Esks’ Benevides packs bags over CFL cap crunch

EDMONTON Mike Benevides is the latest casualty of the new CFL nonplayer operations cap.

The Edmonton Eskimos announced Friday that Benevides won’t be returning to Jason Maas’ coaching staff for the 2019 season.

Benevides had been the team’s assistant head coach and defensive co-ordinator since Maas took over as Eskimos head coach in 2016.

Prior to joining the Eskimos, Benevides spent three seasons as head coach of the B.C. Lions (201214).

“I will truly miss the amazing fan base and people of Edmonton, the relationships I’ve built with the players and all those in the Edmonton Eskimo organization, as well as working for Jason,” the Toronto native said in a statement.

Eskimos general manager Brock Sunderland said in a statement that the team couldn’t come to terms with Benevides on a salary that would fit under the non-player football operations salary cap announced by the league on Thursday.

The cap, set at just under $2.59 million for the next two seasons, has already had a marked effect on the league.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced Wednesday that the team was parting ways with assistant vice-president of football operations and player personnel John Murphy.

Meanwhile, longtime coach Jerry Glanville is leaving his post as defensive co-ordinator for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Ticats announced that the 77-year-old Glanville won’t return for a second season due to personal reasons.

After being promoted to head coach earlier this week, Orlondo Steinauer said he wanted Glanville to return.

Glanville — working under former head coach June Jones, who stepped into the offensive co-ordinator role this week to allow Steinauer to step up — helped guide the Ticats to the East final this year after the team finished 8-10 during the regular season.