Cleyon Laing returns to CFL

[Jon Gonzo]

But not with the Argos. Looks like a remainder of season contract for a shot at the Grey Cup with the Redblacks. He was missed this season and hopefully the Argos will make an earnest pitch for him in the OS. He's an all star and he's a Canadian, and the Argos were much better with him.

[mchesher03]

I liked Laing when he was with the Boatmen. He took too many penalties however, but given his teammates he was more or less in-line with them (as you can tell I think the Argos take too many penalties)

[R.J]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hearing Cleyon Laing's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cfl?src=hash">#cfl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/REDBLACKS">@REDBLACKS</a> deal pays him 25 k for Friday's reg season game and then what he makes in playoffs. FA next season</p>&mdash; gary lawless (@garylawless) <a href="https://twitter.com/garylawless/status/793778245841727489">November 2, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Nothing official yet, but I'm surprised, as I'm not sure why a team would bring him in only for a couple of games then see him leave to try the NFL again.

[AngeloV]

Not surprised at all. They know the deal and he is strictly a hired gun to win a championship this year. A really smart move.

[paulwoods13]

That's a huge salary for one game. Pro-rates to $450k over a full season. I know he's playing only one game, but his game cheque will dwarf all of his teammates', other than the QBs. Wonder how that will go down in the room.

[AngeloV]

But not with the Argos. Looks like a remainder of season contract for a shot at the Grey Cup with the Redblacks. He was missed this season and hopefully the Argos will make an earnest pitch for him in the OS. He's an all star and he's a Canadian, and the Argos were much better with him.

What difference does it make that it wasn't the Argos? He had no intention of signing with anyone beyond the end of the season, so why would it have been the Argos? If his next NFL attempt comes up short, then by all means be upset if he doesn't chose the Argos.

[stuntdog]

That's a huge salary for one game. Pro-rates to $450k over a full season. I know he's playing only one game, but his game cheque will dwarf all of his teammates', other than the QBs. Wonder how that will go down in the room.

I could imagine grumblings amongst teammates if Ottawa loses the EF, but if Laing contributes to a Grey Cup championship then the ring and $16K bonus will turn those frowns upside down.

btw Belli set the standard for this kind of late season signing when he rejoined the Argos late in 2012 and capped off his run with an ejection from the Grey Cup game.

[gilthethrill]

I could imagine grumblings amongst teammates if Ottawa loses the EF, but if Laing contributes to a Grey Cup championship then the ring and $16K bonus will turn those frowns upside down.

btw Belli set the standard for this kind of late season signing when he rejoined the Argos late in 2012 and capped off his run with an ejection from the Grey Cup game.

I thought Belli donated his salary though?

[OV Argo]

Did i see Moton Hopkins helped off the field with an injury last Ottawa game? - if he can't go, they would be in need of another DT and Laing was pretty good in his Argo CFL days; we'll see if he is in CFL game shape or if he suffers from NFL hang-over or whatever Ravi calls it - but good to get him some playing time in the final means nothing in the standings game.

Agreed with AV - nice move even as a rent a player for a GC run; RedBlacks could easily go all NI starters on their D-line if they chose to - Laing joins at DT: Evans & Lattanzio (my beer store buddy - having a nice year IMO; guy has a real motor to make up for being under-sized at DT); and they have Connor Williams who is strong and has played both DT & DE; and Gascon-Nadon has returned from injury and has played well for them at DE - good pass rush pressure.

RedBlacks need their D to rise up to have a shot in the play-offs IMO; they have some talent (Munoz better suited back at OLB), but still some D-backfield issues and Reed is just mediocre to Ok at MLB and they're weak at the other OLB spot; Pruneau has talent and should continue to improve at safety.

[Argo57]

Smart move by Ottawa, upside Laing plays well enjoys Ottawa and they stand a good chance at bringing him back, conversely no real downside.

[Jon Gonzo]

What difference does it make that it wasn't the Argos? He had no intention of signing with anyone beyond the end of the season, so why would it have been the Argos? If his next NFL attempt comes up short, then by all means be upset if he doesn't chose the Argos.

