FREE-AGENCY ASSESSMENT
Murphy figures team better ... at least on paper
John Murphy was cautious when asked whether the Saskatchewan Roughriders are an improved team now that the CFL’s free agent frenzy has cooled down.
“Until we put on the pads, that’s a tough question to answer,” the Riders’ vice-president of football operations and player personnel said Friday from his home in New Orleans.
“Does it look better on paper? Being good on paper has never won anything. I don’t want to be disrespectful to the hard work those players put in last year. They helped turn the corner and put this team back on the track of being a playoff-contending club.
“On paper, in certain areas that we needed to fortify and to get better, we’re better.”
The Riders addressed many of their needs prior to the deadline by re-signing veterans such as receiver Duron Carter, defensive end Willie Jefferson, quarterback Brandon Bridge and centre Dan Clark, and trading for defensive end Charleston Hughes and quarterback Zach Collaros.
Once free agency started Tuesday, the Riders landed defensive tackle Zack Evans, linebacker Sam Hurl, running back Jerome Messam and offensive lineman Travis Bond, in addition to re-signing fullback Spencer Moore.
The Riders also cut offensive lineman Derek Dennis, linebacker Glenn Love and middle linebacker Henoc Muamba to clear salary cap space.
Murphy said it was difficult to release those veterans after they contributed so much in 2017.
“For us to stay competitive and take the next step, by doing what it takes to host a playoff game or to play a road playoff game like the one we encountered last year, we’re much better equipped to handle it than if we had stayed the same,” he said.
Muamba was reportedly due a $35,000 roster bonus on Thursday and, with bonuses, could have earned as much as $220,000 in 2018. The Riders cut Muamba after failing to renegotiate his contract.
“They were looking for a highvalue contract, which is fair for them to expect,” Murphy said. “That would have left us without the ability to sign or even compete to sign a defensive tackle, or other guys who were free agents. It was a good class of Canadian defensive tackles this year, and each one of those guys got deals that were better than the ones they had.”
Murphy feels the Riders may have more flexibility at middle linebacker without Muamba. Hurl started 18 games at middle linebacker in 2017 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“We were able to make the moves we made by adding a substantial Canadian defensive tackle and a steady linebacker who can rotate and compete at (middle or weakside linebacker),’’ Murphy said. “We also have the guys that we have drafted over the years.
“The combination of being able to come out of the day with multiple Canadian options to compete in spots allows us be in a much better position if there is an injury, or if somebody isn’t as productive as you would expect him to be. This way, we’re not tied to a one-position player.’’
The Riders are still searching for an offensive tackle, cornerback and another Canadian defensive tackle.
“It’s about fitting in with who we want competing at the spot, and how they fit in monetarily with what we’ve put together,’’ Murphy said. “We’re probably on the sixth or seventh version of the projection of what the roster with the salary cap would look like.”
NOTES: The Riders have announced the signings of three nationals — running back Johnny Augustin, defensive back Adam Laurensse and defensive lineman Cory Robinson ... Dennis signed Friday with the Stampeders. He was named the CFL’s lineman of the year with Calgary in 2016.