Sinkfield is leaving no stone unturned
CFL free agent wants a shot at the NFL — so he’s flipping to the other side of the ball
One of the few impact names remaining on the CFL free agent market is providing a plot twist.
After tweeting a tiger emoji in February shortly after free agency began, most believed 26-year-old receiver Terrell Sinkfield Jr. would be headed back to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats if he couldn’t find another NFL offer to his liking. Considering Sinkfield was a dangerous weapon for Ticats head coach Kent Austin in 2015, it seemed to be a fit for both sides.
While that might still be where he ends up, the 26-year-old is apparently considering all sorts of fits — one of which includes converting to defensive back south of the border. During the University of Minnesota pro day on Monday, Sinkfield, who spent last summer in the Minnesota Vikings’ training camp before returning to the CFL late in the season with the B.C. Lions, was spotted running around on the opposite side of the football.
“It was my first time doing some (defensive back) drills in front of some scouts, so I just wanted to show them that I can play DB, too,” Sinkfield was quoted as saying on the Vikings’ website. He said he played defensive back in high school — “I’ve been a receiver for a couple of years,” he said, “but I’m transitioning to that.”
It’s clear Sinkfield is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to securing another NFL gig before re-engaging with CFL clubs.
“Whatever they want to bring me in as, that’s what my focus would be,” Sinkfield told the website. “But as far as training and all that, I’m doing receiver and cornerback work.
“I’m a free agent now and I’m just trying to get signed.”
There’s no such thing as having too many quality Canadian offensive linemen, but there is such a thing as being able to smartly deal from a position of strength.
That may be what new Toronto Argonauts general manager Jim Popp is thinking after signing the last remaining national starting option on the market in 30-yearold guard J’Michael Deane, who spent the first six years of his career with the Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Redblacks, winning a Grey Cup last November.
That leaves the Boatmen with projected Canadian starters at left guard (Tyler Holmes), centre (Sean McEwen), right guard (Corey Watman) and right tackle (Chris Van Zeyl).
Add in veteran guards Peter Dyakowski and Wayne Smith, Deane and 2016 draft picks D.J. Sankey (13th overall), Jamal Campbell (22nd overall) and Chris Kolankowski (49th overall) and you have 10 Canadian options on the roster.
Popp has never hid his affinity for starting five Canadians up front, but finding one capable of playing left tackle isn’t easy.
Five players moved on from last Friday’s Eastern Regional Combine at Concordia University in Montreal to the main combine in Regina.
Heading to Saskatchewan to strut their stuff with the other top prospects from March 23 to 25 are Carleton University receiver Malcolm Carter, Université de Montréal defensive tackle Mathieu Dupuis, Calgary-born Harland Hastings, out of Acadia University, and the University of Sherbrooke duo of linebacker Alexandre Chevrier and running back Anthony Gosselin.
Carter, who spent last year toiling with the Ottawa Sooners of the Canadian Junior Football League, was the standout, checking in at an impressive six foot six with a 40-inch vertical and the second-best 40-yard dash time (4.65).
Perhaps the best story, however, was Montreal Carabins kicker Felix Menard-Briere amazingly posting the top overall times — out of 43 players — in the 40, the shuttle and the three-cone.