Argonauts show no Faith in QB Willy
One surprise among the Toronto Argonauts’ roster cuts announced late Saturday was quarterback Drew Willy, acquired from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for a first-round draft pick last September.
That pick ended up being first overall, which the Blue Bombers used to take Iowa defensive lineman Faith Ekakitie, a Brampton native.
Willy started four of the five games he played with Toronto and was handed the starting job at season’s end by then coach Scott Milanovich. But that all changed this off-season when Milanovich left to join the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and new coach Marc Trestman named veteran Ricky Ray as his starter.
Toronto cut 15 others, including defensive back Aaron Berry, who returned an interception for a TD in Toronto’s 24-20 exhibition win over Montreal on June 8.
The Argonauts open their regular season next Sunday at BMO Field against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The defending champion Ottawa Redblacks didn’t announce their cuts until Sunday. Among the 25 players released were quarterback Austin Trainor, running backs Shakir Bell and Ed Ilnicki, and receivers Daniel Adams, Tori Gurley, Daje Johnson, Vernon Johnson, Bilal Marshall and Riley Wilson. The club also announced that rookie receiver Jamal Kett had retired.
Bell rushed for 1,058 yards over two seasons with Edmonton.