Yikes! Lions 2024 potential free agents

[SammyGreene]

The one name that I didn't offer up 2 posts ago and intrigues me as perhaps being the purrfect fit as Adams' backup and veteran presence for a Grey Cup hosting year is......Jeremiah Masoli.

Before anybody lights the torches hear me out. I fully understand the injury baggage he brings. However we're not looking for an every game and every down starter. We're looking for somebody to step in for a few reps here and there and maybe pinch hit for a start or two. I think Ottawa will move on either with an MBT or the kids Adams and Crum along with possibly Brown. They will have a decision to make in 2 weeks when a $100K roster bonus comes due. Other than that he has proven himself as a starter and brings an impeccable reputation as a true pro, leader and team first team mate. If Ottawa does cut him loose I think he can be had for a deal very similar to Evans last year.

Masoli would be fantastic and really only Ottawa and potentially Edmonton would be in the market for MBT or Brown since the Riders are running with Trevor Harris. Personally I think the Elks should just ride with Ford.

The Lions sure got a sweet deal on Evans re-structured contract. No way was he playing for that this coming season. Throw in Davis' salary as well towards a #2 QB as it's probably time we develop our own Tommy Stevens or Dakota Prukop instead of paying a 35-year-old to do it at not even a great level.

11) Dane Evans, B.C. Lions (A) 
Hard money: $94,000
Maximum value: $151,000
Evans takes a $300,000-plus pay cut from what he made with the Tiger-Cats last year after a season marred by turnovers, including a league-high 16 interceptions. The 29-year-old reworked his contract for a trade to the west coast to fit in as a backup to Vernon Adams Jr. He’ll get $10,000 for playing one percent of any offensive, defensive or special teams play. If he’s forced into a starting role, Evans can earn $2,000 per game for playing 51 percent of all the offensive plays.

13) Dominique Davis, B.C. Lions (A)
Hard money: $90,000
Maximum value: $143,000
The seven-year veteran will collect a $2,000 bonus each time he starts and plays more than 51 percent of B.C.’s offensive snaps in a game and another $10,000 bonus if he plays 1 percent of an offensive, defensive or specials teams snaps over the course of the season. He received a $5,000 signing bonus to join the Lions following a one-year stint with the Als.

[Hambone]

The one name that I didn't offer up 2 posts ago and intrigues me as perhaps being the purrfect fit as Adams' backup and veteran presence for a Grey Cup hosting year is......Jeremiah Masoli.

Before anybody lights the torches hear me out. I fully understand the injury baggage he brings. However we're not looking for an every game and every down starter. We're looking for somebody to step in for a few reps here and there and maybe pinch hit for a start or two. I think Ottawa will move on either with an MBT or the kids Adams and Crum along with possibly Brown. They will have a decision to make in 2 weeks when a $100K roster bonus comes due. Other than that he has proven himself as a starter and brings an impeccable reputation as a true pro, leader and team first team mate. If Ottawa does cut him loose I think he can be had for a deal very similar to Evans last year.

Masoli would be fantastic and really only Ottawa and potentially Edmonton would be in the market for MBT or Brown since the Riders are running with Trevor Harris. Personally I think the Elks should just ride with Ford.

There is a fly in the ointment for the Masoli thought. I'd forgotten his injury was a ruptured achilles. He suffered it in early July. Normal recovery is 10 to 12 months. That likely puts him on a timeline to return anywhere from start of training camp at earliest to 4 or 5 weeks into the season. I don't know what that means for Ottawa and whether they could release him to avoid taking the hit for the roster bonus due in two weeks; possibly an injury settlement? Regardless BC would obviously want any veteran replacement for Evans to be on the field 100% good to go for Day 1 of training camp.

[Toppy Vann]

Using a DA spot for a punter gives the Lions little roster flexibility. With Terry Williams filling one spot as a return specialist and Josh Woods filling another as a rotational linebacker, the Lions have had no flexibility to dress a rotational American running back. I’d rather look for a national or Global punter, and use Flintoft’s roster spot to bolster the running game.

Agree fully on National or Global punters and I'd add place kickers also with one caveat - it's gotta be a talent that can win the job on merit.

I'd love to see more kicking in the game not quite like how Montreal did it last year to get a first down without actually making it past the 10 yd stick although kudos to their coaching staff to figure that one out. It's funny how we all missed that they tried that kick against BC and how it only came out after they pulled it off two more times. IIRC that play vs BC it looked like he just had the dropsies.

