Jones releases 19 pending free agents
Chris Jones has quickly made his mark on the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Jones, who was named the Riders’ general manager, vice-president of football operations and head coach on Dec. 7, revealed his football operations staff on Tuesday.
Shortly after announcing the hiring of John Murphy as assistant vice-president of football operations and player personnel and the retention of Jeremy O’Day as assistant VP of football operations and administration, the Riders announced that 19 pending free agents had been released.
The list includes veterans such as running back Anthony Allen, safety/linebacker Tyron Brackenridge, linebacker Macho Harris, defensive backs Terrell Maze, Weldon Brown and Marshay Green, quarterback Blake Sims and fullback Scott McHenry. They are now free to sign with any team in advance of the CFL’s free-agent deadline on Feb. 9.
“This is never something you look forward to as a coach to have to let someone go,’’ Jones said while meeting with the media at Mosaic Stadium. “Instead of dragging our feet, waiting and potentially shutting the door on somebody, maybe this opens the door for one of these guys to find employment.’’
Jones is known as a defensive head coach and that was among the reasons he named himself defensive co-ordinator. The former Edmonton Eskimos head coach targeted Saskatchewan’s defence as an aspect of the Riders that needs rebuilding.
The performance of the defence was among the reasons for Saskatchewan’s 3-15 record in 2015. Jones favours bigger, aggressive defensive players and most of the Riders who were released didn’t fit that role.
“The one area that I feel that we can do some things (is) defensively,’’ said Jones, who led the Eskimos to a 26-20 win over the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2015 Grey Cup game in just his second season as head coach. “I know exactly what I’m looking for and I know what their abilities are because I’ve watched them very closely over the course of the last couple of years.’’
More than their performances came into play when determining which players were released. The salary cap was also part of the discussions. “That’s the reality of football in today’s market,’’ Jones said. “When you have guys who are making the higher paycheques, you have to part ways with them.’’
Tuesday’s cuts leave the Riders with 51 players on their active roster, including franchise quarterback Darian Durant, backup quarterbacks Brett Smith and Keith Price, slotbacks Chris Getzlaf and Weston Dressler and offensive lineman Brendon LaBatte. The release of the pending free agents will certainly add to the veterans’ unsettled feelings with Jones in his new roles.
“I don’t want anyone to be worried,’’ Jones said. “I just want the guys to work and be themselves and when their opportunities come, to prove their worth. I’m sure that they will.’’
The Riders are also apparently cutting ties with trainer Ivan Gutfriend, executive assistant Cheryl McLean-Keil and strength and conditioning co-ordinator Dan Farthing. All three were long-serving members of the Riders’ football operations.
The addition of Murphy and the retention of O’Day mean the Riders have hired three of the four candidates on their short list for general manager and vice-president of football operations. Brock Sunderland, an assistant general manager with Ottawa, was the other candidate who was interviewed for the vacancy.
Craig Reynolds, the Riders’ president and CEO, selected Jones for the openings. Jones was then in touch with Murphy and O’Day about filling out his football operations staff.
Murphy joins the Riders after spending eight seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, the last five as their assistant general manager and director of player personnel. Murphy is among the league’s leading personnel men and is credited with keeping the Stampeders competitive with his eye for international talent.
O’Day returns to the Riders after serving as the interim general manager and vice-president of football operations after Aug. 31. O’Day was promoted from assistant general manager to GM and VP of football operations when Brendan Taman was fired after the Riders opened the season with nine consecutive losses. Head coach Corey Chamblin was also fired and replaced on an interim basis by Bob Dyce.
O’Day was believed to be the leading candidate for the full-time position, but that changed when Jones indicated his interest in the multiple roles.
More additions are to come today when Jones reveals his coaching staff. It’s believed that most of Edmonton’s coaches and co-ordinators will follow him to Regina.