BC Lions Free Agents Signings & Signings around the CFL

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Hambone
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I caught a clip on TSN from yesterday where whoever it was talked about Walker and possible salary. He was supposed up in the $275K range last year. The belief the talking head had was that with what Ellingson had signed for in Edmonton and Banks in Hamilton that the salary bar for somebody like Walker is much lower than what he inked for in 2019 when Jim Popp was in charge in Hogtown; likely more in the $190K to $200K range.
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Murdoch
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Happy to see Chris Rainey back and wish him the best. Hoping he has a couple of long ones left.

Landed a big fish in Micah Johnson but believe he brings value. Takes two men more often than not. Not sold on them needing Derel Walker but at the right price why not.

Disappointing to see Dozier go to Calgary. Derek Jones will not be the same thing.

Still think they are thin at QB but everyone knows that plan. Options available if something does come up. Will say it's a big year for Mike Reilly.
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Toppy Vann
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Wanna know what Willie Jefferson thinks of Duron Carter and the BC Lions pass system last season?


Duron Carter
@DC_CHILLIN_8
·
Feb 8
Thanks bra! Can’t wait see where you go!!
Quote Tweet
Willie H. Jefferson III
@Stmn_Willie_Bmn
· Feb 8
Replying to @sackatchawen and @DC_CHILLIN_8
Don’t feed into the BS DC we all know what you can do if put in the right situation
Jefferson playing opposite to BC last season seems to know what fans who went to Lions practices knew. Carter was running the routes just the way the OC drew them up. Slow developing and be in the right spot.

Makes you wonder WTF these coaches and the QBs (Reilly and O'Brien) were seeing on the game tapes that make them not realize that the slow developing pass routes was too predictable and not working - especially during the first part of the year when the O-Line couldn't protect.
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B.C.FAN
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Day 2 of free agency has been quiet so far. The Argos remain the busiest buyers, adding DL Drake Nevis from Winnipeg and LB Chris Ackie from Montreal. Both are from the Toronto area, which seems to be a common element in many of the Argos' signings. The Argos also signed national DB and special teamer Denzel Radford, a Calgary native who played the past three years in Saskatchewan.

Hamilton added onetime-Lion DeVier Posey from Montreal, bolstering a receiving corps that lost Bralon Addison to the NFL.
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The_Pauser
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I expect the Lions will be cutting one of Rutley or White. I can't see retaining both after we brought back Chris Rainey.
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Hambone
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The_Pauser wrote:
Wed Feb 12, 2020 7:04 pm
I expect the Lions will be cutting one of Rutley or White. I can't see retaining both after we brought back Chris Rainey.
I don't think they'll do that. They will all have different roles. White will be the starting tailback Rainey will be the kick return specialist who will get some reps on O as a change of pace back. Rutley will be the backup tailback available to start in relief of White if he gets dinged up. He may also be the defacto backup returner to Rainey. Personally I don't want Rainey to be next man up to White if he goes down. Rutley would be much better in that necessary role.

Last year White played 16 games missing 2. Rutley played 11 games. The first 5 were in an Rainey type role. He was the kick returner prior to Lankford coming on board. 39 of his 44 returns came in the first 5 weeks while he only had 8 offensive touches, 5 carries and 3 catches. Of his other 6 games 2 were starts in place of White. He had 55 carries and 6 receptions in this 6 games.

I see White as the tailback, Rainey as the kick returner and Rutley as backup depth for both.
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David
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Hambone wrote:
Wed Feb 12, 2020 9:37 pm
I see White as the tailback, Rainey as the kick returner and Rutley as backup depth for both.
I see it this way too....unless they recruit a stud RB and he wows at training camp/preseason in which case I could see Rutley being released (and I say that as a big Rutley fan, but they can save some salary there). I also view this as a longshot scenario as we just haven't been very good at recruiting running backs in recent years.


DH :cool:
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Toppy Vann
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The GM has put BC in a weaker position with too much cash at the QB position.

Unless Campbell can coach these guys up to play over their heads and get rid of that JJ offence, the Lions have to rely on other team's failing to do anything serious over the next year or more.

Derel Walker they say on TSN might be in cap crunch with the base up from $55 to 65K for min. contracts with the best bet to go to BC. This will be a good addition here.