Despite the refs missing it vs the Lions even after Dunigan (then Stamps HC ) tipped the officials that pass and kick into the end zone was brilliant and teams should do more of that in desperate times OR Quick Kick on 2nd down with Wideouts onside IF you have the old versatile punter/RB type like the old days.

[Toppy Vann]

I wonder if there's been a 3 Down story or some other article on the success of CFL players who are on teams here getting off season tryouts in the NFL window and actually making the team?

How many actually end up out of the game and unlike say a Chris Streveler don't make money.
It takes a special breed of person who like Streveler is prepared to keep rolling the dice by moving around as that can be tough.

[B.C.FAN]

The Lions have re-signed DE Sione Teuhema through 2025.

https://www.bclions.com/2024/01/03/sion ... 25-season/

[Hambone]

The Lions have re-signed DE Sione Teuhema through 2025.

https://www.bclions.com/2024/01/03/sion ... 25-season/

I like it! If I split my list of the 22 original pending FAs into "definitely want to see back", "nice to bring back" and "meh don't care" Teuhema is in the first group.

[Hambone]

I wonder if there's been a 3 Down story or some other article on the success of CFL players who are on teams here getting off season tryouts in the NFL window and actually making the team?

How many actually end up out of the game and unlike say a Chris Streveler don't make money.
It takes a special breed of person who like Streveler is prepared to keep rolling the dice by moving around as that can be tough.

There have been several in recent years but I think the success rate between those who tryout, versus those who get contracts vs those who stick even if only on the practice squad is still low.

I found a couple interesting notes in this article. It says CFL players are "eligible" to sign from Dec 1 until early February. But then it says NFL teams can't sign futures contracts until their seasons are over which means next Mondayy for the 18 teams who don't make the playoffs. My translation on that is CFL players can start attending tryouts for NFL teams on Dec 1 but can't actually sign a futures contract until next week.

Another tidbit is the article indicates NFL teams can only sign 2 CFL/XFL or players from other leagues to futures contracts. I was unaware there was a limit but could be why thw number who ultimately do get a contract is relatively few.

The author also delves into some current CFLers he thinks will get serious looks by the NFL.

https://twsn.net/2023/11/cfl-players-with-nfl-potential

[OV:54-40]

I wonder if there's been a 3 Down story or some other article on the success of CFL players who are on teams here getting off season tryouts in the NFL window and actually making the team?

How many actually end up out of the game and unlike say a Chris Streveler don't make money.
It takes a special breed of person who like Streveler is prepared to keep rolling the dice by moving around as that can be tough.

There have been several in recent years but I think the success rate between those who tryout, versus those who get contracts vs those who stick even if only on the practice squad is still low.

I found a couple interesting notes in this article. It says CFL players are "eligible" to sign from Dec 1 until early February. But then it says NFL teams can't sign futures contracts until their seasons are over which means next Mondayy for the 18 teams who don't make the playoffs. My translation on that is CFL players can start attending tryouts for NFL teams on Dec 1 but can't actually sign a futures contract until next week.

Another tidbit is the article indicates NFL teams can only sign 2 CFL/XFL or players from other leagues to futures contracts. I was unaware there was a limit but could be why thw number who ultimately do get a contract is relatively few.

The author also delves into some current CFLers he thinks will get serious looks by the NFL.

https://twsn.net/2023/11/cfl-players-with-nfl-potential

Interesting list on the guy's take of CFLers who might rate an NFL shot.

Both Oliveira & Brown could easily play and help at RB there IMO, but neither will get a real look IMO.

Mack & Schoen - again both could play there (and if there's one position group where top CFL players could easily help NFL teams it's receiver IMO) - the amount of weak receiver play and dropped passes I see in the NFL now is very noteworthy, but i'll bet against either of them sticking there IF they get a look.

Betts is a real long-shot but maybe ? Some NFL team should be looking at DeQuoy as a safety as well (blazing speed and plus DB size), but can't see it

Korsack maybe the best bet of the group named.

[SammyGreene]

The Lions have re-signed DE Sione Teuhema through 2025.

https://www.bclions.com/2024/01/03/sion ... 25-season/

Hovering outside my top 5 priorities (Betts, Cottoy, Hladik, Hatcher, Hollins) who is an important part of the core developed by the Lions. At 26, Jalen Edwards-Cooper also in that tier.

[don corleone]

Still bothers me to see guys getting released prior to a bonus payment due. Only in the CFL.

Also makes me wonder if the two year deal was part of the process that swayed Steven Dunbar to sign in Edmonton when he could have been a key player for the Ti Cats in a Grey Cup hosting year. Probably sounded good at the time.

