recruits played in the United Bowl of the IFL last year.. Sheppard looks https://youtu.be/TnaNpiHlDBs

Here's the profile of another player that the Argos signed last week on Jan. 2 who played in the IFL's United Bowl: WR Kent Shelby.

Shelby, 24, was a member of the 2019 Indoor Football League champion Sioux Falls Storm, where he racked up 518 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games last season. The New Orleans native was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Chargers following his college career in 2018 and attended rookie mini-camp with the NFL club. The 6’3, 208-pound WR left McNeese State, where he played from 2014-2017, as one of the most prolific pass catchers in team history after finishing his career with 129 receptions, 1,910 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, good for fourth, fifth and sixth all-time in team history respectively.

https://www.argonauts.ca/2020/01/02/...r-kent-shelby/

[paulwoods13]

Interesting that Dinwidddie likes O'Connor and MBT, makes no mention of Prukop. Looking more and more like Collaros and MBT, IMO.

https://www.cfl.ca/2020/01/07/argos-...4HAiJTMtpWzGnI