Hufnagel retains core during busy week
All things considered, John Hufnagel had a pretty good week.
Not only did the Calgary Stampeders president and general manager re-sign almost all of his high-priority potential free agents before they hit the market Tuesday, he also added some nice depth pieces.
Then, on Friday, he made a lot of Stampeders fans very happy be signing Derek Dennis, who was named the CFL’s most outstanding offensive lineman with the Stamps before joining the Saskatchewan Roughriders last year.
So yes, it’s been a good week. “Well, before free agency started there were a few players that were priorities and fortunately we were able to sign four of the five,” Hufnagel said Friday from McMahon Stadium. “Tommie (Campbell) decided to sign elsewhere, but I was very pleased we were able to get (Jamar Wall, Ciante Evans, Roy Finch and DaVaris Daniels).
“I’ve always been a guy that, the guys that perform for us, get them under contract, try to have some continuity, try to keep the core intact. For the most part, we were able to do that.”
The one major loss for the Stampeders in free agency was Campbell, the 2016 all-star cornerback who rarely got beat by receivers last season.
Hufnagel seemed confident about re-signing Campbell late last week, but the 30-year-old opted to join the Montreal Alouettes.
Hufnagel declined to elaborate on why talks stalled with Campbell.
“You’ll have to ask Tommie that, we had two good discussions,” Hufnagel said. “There was time between (our) last discussion and the free-agency date and he definitely wasn’t knocking down my door to come see me, so there’s certain things I can’t control.”
After it became clear Campbell wouldn’t be returning to Calgary, Hufnagel didn’t waste time swooping in and signing former Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive back Emanuel Davis.
Davis is by no means a like-forlike replacement for Campbell, but he’s got a serious CFL pedigree and has a versatility that will be useful. Hufnagel wouldn’t commit to playing him at corner, though.
“Training camp will decide where they play, I just know he’s a player,” Hufnagel said. “I’m not going to say we’re going to line him up at boundary corner.”
One position in the defensive backfield Hufnagel did offer some clarity on was free safety. The newly-signed Adam Berger hinted Tuesday the Stamps were looking to play a Canadian at that position now that Josh Bell has retired and become the team’s defensive backs coach, which Hufnagel confirmed Friday.
“We’ll probably have a Canadian manning the free safety position, with Tunde being that guy,” Hufnagel said.
With the team likely starting Dennis at left tackle and another American at running back — where Canadian Jerome Messam played last year — having a national at safety should help with ratio issues.
One player who does not appear to be in the Stamps’ plans is receiver Marquay McDaniel. The Stamps released McDaniel last week and said they would be willing to speak with him again if both sides could come to terms on a new contract.
“I think I’m all tapped out, truthfully, unfortunately,” Hufnagel said. “I hope he does land somewhere, though.”