Argos sign QB Arbuckle after release from Redblacks
TORONTO — The Toronto Argonauts have signed quarterback Nick Arbuckle to a one-year deal and have signed receiver Eric Rogers a day after acquiring his rights from Calgary.
The Arbuckle signing completes a roundabout exchange of quarterbacks between the Argonauts and the Ottawa Redblacks.
The Argonauts cut quarterback Matt Nichols on Sunday, and he was quickly picked up by the Redblacks, who then released Arbuckle.
The moves reunite quarterbacks with familiar coaches. Ottawa head coach Paul Lapolice also coached Nichols in Winnipeg while Toronto first-year head coach Ryan Dinwiddie coached Arbuckle as the Calgary Stampeders quarterbacks coach (2016-19).
Arbuckle reportedly received a $150,000 signing bonus from Toronto. A league source said a reason why Arbuckle was released by the Redblacks was a $150,000 roster bonus he was due Monday.
A second CFL source said Nichols’ deal with Ottawa included a $200,000 bonus for reporting to training camp and passing a team physical.
The 27-year-old Arbuckle was acquired by Ottawa from the Calgary Stampeders in January 2020 and signed an extension with Ottawa, but didn’t suit up in the nation’s capital after that year’s season was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arbuckle won four of seven games as a starter for Calgary in 2019 while star Bo Levi Mitchell was injured.
He completed over 73 per cent of his passes for 2,103 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2019, while adding another four scores on the ground.
Rogers, 29, had 85 receptions for 1,080 yards and 10 touchdowns on route to being named a CFL West all-star in 2019. He played for Calgary for four seasons (’14-15, ‘18-19) and helped the Stampeders win two Grey Cups.
He has caught 217 passes for 3,176 yards and 27 touchdowns over 45 career CFL games.
Lions re-sign Burnham
VANCOUVER — The B.C. Lions made some big moves in free agency Monday, re-signing star receiver Bryan Burnham and bringing back free agent linebacker Bo Lokombo for a third stint with the CFL club.
The team also signed linebacker Isaiah Guzylak-Messam to a contract extension.
Burnham will return for a seventh season in Vancouver after a standout 2019 campaign. He had career-highs with 100 receptions, 1,492 yards and 11 touchdowns while being named a CFL all-star for a third straight season.
The six-foot-three, 229pound Lokombo returns to the Lions after recording 51 defensive tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 15 games with the Montreal Alouettes in 2019.
A third-round selection of the Lions in the 2013 CFL Draft, Lokombo played 43 games with B.C. from ’14 to ’16.
He earned a West Division allstar nod in his second season after a recording 24 defensive tackles, one sack and adding 24 more tackles on special teams.
The 6-1, 205-pound Guzylak-Messam returns for a third season with the Lions after working his way into the starting defence early in the 2019 campaign.