Bowman, Cunningham return to Alouettes with two-year deals
The Montreal Alouettes re-signed veteran defensive end John Bowman and receiver B.J. Cunningham to two-year contracts, the CFL club announced on Tuesday.
Montreal also signed two-year deals with a pair of Canadians, fullback Christophe Normand and offensive lineman Spencer Wilson. Later in the afternoon, the team signed receiver DeVier Posey and non-import linebacker Bo Lokombo from B.C., and defensive back Patrick Levels from Calgary.
Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Bowman, 36, who joined the Alouettes in 2006, will play a 14th season in the CFL. The defensive end had 32 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble and one pass knockdown in 2018. He also recovered two fumbles, including one for a touchdown.
“To have John back with us is excellent news for our team,” Alouettes general manager Kavis Reed said on the team’s website. “He is still one of the best defensive players in our league and he personifies longevity and excellence. He is a true leader on the field and in the locker room. No doubt that the presence of this future hall of famer will be a plus for our organization.”
In November, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native who was eligible to hit the market when CFL free agency began at noon on Tuesday, told Alouettes coaches he was 98 per cent certain he would retire.
“I didn’t want to be the guy being dragged and kicked off the field,” Bowman told the Gazette’s Herb Zurkowsky. “I want to leave with some pride. I thought I played pretty good this year, not looking at the numbers, because they’re down. I’m still rushing the quarterback, I’m still competing, I’m still playing 60 plays a game. I still feel good and I’m competing. But I don’t want them to force me out. I want to leave on my own accord.”
The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder has won two Grey Cups, was named an East Division all-star seven times and a CFL all-star twice. In 13 CFL seasons and 213 regular-season games — all played with the Alouettes — Bowman has 126 sacks, 31 forced fumbles and one touchdown.
Cunningham, 29, who was also eligible for CFL free agency, was the Alouettes’ second-leading receiver in 2018, with 52 receptions for 631 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games. In 57 career-games with the Alouettes, the 6-foot-1, 199-pound native of Westerville, Ohio, has 209 catches, 2,922 yards and 15 TDs.
“B.J. has been one of the leaders of our receivers squad over the seasons,” Reed said. “We are glad that he has chosen to pursue his career with the Alouettes and that he will help our offence continue its progression. He is a great role model for our young receivers, while making an excellent target for our quarterbacks.”
Normand, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound former Université Laval Rouge et Or rusher, had seven special-teams tackles for the Edmonton Eskimos last season. The Bromont native, 27, also caught three passes for 21 yards.
Wilson, a 6-foot-7, 319-pounder, has played in 108 games in nine CFL seasons, all with the Calgary Stampeders. Last season, the 30-year-old Toronto native was part of an offensive line that allowed a league low 27 sacks.
Posey, 28, is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound wide receiver who has played 24 games in three CFL seasons. He spent his first two years in the league with the Argonauts, before suiting up for the Lions in 2018. Last season, the Redwood City, Calif., native had 29 receptions for 395 yards and three touchdowns.
Lokombo, 28, is a 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker who has played 61 games over four CFL seasons, all with the Lions. Lokombo finished the 2018 season with 71 defensive tackles, 16 special-teams tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.
Levels, 24, is a 5-foot-11. 185-pound defensive back who made 20 tackles, knocked down three passes and had one interception last season for the Grey Cup-winning Stampeders. The Dallas native has played 25 games with the Stamps over his two-year CFL career.