Riders could be eyeing LaPolice for coach

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This article was published 16/01/2019 (2460 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The sudden departure of Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach and general manager Chris Jones for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns could have a ripple effect in the CFL that just might hit hardest in Winnipeg.

Blue Bombers offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice is believed to be a leading contender to fill Saskatchewan’s coaching vacancy, yet Winnipeg GM Kyle Walters was circumspect Wednesday about whether the Roughriders would get permission to speak to the candidate if a request was made.

“It’s a little early,” Walters said. “With Chris leaving, that’s two big roles, so I think they’d want to get a GM in place and once that’s taken care of, whoever that is can start making decisions on the coaching staff. So probably, one has to happen before the other.”

Walters admitted the timing of Jones’ move makes a request to interview a member on his coaching staff problematic. Current Roughriders vice-president of football operations Jeremy O’Day is favoured to get Saskatchewan’s GM post.

LaPolice, 48, has been Winnipeg’s offensive co-ordinator since 2016 and filled the same post in Saskatchewan from 2008 to ’09. He was also interviewed for the vacant head coaching position with the Toronto Argonauts following the 2018 season.

LaPolice withdrew himself from consideration before the job was filled by Corey Chamblin.

“It’s individual,” Walters said. “Up to this point, everybody that’s been requested for an interview has been allowed. But again, those were earlier in the process. We never had to have a discussion about a coach at this time of the year — where a coach has been offered a position. What do we do?”

Several pending free agents from Winnipeg’s West Division finalists — namely linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox and defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat — could also be the target of NFL teams.

“Jovan had the most requests (for NFL workouts), but with his foot injury, he hasn’t been able to do them yet,” Walters said. “So, his agent and him are deciding whether they wait and get healthy before they do these workouts. So, there’s a lot going on with him. And then, Jackson Jeffcoat’s had some as well.”

Walters hasn’t given up hope of signing the two.

“I guess from our standpoint, we get the requests and we sign off on the requests and as you’re seeing around the league, once a formal contract is on the table from an NFL team, then the CFL team releases him,” Walters said. “I’ve yet to have a formal contract offer, so I’m cautiously optimistic that they will still be available come the first of February.”

Walters also revealed the club had agreed to terms with Canadian offensive lineman Michael Couture. A finalized contract is expected once Couture’s agent has reviewed the contract details. The team has also had preliminary talks with veteran American slotback Weston Dressler, another pending free agent.

Walters answered questions on several other topics:

Was the release of cornerback Chris Randle tied directly to a deal given to linebacker Adam Bighill, making the 30-year-old the CFL’s highest-paid defender?

“I think at the end of year, when you look at everybody’s contract and how it fits in, there’s a bigger picture of the amount of monies you’re going to need,” Walters said, adding he believes Randle will resurface somewhere in the CFL next season. “Certainly, Chris was a very difficult decision — an outstanding young man — but we decided at that price point, it didn’t fit in. Because there were so many free agents, so much other stuff to take care of.

“Did one directly relate to the other? No, but in the bigger picture of having to allocate monies for free agency, because there’s still a lot of work to do, that contract just wasn’t going to work for us.”

Walters also threw his full support behind Matt Nichols, the club’s 31-year-old starting quarterback, who will be returning for his fourth full season in a Winnipeg uniform.

“Matt’s our leader and everybody believes in him,” Walters said. “I think he’s comfortable in this system and continuity, as much as we can keep it, is good, adding maybe a piece here, a piece there that we think can help him out.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14