STAMPS MAKE A SPLASH ON DAY 1 OF FREE AGENCY
Stamps make several key moves on first day of free agency , writes Danny Austin
So much for the Calgary Stampeders taking it easy on the first day of CFL free agency.
Stampeders president/GM John Hufnagel had a busy day on Tuesday, re-signing two players from last year’s squad, adding three new signings to the 2018 team and allowing two defensive backs to leave town.
After an off-season that’s already seen several key veterans either retire (OL Dan Federkeil, HB Rob Cote), be traded (DE Charleston Hughes) or get released (receiver Marquay McDaniel), Hufnagel’s wheeling and dealing further cemented the notion that the Stampeders squad that takes the field in 2018 will look very different from the one that lost in the Grey Cup last season.
Here’s how the first day of free agency went for the Stampeders:
8:48 a.m. — Roy Finch re-signs
A little more than an hour before free agency began, the Stampeders locked down their star kick returner.
Finch is the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player and looks likely to take on a bigger role on the offensive side of the ball as a running back or even a slot receiver.
12:03 p.m. — Deron Mayo re-signs
After missing the 2017 season due to a knee injury suffered late in 2016, there was some question as to whether Mayo would be back. Two hours after free agency opened, that question was answered when the 29-yearold was re-signed.
He hasn’t played in more than a year, but Mayo has been with the Stamps for six seasons. He was leading the team in tackles before he got hurt in 2016.
2:04 p.m. — Adam Berger joins Stamps
Berger was drafted by the Stampeders in 2012 and spent four seasons in Calgary before joining the Ottawa Redblacks last year.
He’s a defensive back and special teams player who posted five defensive tackles and four special teams tackles with the Redblacks last year, and is returning to the team looking to compete and play on a DB unit that was the stingiest in the league last season.
2:57 p.m. — Emanuel Davis joins Stamps
The Stampeders made a splash with this one, bringing in a 28-year-old defensive back who was named to the East Division all-star team in 2015 and 2016.
The East Carolina product spent the past four seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, where he compiled 191 defensive tackles, 24 special teams tackles, 10 interceptions, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 10 touchdowns, 29 knock-downs and one sack in 61 career regular season games.
3:43 p.m. — Campbell, Burnett sign with Als
Arguably the best corner in the league last season, Campbell followed his DB coach from last year — new Alouettes defensive co-ordinator Kahlil Carter — to Montreal.
Joining him will be Joe Burnett, who joined the Stamps in 2015 and spent three seasons with the team.
5:13 p.m. — Ese Mrabure joins Stamps
Hufnagel added a little more with the signing of Mrabure.
The North York, Ont. native has played in 38 CFL games over three seasons with the B.C. Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders, and he’ll add depth at defensive tackle.