Back for another kick at the Cup

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This article was published 10/02/2020 (2039 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, with less than a day to spare before the start of free agency, locked up the biggest piece of their 2020 puzzle, inking defensive end Willie Jefferson to a two-year extension Monday.

Jefferson, the CFL’s reigning defensive player of the year, will earn close to $260,000 per season, including incentives. The Bombers were waiting to hear from Jefferson and received a call early Monday afternoon saying he wanted to return.

The Bombers are flying Jefferson, his wife, Holly, and their young daughter Kelley to Winnipeg late tonight but he won’t be made available to the media until Thursday.

Jefferson took full advantage of the CFL’s week-long free-agent window. Six teams courted him, with Toronto and Hamilton flying Jefferson and his family in to give them the red-carpet treatment. Examples of their charity included the Argonauts taking Jefferson to sit courtside at a Raptors game, while the Tiger-Cats showcased digital promos of Jefferson clad in yellow and black upon his arrival to Tim Hortons Field.

Ultimately, Jefferson saw the best fit in Winnipeg. And for the second straight year he took less to play with the Bombers, turning down upwards of $290,000 per year from the Argonauts.

The Bombers couldn’t afford that price tag but worked tirelessly to support Jefferson and his family in other ways. Winnipeg started off at what was Jefferson’s perceived market value — around $250,000 per season — but eventually upped their offer.

The Bombers spent what they considered their ceiling and even that seemed stiff for a team trying to retain much of its 2019 lineup. If anyone is deserving of that payout, though, it’s Jefferson, who played a major role on a stingy defence and was key in the Grey Cup victory.

Jefferson needed time to take into consideration factors such as cost of living in each city and the various services each club offers, including meal plans and use of facilities. When all things are considered, money isn’t the only thing that talks.

When Jefferson, who represents himself in CFL contract negotiations, hit the open market last season, he left a higher offer from Toronto to play for Winnipeg on a one-year deal worth $210,000. This time around, Jefferson was open to signing a multi-year deal.

Jefferson also had to come to the realization he wasn’t going to play in the NFL. Once all those opportunities had been exhausted, Winnipeg was the last one standing.

The Bombers can finally exhale; with Jefferson in place, they can start making other moves.

With Jefferson’s salary on the books, it’s likely the Bombers don’t re-sign defensive end Craig Roh, who was a solid contributor in 2019 with six sacks and three forced fumbles in 12 games.

In fact, there’s a good chance the Bombers could be quiet today. But never say never.

Here’s a look at some of the team’s recent moves and what could be in store in the coming days.

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The band is officially back, at least when it comes to the Bombers’ offensive line.

The team inked centre Michael Couture to a two-year extension Monday. With Couture under contract through the 2021 season, Winnipeg has every starter on its O-line from last season under contract.

“I’ve always felt really comfortable in Winnipeg,” Couture, the Bombers’ second-round pick in 2016, told reporters in a conference call Monday. “It was inviting from the get-go. The coaching staff does a great job of creating a family environment in the locker room. I feel extremely tight with our O-line group, specifically, and so it’s things like that why I’ve never really considered going anywhere else.”

Couture was the latest in a string of contract extensions for the O-linemen this off-season. Veteran tackles Stanley Bryant and Jermarcus Hardrick, as well as guard Patrick Neufeld, also signed deals. Drew Desjarlais, Cody Speller and Geoff Gray are also locked up for next year.

“We set the tone physically for our whole team and guys rally behind how we play,” Couture said. “The thought of having everybody back in the same room with (O-line) coach Marty (Costello) was something I was really excited about.”

The delay in getting Couture signed was for a couple of reasons.

He signed a one-year deal last season to prove his worth, showing he could start in place of Matthias Goossen, who had retired to become a police officer. Couture didn’t miss a beat, either, admirably executing his role as the vocal piece of the O-line until a foot injury in the final regular-season game sidelined him for the playoffs.

