Looking beyond free agents

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This article was published 17/02/2010 (6050 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice has a few holes he wants to fill on his roster but says CFL free agency isn’t the only way to get the job done.

LaPolice said the Bombers were in discussions with three or four current CFL players, with Saskatchewan Roughriders backup quarterback Steven Jyles likely being the big-ticket item on his shopping list, but wasn’t sure if the club would have anything to announce in the next couple of days.

"We’re not going to break the bank. We have a good core of players here already," said LaPolice, who along with vice-president of football operations Joe Mack spent Tuesday on the phone gauging the marketplace while having conversations with players and agents. "It’s easy to get caught up in the ‘known’ factor where guys want to sign a player because they’ve had them in another place and or have liked what they’ve seen. But there’s other ways to go. No one had heard of Jonathan Hefney last year and look what he did."

The Bombers signed Hefney as a free agent after the NFL cut him loose. Those players often come more cheaply than those with previous CFL experience and a toehold in the marketplace.

Hefney spent time in the NFL as a practice-squad player before coming north and broke onto the CFL scene with a fury and quickly established himself, earning all-star honours in his rookie season. The breakout year with the Bombers resulted in a contract with the Detroit Lions and his absence is one of the holes LaPolice is trying to fill.

"We’re looking for a number of defensive players as well as some guys on the offensive side of the ball," said LaPolice. "But we’ll take our time on this and do what’s best for the football team. We’re not going to overpay just to get a guy today. That’s not good for anybody."

Jyles is believed to have received offers from both the Bombers and the Roughriders.

"We’ll see how it plays out. It’s up to the teams. We’re talking to both of them," said Ferrell Elliot, who represents Jyles.

Jyles is believed to be mulling over similar deals from both teams that would pay him in the neighbourhood of $100,000 per season plus playing time bonuses.

The Bombers don’t have a No. 1 quarterback at this stage and Jyles could fill that role. The Riders are looking for some insurance for Darian Durant, who is entering the option year of his contract and will be a free agent at the end of the 2010 season.

There has been talk about Jyles choosing Winnipeg over Saskatchewan in order to get out from under the shadow of Durant in Regina as well as to join LaPolice and quarterbacks coach Jamie Barresi, who both were with the Riders and Jyles last season.

One CFL executive scoffed at the notion.

"I’ve had those conversations with players where they tell you they like your system and coaching staff. The bottom line is always the money and in this league, how much can you give me now up front," said the executive.

The Bombers had discussions with defensive back Byron Parker before he signed with the Toronto Argonauts and it’s believed the club is also interested in Argos DB Jason Shivers.

The Bombers have offered a contract to free agent offensive lineman Ryan Donnelly and expect to continue negotiations with him today. The club also made an offer to defensive back Steven Holness but he chose to investigate the free agent market.

LaPolice said he was close to coming to terms with an offensive line coach and would like to have that position filled by the weekend. Next up is a special teams co-ordinator and he’ll begin interviewing for that spot next week.

 

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca