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ROD PEDERSEN BLOG

5 BURNING QUESTIONS

The Canadian Football League has been in the news lots lately, in these dog days of winter. Dominating the headlines was the Toronto Argonauts' search for a new head coach, which concluded Friday with the hiring of longtime NFL assistant and NFL Europe head coach Bart Andrus.However with the CFL free agency deadline looming at midnight February 16, and still plenty of openings for assistant coaching positions across the league left to be filled, plenty of questions remain.

Here are some the most glaring:

1. Will Anthony Calvillo re-sign with the East Division Alouettes?- You would have to agree the 36-year old quarterback is the biggest fish in the current sea of free agents. His 5,624 yards passing and mind-boggling 43 touchdowns earned him the league's Most Outstanding Player Award in 2008 so by voting standards, he's the league's top player. The extension he signed in October of 2007 will run out in mid-February and barring a new deal with the Alouettes, he'll be free to listen to offers.However sources in Montreal say if Calvillo plays anywhere in 2009, it'll be with the Alouettes. The only thing standing in the way is his wife Alexia's ongoing battle with B-cell lymphoma. Calvillo hinted at retirement near the end of the 2008 campaign, but has yet to make his future known. Given the fact the Als lost the Grey Cup championship in their own park in November, it would be reasonable to expect A-C to return for some unfinished business.

2. Where will free agent non-import RB Jesse Lumsden sign, if not with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats?- It's hard to believe Lumsden is already entering his fifth CFL campaign. It seemed like only yesterday he burst onto the Ticats' scene as their first round, 6th overall pick in the 2005 Canadian College Draft after a stellar career at McMaster University. However injuries have hampered his promising career mightily, limiting his rushing yards to just 307, 163, 743 and 584 respectively over the past four seasons.Now 26 years of age, the 6'2", 226 lb back finds himself at a crossroads. The Ticats have reportedly put a deal on the table which would make Lumsden one of the highest-paid Canadians in the game. However sources in Edmonton say the Eskimos made a strong play to land Lumsden at last season's trade deadline but were rebuffed. Might they be putting together a solid financial offer in hopes of attracting him once the deadline hits? It would seem like a natural fit, as Lumsden was born in Edmonton during his father Neil's glory days with the powerhouse Eskimos. But don't expect the Tabbies to let him slip through their fingers easily. He has become the face of their franchise.

3. Whom will the Saskatchewan Roughriders look to to replace defensive coordinator Richie Hall, who left to become the head coach in Edmonton?Roughrider General Manager Eric Tillman says an announcement on this very topic may be made by the end of this week. Tillman also pointed out on Wednesday that an offer to the new DC has been made, and in turn, has been accepted. All that's left is the official announcement. The smart money is on former Argo coach Gary Etcheverry, who spent the 2008 season as a defensive consultant in Saskatchewan. He has worked with Miller in prior football incarnations and clearly there's a welcome familiarity there. However the names of Dave Ritchie and Kavis Reed have entered the mix.There's a very real possibility all three may be hired and share the role with Etcheverry as the top dog. Ritchie left the BC Lions as their defensive coordinator after the 2007 season, citing retirement, but it's clear the coaching bug hasn't left him. Does it ever really? With Ritchie's advanced age and Etcheverry's stated desire to be a head coach at the CIS level, Reed could enter the equation as a defensive backs coach with a succession plan where he may one day become the D.C. With the departure of Hall, the Riders lost a coordinator AND a DBs coach.

4. What are the B.C. Lions going to do with all of their cap space?With the release of high profile veterans such as SB Jason Clermont, LB Otis Floyd and DT Tyrone Williams, the departure of free agent DE Cameron Wake to the NFL's Miami Dolphins and their decision not to pick up the option on RB Charles Roberts' contract, Lions coach and GM Wally Buono is sitting on reportedly $500,000 in extra salary to throw around.Rumours persist the Lions are lining their ducks in a row to put forth an offer in the neighbourhood of $150,000 per season for Saskatchewan Roughriders' linebacker Maurice Lloyd, who is poised to become a free agent. Lloyd would have to be considered the top defensive free agent on the market, coming off an All-Star season where he was also named Saskatchewan's defensive MVP. Although he's made it known his preference is to remain in Saskatchewan, Tillman may not be prepared to match the Lions' offer. The Eskimos may join the party as well, creating a bidding war.

5. Who will new Argonauts coach Bart Andrus hire to fill out his coaching staff?This may be the most intriguing question of them all. Only offensive coordinator Steve Burratto will be retained from the staff employed by Toronto head coaches Don Mathews and Rich Stubler during the 2008 season. Andrus brings an offensive mind to Toronto, so the retention of Burratto is something of a head-scratcher. Perhaps it's for continuity and guidance.Andrus' first hire (other than Burratto) was journeyman Peter Kuharchek as defensive coordinator. Kuharchek's 40-plus years in the coaching ranks have included stops in NFL Europe with the Rhein Fire, the Arena Football League and the B.C. Lions back in 1991. Kuharchek told the media upon his hiring Wednesday, that he has lots of homework to do in order to catch up to speed with the new CFL.