It makes it hard to be a GM when the competition can renege on contractual obligations at the drop of a hat. The only choice is to play the same game. Too many free passes for the GM's with the ability to flush their mistakes for me. If only the divorce courts were so lenient.

Dunbar will find a job for less money and life goes on but it's one of the things that reflects poorly on the league in the eyes of the fans IMO. Other major sports honour their player contracts.

[maxlion]

Still bothers me to see guys getting released prior to a bonus payment due. Only in the CFL.

Also makes me wonder if the two year deal was part of the process that swayed Steven Dunbar to sign in Edmonton when he could have been a key player for the Ti Cats in a Grey Cup hosting year. Probably sounded good at the time.

It makes it hard to be a GM when the competition can renege on contractual obligations at the drop of a hat. The only choice is to play the same game. Too many free passes for the GM's with the ability to flush their mistakes for me. If only the divorce courts were so lenient.

Dunbar will find a job for less money and life goes on but it's one of the things that reflects poorly on the league in the eyes of the fans IMO. Other major sports honour their player contracts.

Isn't it a term of the contract that it can be terminated under certain conditions? I can see how it might seem unfair to the players, but if teams were reneging on contractual obligations as you say, then the players would surely have legal recourse.

[B.C.FAN]

Veteran players negotiate roster bonuses for their own benefit. They ask for part of their salary to be paid up front to protect against being cut around training camp, when other teams have already committed most of their salary cap. Dunbar has a chance to seek a new team as a free agent while GMs have cap space available.

The process is not unique to the CFL. Russell Wilson and the Broncos are facing a similar deadline, with much bigger numbers involved.

[Hambone]

What BCF said. These roster bonuses are effectively advances on the season salary and a tool that benefits the player as much or more than the team. By having them to be paid out in mid January they are forcing GMs to make a commitment on the season to them now. It's easy to accuse teams of reneging but the reality is they are very beneficial to the player in making the club fish or cut bait.

If the bonus date passes and the player earns his bonus he can comfortably go to camp feeling his job is secure. If they choose to cut the player to avoid the bonus he goes to free agency immediately thus getting a 3+ week head start on finding a new team and contract before the pending FA class gets their turn. It's like they get to jump the FA queue. Dunbar becomes very attractive for any GM thinking of upgrading at receiver in free agency because he's available today. That same GM looking at the pending FA list has no way of knowing who if any of the names they might covet will actually be available come Feb 13th.

If not for these roster bonuses to be paid out when they are the team could keep the player right thru free agency while they attempt to upgrade on him with one of the pending FAs. Then at some point after free agency they could dump him onto the market that has already emptied their piggy banks.

[Hambone]

Still bothers me to see guys getting released prior to a bonus payment due. Only in the CFL.

Also makes me wonder if the two year deal was part of the process that swayed Steven Dunbar to sign in Edmonton when he could have been a key player for the Ti Cats in a Grey Cup hosting year. Probably sounded good at the time.

It makes it hard to be a GM when the competition can renege on contractual obligations at the drop of a hat. The only choice is to play the same game. Too many free passes for the GM's with the ability to flush their mistakes for me. If only the divorce courts were so lenient.

Dunbar will find a job for less money and life goes on but it's one of the things that reflects poorly on the league in the eyes of the fans IMO. Other major sports honour their player contracts.

Isn't it a term of the contract that it can be terminated under certain conditions? I can see how it might seem unfair to the players, but if teams were reneging on contractual obligations as you say, then the players would surely have legal recourse.

CFL contracts are not guaranteed with the exception of salaries and benefits being guaranteed for the rest of the season for veterans after a certain number of games played by the team. A player can be released at any time. NFL is actually quite similar however most deals are structured in such a complicated way that it can be very expensive to let a guy go.

[don corleone]

Binding on behalf of the team is what gets me and owners trying to screw players over making a buck is a time honoured tradition going back 100 years. I still say exhibition games were invented in order to not pay full player salaries.

Things have come a long way with player unions but it is still not an easy job. The CFL contract expiring on the eve of training camp has always created an unlevel playing field for negotiation imo. Every training camp attendee voting is another sweetheart clause for the CFL.

The other thing is the free pass for the GMs who make these deals and drive up prices. Some form of accountability to go along with the responsibility needs to be shown IMO. Fear of losing makes developing players less of a priority and players start to want only one year deals because the league doesn't honour the second year anyway. Ends up in a mess in a hurry.