2025 @CFL hot stove league

[GA Russell]

Saskatchewan has signed Barrin Simpson. I'm surprised that he is only 32. He might have plenty of good years left.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/barrin-simpson-joins-roughriders/article1513344/

[GA Russell]

Winnipeg has signed Buck Pierce.

I wish him well, but I don't think it is sporting to have a guy on the team who is injured as often as he is.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/buck-pierce-headed-to-blue-bombers/article1531511/

[GA Russell]

Winnipeg has released Siddeeq Shabazz.

The Bombers have a new general manager named Joe Mack, and he is putting his own stamp on the team.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/bombers-sign-receiver-jeffers-harris/article1536937/

[GA Russell]

Saskatchewan has released Jason Armstead.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Winnipeg/2010/04/15/13605681.html

[Chuck Nessa]

Do all these players smoke cigars? :bwallace2:

[GA Russell]

LOL Chuck, I once had a deal to become the Official Cigar of the CFL Players Union, but the Canadian govt doesn't want cigars in the limited quantity I had in mind to cross the border. That is to say, the first shipment never made it.

[GA Russell]

Believe it or not, at 40 years of age Jeff Garcia, though primarily looking for a job in the NFL, is willing to consider rejoining the Stampeders.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Francis/2010/04/20/13658031-qmi.html

[GA Russell]

Jeff Pilon has retired.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/jeff-pilon-retires-from-stampeders/article1544926/

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Calgary/2010/04/23/13696031.html

[GA Russell]

Calgary has signed Matt Sheridan.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Calgary/2010/04/29/13763131-qmi.html

[GA Russell]

It looks like this is the end of the line for Troy Westwood. The Bombers asked him to retire, but he preferred to be cut.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/westwood-out-of-a-job-once-again/article1551790/

[GA Russell]

The draft is tomorrow.

Here's a good article on eight top prospects.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/2010/05/01/13789561-qmi.html

[GA Russell]

Here's an article on the first round of the draft, which should be read in conjunction with yesterday's article.

The Roughriders traded Jamie Boreham to the Argos.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/riders-make-williams-first-pick/article1553985/

[GA Russell]

Here's a good analysis of how each of the teams did in the draft:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Koshan/2010/05/03/13812851.html

[GA Russell]

Edmonton has released Jesse Lumsden.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/eskimos-release-jesse-lumsden/article1557467/

[GA Russell]

Hamilton has released Kenton Keith.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/tiger-cats-release-kenton-keith/article1560386/

[GA Russell]

Here's an excellent recap of the draft.

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4308392

[GA Russell]

Markus Howell retired today. I had no idea that he was so old, or had played in the league so long.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/veteran-stampeder-howell-retires/article1563561/

[GA Russell]

Believe it or not, JaMarcus Russell is on the Ticats' neg list.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/ticats-not-interested-in-jamarcus-russell/article1565631/

[GA Russell]

Jim Popp is considering NFL offers. His house in Montreal is up for sale.

If there has been a better player personnel guy than Popp in the history of the CFL, I'm unaware of him.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/popp-weighing-nfl-offers/article1569609/

[GA Russell]

After being out of pro ball for seven (!) years, OJ Santiago has decided to try to make a comeback with the Alouettes.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Montreal/2010/05/17/13986646.html

*****

John Comiskey has retired due to a knee injury.

Dan Comiskey has come out of (one-year) retirement to replace him with the Stampeders.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Calgary/2010/05/19/14004921.html

[GA Russell]

Hey guys,

I have moved to Raleigh, and have been without internet service since the first of the month. Today I'm at the library. I'll try to catch up when I get my new ISP which I hope will be in about a week.

The pre-season has started, but I haven't noticed much news.

[GA Russell]

Here's the first 2010 Season Preview I've found, from TSN.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=324491

[GA Russell]

Calgary's Brett Ralph retired last week.

[GA Russell]

Montreal's Bryan Chiu signed a contract to play another year, but changed his mind and retired a couple of weeks ago. I expect that he will be elected to the Hall of Fame.

*****

Here are the pre-season results so far:

Week A:

Toronto 13 Hamilton 10

Winnipeg 34 Montreal 10

BC 19 Sask 17

Calgary 23 Edmonton 21

Week B:

Montreal 31 Toronto 23

[GA Russell]

Yesterday's results:

Hamilton 38....Winnipeg 20

Calgary 41....Sask 17

Edmonton 36....BC 32

The regular season starts July 1, Canada Day (Dominion Day to those of us who are hard core) with two games.

Calgary signed ex-Argo QB Cody Pickett last week, and he had a good day yesterday.