Speller then sprung into duty, and did such a good job that the possibility of moving on from Couture was at least something to consider.

Meanwhile, Couture fielded offers from Toronto and B.C., with the Argonauts offering the 26-year-old upwards of $195,000 per season. But Couture left money on the table to return to the Bombers.

Couture compared the experience of being courted by other teams to when he was being recruited out of high school. He was flattered by the attention but saw a good thing brewing in Winnipeg and the chance to stay was too good to pass up.

“To hear what different programs offer was interesting and to be in that kind of process again, but deep down I knew where I wanted to be,” Couture said.

With that, let’s recap where the Bombers are heading into today’s free agency.

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The Bombers signed Darvin Adams on Sunday, inking the veteran receiver to a three-year extension.

Adams, entering his sixth season with the Bombers, was garnering some interest outside of Winnipeg; the greatest push came from the Ottawa Redblacks. With former Bombers offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice now head coach in Ottawa, there was at least a chance Adams could make a change.

Adams was offered a small bump in pay by the Redblacks, but opted instead to take near his 2019 salary — around $140,000 per season — to stay with the Blue and Gold. The Bombers’ offer could be viewed as a generous one, given Adams, after posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, saw his numbers dip drastically in 2019. Last year, he was down to 549 receiving yards and five touchdowns but missed five games due to injury.

There are reasons to believe Adams, who developed chemistry with quarterback Zach Collaros during the Grey Cup run, will bounce back in 2020. 

With Adams back, the Bombers have all five starting receivers from last year’s title game. That doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t looking to upgrade. With Jefferson signed, it will be hard to find the money, but that doesn’t mean the Bombers won’t try.

Unlike a year ago, when Winnipeg tabled offers to Greg Ellingson, Derel Walker and DeVier Posey that exceeded $200,000 per year, the Bombers aren’t looking to spend big on an American receiver. That exempts Walker and Posey, both of whom are again available, and likely a few others demanding top dollar.

There are others who might warrant a smaller payday and could end up in Winnipeg.

Could the Bombers sway Edmonton’s DaVaris Daniels? He’s definitely on their radar but recent media interviews by Daniels suggest he’s thinking he should be in the big-money group of receivers. If the Bombers could trim that number down, say in the ballpark of $160,000, Daniels might be the perfect fit.

According to sources, Toronto is leading the charge to sign Daniels, which strongly suggests its offer is much higher than Winnipeg’s.

The Bombers might fare better with someone who still has plenty of gas in the tank, but may be more realistic to their dollar value. Would someone like Hamilton’s Luke Tasker fall into that category?

Tasker, 29, had a roller-coaster 2019 season with the Tiger-Cats. Injuries limited him to just nine games, where he collected 36 catches for 406 yards and no touchdowns. He’s got a good relationship with Collaros and is big on a team’s culture. All those things considered, and assuming Tasker would come in at a reasonable price, the two might be a smooth match.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Bombers have done an admirable job retaining many players from last year. They have their O-line intact from last season, the offence is all back and most of the key figures in the leadership group – running back Andrew Harris, middle linebacker Adam Bighill and safety Brandon Alexander, to name a few – are also back.

With Jefferson under contract, the Bombers are not expected to make a huge splash Tuesday. But there is one area still in need and it’s the secondary.

With the departures of Winston Rose and Marcus Sayles to the NFL, the Bombers have major holes on the boundary side of their secondary. They will look to free agency as an option to fill these voids, but aren’t going to break the bank.

The Bombers are interested in a number of free agents, including the likes of Anthony Orange, who was released by Edmonton, Josh Johnson, who is currently with the Eskimos, and Montreal’s Ciante Evans. But unless the numbers add up, Winnipeg is projected to lean on its scouting staff to bring in young – and cheaper – talent.

Finally, there is one player that will be sorely missed. Drake Nevis, the Bombers bruising defensive tackle and one key reason for their stingy run defence last season, has been told he’s headed for free agency.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton