Riders lead CFL with 29 free agents
“SIGNING SOME OF THOSE GUYS MIGHT BE TOUGHER THAN OTHERS, DEPENDING WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR CAREER,”
COREY CHAMBLIN
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be dealing with more than changes to their coaching staff during the off-season.
The CFL officially released its list of the potential free agents on Tuesday and the Riders led the way with 29. Head coach Corey Chamblin said Tuesday that he will sort out who will be his offensive and defensive co-ordinators before formally attacking the list of Riders who can file for free agency on Feb. 10.
“(General manager Brendan Taman) and I have had conversations about (the free agents),’’ Chamblin said. “We’ve been able to put together a list and who is 1A and 1B and all of those type of things, including the order we have to get them signed. There are a lot of guys sitting out there that we can’t evaluate until we get a co-ordinator in place.’’
The Riders’ free agents include slotback Weston Dressler, right tackle Ben Heenan, safety Tyron Brackenridge and defensive linemen Ricky Foley and Tearrius George. Foley intends to re-sign, so his name may be off the list soon.
Dealing with each player presents its own challenges to the Riders. For instance, Chamblin said that Heenan and Brackenridge may consider opportunities in the NFL. Dressler is also believed to be considering an NFL option despite being released by the Kansas City Chiefs during the preseason.
“Signing some of those guys might be tougher than others, depending where they are in their career,’’ Chamblin said. “They are in different stages of their career. There is a lot of different obstacles with each player that we may try to resign.’’
There are 129 players across the league eligible to file for free agency. Potential free agents can re-sign with their own teams before the deadline.