Als shore up offence with Olafioye
The rebuilding project appears to be complete. Beginning in late June, we’ll begin to discover how sturdy the new Alouettes’ structure has become.
General manager Kavis Reed has overhauled a team that has missed the playoffs two consecutive seasons, making changes at quarterback and the offensive line — as he vowed he would — in December, when he replaced Jim Popp.
The latest move came Monday, when the Als acquired import offensive tackle Jovan Olafioye from British Columbia for the rights to non-import offensive-lineman David Foucault and Vincent Brown, another import offensive lineman who was on Montreal’s practice roster and didn’t figure in the team’s plans.
Veteran Darian Durant, acquired in a trade from Saskatchewan, will be the Als’ starting quarterback, while Montreal acquired import offensive-tackle Brian Simmons last month from Hamilton for defensive-back Ethan Davis.
Reed said two imports would play tackle. Training camp will decide who plays the all-important left side. Olafioye, a 6-foot-6, 325-pounder, switched there last season and was named a Canadian Football League all-star for a sixth consecutive year. He also was named the league’s most outstanding offensive-lineman in 2012.
“It’s a bittersweet day ... a bittersweet feeling. I’ve been here for so long. I’ve been successful with this team and organization,” Olafioye told the Montreal Gazette by telephone. “I definitely didn’t see it coming. I do understand the business, although emotionally I’m still attached to this team — tied to the players here and the coaches.”
Olafioye became too rich for the Lions. He earned a base salary of $200,000 last season. He signed a new deal with the Als and was forced to take a reduction, although he received an undisclosed signing bonus to soften the blow.
“The signing bonus was important,” said the Detroit native.
Olafioye said he remains undaunted coming to a team that has struggled the last two seasons and hasn’t reached the Grey Cup since winning it in 2010. He believes many key components are in place with Durant’s addition and the return to health, supposedly, of receiver S.J. Green, who will team with free-agent addition Ernest Jackson.
“They have a lot of good pieces even though maybe their record didn’t reflect their team,” said Olafioye, 29.
Foucault, 28, was the Als’ firstround (fifth overall) draft choice in 2014, but signed with the Carolina Panthers. He dressed for five games as a rookie and was on the practice roster in 2015 before being released last August.
It’s believed Foucault, a 6-foot8, 305-pounder, was seeking six figures from the Als, who weren’t prepared to pay that for a nonstarter. The Lions’ focus shifted to Foucault after they originally expressed an interest in guard Philippe Gagnon, selected second overall last May.