Carabins players aim to impress scouts at workout
It’s never a good sign when the media outnumber the scouts at a player’s pro day — even in Montreal, when the Canadiens are out of town and people are scrambling for a story.
Having said that, receiver Régis Cibasu and kicker Félix MénardBrière, along with the agent who represents the two Université de Montréal players, weren’t about to complain that only one NFL scout, from Washington, was at Soccerplexe Catalogna on Monday morning.
And Darryl Franklin, the Washington representative, was prohibited from talking to the media.
“Whether you have one (NFL team) or 32, as soon as an NFL team wants to travel in the middle of winter to Montreal or Quebec City, you have to organize it. It only takes one team,” Montreal agent Sasha-Ghavamisaid.
This is a busy time in the NFL, as teams prepare for the draft at the end of April. Free agency began on Monday. There will be regional pro days beginning next week that numerous players will be attending. And, while only a Washington scout was on site, scouts from Oakland and Pittsburgh said they would have made the trip if not for free agency.
Besides, video was taken of all the drills that will be sent to NFL teams. And Carabins head coach Danny Maciocia said he has fielded calls from about eight teams expressing some interest in the 6-foot-3, 233-pound Cibasu, who participated in last January ’s EastWest Shrine all-star game in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Nonetheless, when Ghavami organized a similar pro day for McGill offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif four years ago, nine NFL teams attended. DuvernayTardif was selected by Kansas City in the sixth round and is now the Chiefs’ starting right guard.
“It’s never really good timing,” Ghavami said. “You can always find reasons not to do it. At some point you say we’re doing it this date, come if you can. If not, we’re going to send it to you. It’s not about the quantity of teams. It’s about doing it and having at least one show up.”
The Alouettes sent a scout, while Saskatchewan was represented by an assistant coach, although they were there only for Cibasu.
Ménard-Brière was drafted by Winnipeg and signed, only to be released. So he returned for his final year of university eligibility. While his CFL rights belong to the Blue Bombers, he also remains eligible for this year’s NFL draft.
Cibasu, 24, caught 145 passes for 1,765 yards in four seasons with the Carabins, while scoring seven touchdowns. He was the conference’s outstanding rookie in 2014 along with the Vanier Cup’s most valuable player. The school’s career leader in receptions, he’s ranked eighth overall by the CFL’s scouting bureau, but is unlikely to attend the league’s national combine, March 24-25 in Winnipeg, because of school commitments.
On Monday, Cibasu’s best time in the 40 was 4.8 seconds. He benchpressed 225 pounds 18 times. He’s unlikely to get drafted by an NFL team, but has an outside shot of being signed as an undrafted free agent and being invited to rookie mini-camp.
“I did my best. I gave all I had. I hope they liked what they saw,” he said. “I just need one chance, one scout. Even one scout (attending) is a blessing. This is my chance, my path.
“I still believe I can play (in the NFL). I’m going to continue working until I get this shot. I still believe I can.”
Maciocia, a former GM and head coach with the Edmonton Eskimos, said any NFL team would be taking a worthwhile risk pursuing Cibasu, who is projected to play tight end or fullback in the NFL.
“His arrow is pointed upwards. He’s got a huge upside,” Maciocia said. “Physically, he’s got all the tools. Everything he’s gotten in life ... was through hard work. He’s a student of the game. He’s never missed a game, practice, lift or run. He hasn’t been an issue off the field. He’s been a model student-athlete.
“I would think that’s intriguing for anybody to know he has those qualities and they can grow together.”
Ménard-Brière, who appears buried in Winnipeg behind Justin Medlock, attended mini-camp with the New York Giants last season. Indianapolis also expressed some interest at that time.