Willie Jefferson wrote a nice piece on his recruiting journey to Miami and Tor, Ham mostly. Mentions lots of names including J Jack (Jarius) . While I know little of him but from his play I was thinking he was not coming across very astute to be thinking NFL at his stage of his playing career, however when you read this story written by him you can see he had his head screwed on right on how he came to stay in the 'Peg.

Some interesting tidbits on relationships and people like Cat's coach Orlando S and how he spoke about his relationship with Mike O'Shea etc.

Bottom Line seems to be: He'd only have moved if something very awesome was happening with a contract. Like many he and his wife like the Bombers org, team and the city.

Judging from Christina Bighill's public tweets about Craig Roh and other player and family leaving, the families in many cases with the Bombers seem tight knit. I know Adam from my gym and no doubt his wife is friendly and outgoing like him, but it does sound like a tighter culture with the Bomber core players than many teams.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2020/02/13/ ... ce=dlvr.it
"Ability without character will lose." - Marv Levy
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B.C.FAN
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Edmonton has signed former Montreal QB Antonio Pipkin. He was probably the best of the free agent QBs still on the market. Former Lions Jonathon Jennings and Brandon Bridge remain unsigned.
cms22
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did i understand the derel walker comment correctly? because of salary caps being tapped out, he may have to sign for league minimum?.. or has new higher league minimum squeezed out alot of dollars that could go to stars?

as per jefferson and winnipeg, winnipeg has a bad reputation but anyone who actually moves there seems to really like it. great sense of community that is missing in big cities. live like a king with the real estate prices. you can go down south twice in the winter for example because r/e prices don't kill you
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B.C.FAN
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Matt Baker of bclions.com has put together a good summary of Ed Hervey and Rick Campbell's comments onm the Lions' FA acquisitions and the prospect of adding Derel Walker.

Here's Hervey discussing Walker:
“Make no mistake, Derel Walker presents the same type of impact on the offensive side of the ball,” explained Hervey (referring to the signing of DL Micah Johnson).

“He and Mike have a really good relationship, they have a lot of chemistry on the field and we’re going to exhaust all options to make this football team as good as we possibly can.”

As for the inevitable question of how the salary cap possibly stands in the way of a reunion with Reilly, Hervey said:

“You always look at how to make it work until we can’t. If it doesn’t work, then that becomes a reality. Until we know what the number is, we’re open to seeing.”
“WE WANT GUYS THAT WANT TO COMMIT.” | HERVEY, CAMPBELL EXCITED FOR ADDITIONS
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David
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My Tweet late this afternoon to Farhan Lalji:
Wouldn't Dominique Rhymes be a better value pick? Only 26 years old, 6'4" 215 lbs and, more importantly, a thousand-yard receiver in a low-ranked offence. Also familiar with Coach Campbell. Just a thought.
Farhan's response:
Farhan Lalji
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Yes I think he is a very viable and probable plan B

DH :cool:
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B.C.FAN
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Ed Willes wrote mainly about the rebuilt offensive and defensive lines but he offered this insightful Hervey quote on Walker:
“Until we know what the number is we’ll see,” Hervey said. “The market has yet to determine what Derel Walker is worth. There’s a reason why everyone is waiting for Derel.”
Ed Willes: Lions GM Hervey again trains his sights on the trenches
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Gridiron Ernie
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David wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 7:20 pm
My Tweet late this afternoon to Farhan Lalji:
Wouldn't Dominique Rhymes be a better value pick? Only 26 years old, 6'4" 215 lbs and, more importantly, a thousand-yard receiver in a low-ranked offence. Also familiar with Coach Campbell. Just a thought.
Farhan's response:
Farhan Lalji
@FarhanLaljiTSN

Yes I think he is a very viable and probable plan B

DH :cool:
I couldn't agree more. David, you posed the purrfect question IMO -- what I've been thinking too the last little while, as he's a couple years younger than Walker, and excelled in spite of his surroundings with the RedBlacks. I'd be very pleased to see this development, but of course wouldn't boo-hoo the arrival of the wonderful Mr. Walker either. I just hope they don't dither too long and see both guys wiggle away. But even then, all's not lost certainly -- as there's others still out there, and some current young Lions waiting to shine (looking at young Cottoy to shine brightly).
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Rhymes was targeted lots with Ottawa - and made some big plays and nice catches - go along with plenty of drops and bonehead plays; a 5th receiver at best if he could even make a roster with good TC receiver competition, IMO.
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