Hufnagel miffed over ‘confusing’ off-season
The puzzle master has been put to the test this CFL off-season.
And Calgary Stampeders general manager/president John Hufnagel used words like “confusing” and “challenging” Monday in trying to put together what he hopes is another masterpiece for the 2019 season.
“(It’s a strange off-season) because there’s such a high number (of free agents), period,” Hufnagel said. "And obviously there’s a lot of good players because the Canadian Football League has a lot of good football players playing in it.
“And when more than half the players out there are free agents, as this year seems to be, there’s a lot of good players out there.”
Many are Grey Cup champions from Hufnagel’s roster as talents like Micah Johnson, Ja’Gared Davis, Ciante Evans, Emanuel Davis, Tunde Adeleke, DaVaris Daniels and Eric Rogers have yet to re-sign.
Many could bolt to other CFL clubs as early as 10 a.m. Tuesday, when the free-agency window opens.
“We’ve signed a lot of players,” said Hufnagel, who is trying to work within the frames of a supposed $5.2-million salary cap per team. “We’ve signed 17 players from last year’s roster that were free agents. I’m going to try to sign a lot of the guys. I’m the type of general manager that wants to sign the guys in that locker-room. I’ve had success 17 times.”
Hufnagel has tabled offers to most of the team’s championship players.
“I don’t know why they’re waiting,” Hufnagel said. “But there are a few players waiting possibly to not sign until (Tuesday) to see what else is out there. I’ve given a lot of players, I think, fair offers. Sometimes I thought I’ve had a deal and the player’s gone AWOL. “That’s a confusing aspect of it.” Another aspect that throws a wrench into the works is there is no collective bargaining agreement to replace the one slated to expire May 15. So GMs are doing guesswork of some sort when putting deals together.
“It makes it difficult and confusing and challenging,” Hufnagel said. “But you have to have certain guidelines and we’ve been instructed to have certain guidelines and just move on with it.”
To boot, the Alliance of American Football kicked off over the weekend, creating competition for CFL GMs. For one thing, the minimum salary is US$70,000 in the AAF compared to CDN$54,000 last season in the CFL.
A standard AAF player pact is three years and US$250,000 and players can earn more in bonuses.
“We had our scouts go down and they reported it,” Hufnagel said. “I think it’s a competitor for sure.”
JOHNSON OFF TO LIONS?
Don’t expect Johnson to return to the Stampeders.
“Micah’s had his offer for a couple of weeks now,” Hufnagel said. “He wants to go to free agency, so I’m not quite sure how that’s going to go. We probably can’t use the word ‘optimistic’ when talking about Micah.”
Moreover, expect the CFL allstar to bolt to the Lions to re-join DeVone Claybrooks, who traded in his gig as Stamps defensive co-ordinator to become B.C.’s head coach.
Other defensive stars from the Stamps championship club are expected to follow suit to re-join the charismatic Claybrooks.
Big-money savings on failing to sign Johnson or Davis could mean paying to get better at other positions, particularly at receiver where Rogers has been talking retirement and Daniels is not expected back, supposedly miffed at the Stamps after being left off the roster in the championship game.
But if quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell returns, expect a few receivers to return.
TRIO OF SIGNINGS
Canadian receiver Juwan Brescacin reportedly re-signed with the Stamps Monday, according to 3downnation.com’s Justin Dunk.
Hufnagel said Monday defensive linemen Junior Turner, a key fixture for the Stampeders, as well as fellow Canadian Ese Mrabure, a likely starter, have also signed with the team.
On offensive line, Hufnagel said Spencer Wilson and Randy Richards have not yet been offered deals.