MORE FREE AGENCY

By The Canadaian Press, with Terry Jones files


The Edmonton Eskimos lost an offensive lineman and a linebacker and added a safety and a defensive end in the midnight madness at the start of the Canadian Football League free-agent season last night.

The Eskimos signed free-agent safety Scott Gordon from Saskatchewan and traded to get defensive end Kai Ellis from Winnipeg.
Linebacker Siddeeq Shaabazz went to the Bombers in the trade and offensive lineman Joe McGrath went to Saskatchewan. The move is a homecoming of sorts for the six-foot-five, 290-pound McGrath, who is a native of Moose Jaw, Sask.

The Eskimos also apparently received good news last night when the window closed for the signing of players by NFL teams, leaving OL Patrick Kabongo and R Kelly Campbell as Eskimos for nexy season.

CFL sources requesting anonymity told The Canadian Press of several moves that were made moments after the 10:01 a.m. MT deadline last night.
Winnipeg bolstered its offensive line at Saskatchewan’s expense by signing former Riders linemen Glenn January. The Bombers made the move out of necessity, though, after losing both Dominic Picard and Alexandre Gauthier.

Picard joined the Toronto Argonauts – giving them depth at centre with veteran Chad Folk – while Gauthier came to terms with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Riders busy

The Roughriders were busy last night, acquiring backup linebacker Aaron Wagner in a trade with the Toronto Argonauts.

Offensive lineman were deemed the top commodity in what otherwise was regarded as a shallow free-agency talent pool. Rob Murphy of the B.C. Lions – twice the CFL’s top lineman – is the undisputed top player of that group and one coveted by a number of teams.

But word late yesterday had Murphy heading to Hamilton, which would certainly be a huge coup for a team that posted a league-worst 3-15 record last season. Ticats general manager Bob O’Billovich did not immediately return a telephone message last night.
If Murphy does sign with Hamilton, that could force the club to make a decision on the future of quarterback Casey Printers. Printers is reportedly earning nearly $500,000 a season and releasing him would give the Ticats some salary-cap relief.
More to come

Hamilton also has impressive youngster Quinton Porter available at quarterback and has been speaking to Winnipeg about a possible trade for veteran Kevin Glenn, who could either step in and give the Ticats time to further groom Porter or provide a veteran backup presence should Porter struggle. Glenn was the East Division’s outstanding player in ’07 and helped the Bombers reach the Grey Cup, but didn’t play in the game due to an arm injury.

There is some quality linebackers available in Toronto’s Willie Pile and the Saskatchewan trio of Maurice Lloyd, Mike McCullough and Anton McKenzie. The Riders will also reportedly part ways with veteran receiver D.J. Flick, who missed most of last season with a broken leg.

Another notable free agent is Canadian-born tailback Jesse Lumsden. The Edmonton native who grew up in Burlington, Ont., has the enviable blend of power and speed but the six-foot-two, 226-pound running back has battled injuries, having endured season-ending shoulder surgery in each of the last two years with Hamilton.