The difference? This is an Argo Fan board no?

Upset? Who said i was upset? Simply reporting to share. As we do.

[AngeloV]

The difference? This is an Argo Fan board no?

Upset? Who said i was upset? Simply reporting to share. As we do.

Sorry, I guess I took your "but not with the Argos" comment as you're being upset. Admittedly, I' m very defensive with a lot of the posts around here lately.

[Jon Gonzo]

Sorry, I guess I took your "but not with the Argos" comment as you're being upset. Admittedly, I' m very defensive with a lot of the posts around here lately.

I hear ya. Not the greatest time to be a fan. But, that's what it takes to be one. Thick and thin.

[KCargosfan]

Not surprised at all. They know the deal and he is strictly a hired gun to win a championship this year. A really smart move.

Agreed. Great move by Ottawa.

[doubleblue]

25,000 per game is a bit rich for a DT in the CFL, but I expect maybe 10 or 15,000 was a signing bonus. Laing would have already collected something like 8 games (?) on the PR in US dollars from Miami. So if the RB's go to the Grey Cup he will have done alright for 3 months work, and will be accepting offers in the off season.
But, maybe he signed in Ottawa with the Dolphins blessing and could go back there if needed in December. The Dolphins are deep on the defensive line barring a rash of injuries, so could afford to let him go for a few weeks.

[AngeloV]

I may be wrong, but I think the only deal he can now sign in th NFL is a futures deal, and he would not be eligible to play this season.

[doubleblue]

I may be wrong, but I think the only deal he can now sign in th NFL is a futures deal, and he would not be eligible to play this season.

You may be right, but if Ottawa was to release him after the Grey Cup or before if they are knocked out of the Eastern Final, I think he would be free to sign back in the NFL.

[ArgoRavi]

You may be right, but if Ottawa was to release him after the Grey Cup or before if they are knocked out of the Eastern Final, I think he would be free to sign back in the NFL.

If he is on Ottawa's roster for their final game, whenever that is, he will be ineligible to go back to the NFL to play this season.

[paulwoods13]

Did he do anything last night? I didn't notice him in the early part of the game, didn't see the rest.

[gilthethrill]

Did he do anything last night? I didn't notice him in the early part of the game, didn't see the rest.

I did notice him get assessed a Roughing the Passer Penalty.

[AngeloV]

I did notice him get assessed a Roughing the Passer Penalty.

And it was a bad call. He was blocked to the ground and Nichols tripped over him as he was stepping backwards. He did not initiate contact.

[gilthethrill]

And it was a bad call. He was blocked to the ground and Nichols tripped over him as he was stepping backwards. He did not initiate contact.

Winnipeg has profited from bad officiating more than any other team in the league this year.

[ArgoRavi]

Winnipeg has profited from bad officiating more than any other team in the league this year.

For all of the bad breaks that the Bombers have had in recent years, they received an incredible number of good ones this year to even things up.

[AngeloV]

Winnipeg has profited from bad officiating more than any other team in the league this year.

I was half expecting Ricky Foley to get a penalty on the pick 6. Yes, I'm still bitter in what I call the turning point of the season.

[Argo]

I was half expecting Ricky Foley to get a penalty on the pick 6. Yes, I'm still bitter in what I call the turning point of the season.

If the so-called "Command Centre" cannot see in stop time what most of us notice in real time, then there's a big problem; and it's a big festering problem.

[ArgoRavi]

I was half expecting Ricky Foley to get a penalty on the pick 6. Yes, I'm still bitter in what I call the turning point of the season.

I was just thinking about the turning point of the season tonight and concluded that it was that game in Winnipeg. To drill down further, as they like to say in the corporate world these days, that particular play was probably THE turning point.

[Argo57]

And it was a bad call. He was blocked to the ground and Nichols tripped over him as he was stepping backwards. He did not initiate contact.

Laing has a reputation and won't get any breaks on those calls.

[Argo57]

I was half expecting Ricky Foley to get a penalty on the pick 6. Yes, I'm still bitter in what I call the turning point of the season.

The only thing consistently worse than the Argos play this season has been the leagues officiating which needs to be dealt with.