UPDATE ON MAURICE LLOYD OFFER

By Rob Vanstone 01-04-2009 COMMENTS(0) Rider Rumblings

Here's the latest from Roughriders general manager Eric Tillman regarding negotiations with soon-to-be free-agent linebacker Maurice Lloyd:

"Marty (Magid, Mo's agent) told me yesterday he was on a cruise during the holidays and didn't receive the last proposal we sent them. I keep copies of all of my professional e-mail correspondence, so I re-sent him the cc'd contract offer, which went out a few days before Christmas. Marty confirmed the the receipt of it yesterday (Saturday), and we agreed to speak again in the next few days."

"Just as I suggested to the Leader Post last week regarding this situation, it might be as simple as what I have learned from past experience: the holiday period often complicates communication because of family travel, with people being away from the office, being other directed, etc. As it turns out, that is exactly what transpired in this case."

"I've done many deals with Marty, and he's very professional. And, as we've told him multiple times, we would love to have Mo back. But, we also understand business is business, so, understand him fighting hard for his client.

So, we'll consider the counter proposal he has promised, and see how this all unfolds now that the holiday's are behind us, and our talks will take a much more serious tone."

"We had no cap space because of injuries last year, and that continued through the fiscal year (December 31st), which meant any signing bonuses extended in December would have counted on the '08 cap. That really handcuffed us, and I'd love to see the fiscal year run Grey Cup to Grey Cup. But that's another subject for another time. Right now, though, we're finally operating under the '09 cap, and we'll see how much progress we can make before free agency kicks in on February 16th."