MORE CFL TALK

From Ian Hamilton of the L-P:

Having lost another veteran middle linebacker this off-season, the Saskatchewan Roughriders may be set to bring in an experienced replacement.Barrin Simpson (pictured above), who has been named a CFL all-star six times during his nine-year career, confirmed Tuesday he has talked with the Roughriders."

(Coming to Saskatchewan) could be a possibility," the 32-year-old free agent said from his home in Keller, Texas. "It's just a matter of seeing what happens with it . . .

"You know how the business side of things has to go. That's where we're at right now is handling the business side of it and making it work for both parties."Simpson said the sides are "definitely close," noting that "it's not a money issue" that's holding up an agreement."That's a class organization over there in Saskatchewan," Simpson said. "It's definitely a place I'm considering.

There are some other options out there, but you want to be in the best situation -- and for me, that's having an opportunity to win a championship."

---From Lowell Ulrick's Vancouver Province blog:The release of Buck Pierce last week fulfilled a promise by Wally Buono to reduce the backlog of Lions quarterbacks for training camp, but the coach of the CFL team might not be done yet.The contract extension of Casey Printers has put the Lions in a position where they can look at making another move involving Jarious Jackson, whose name continues to be linked to the Toronto Argonauts.Buono said he has not had talks involving the 32-year-old backup lately but had ample opportunity at the league's Canadian college evaluation camp in Toronto on the weekend."I'm open to anything," the coach said, hardly sounding uncomfortable with a potential opening-day roster of Travis Lulay and Zac Champion behind Printers.Toronto is not the only team which could benefit from a quarterback with CFL experience but has three pivots on the roster who have yet to start a game in the league.

---IN SHORT... The final piece of the Lions coaching staff will be put into place no later than the start of next week when the replacement for retired defensive line coach Mike Roach starts work. Ex-CFL great Michael Gray was the primary candidate but he took a NCAA coaching job at UNLV in January. James (Quick) Parker is among those to have been interviewed for the opening. Also looking to move from the CIS to the CFL is former UBC interim head coach Dino Geremia...

---Craig Smith, who served two terms for the Lions in player personnel roles, is about to formally take a similar position with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.---

From Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press:The CFL Entry Draft is less than two months away and Blue Bombers coach Paul LaPolice says the club is not interested in trading away any of its picks despite lots of offers."There's lots of trade talk and lots of offers like, 'we've got a good American linebacker that can help you, we'll take a fourth-round pick for him,' but we're not interested in dealing our picks," said LaPolice."The key to this league is Canadian content. We want to keep our picks. We're not going to be in the business of trading our picks."