CFL NOTEBOOK
CHAMBLIN NAMES STAFF
Toronto Argonauts head coach Corey Chamblin finalized his staff Thursday.
The Argos unveiled Chamblin’s staff that includes the CFL return of Jacques Chapdelaine as offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach. Chapdelaine, 57, of Sherbrooke, Que., has spent 28 years as a football coach, including 17 in the CFL.
He’s also been a CFL head coach for seven seasons, his last stint being with Montreal (2016-17).
Cory McDiarmid, a two-time Grey Cup champion, will serve as Toronto’s special-teams co-ordinator. A 14-year CFL coaching veteran McDiarmid spent the last three years as Edmonton’s special-teams co-ordinator.
Dave Jackson, a former assistant coach with Edmonton, will serve as Toronto’s special teams assistant coach.
Dan Dorazio, the former long-time offensive-line coach with the B.C. Lions, joins the Argos staff in that capacity. The veteran CFL coach has made six trips to the Grey Cup, winning four.
Kevin Eiben, Toronto’s special-team’s co-ordinator last year, remains in Toronto as the club’s linebackers coach. Also returning is defensive back coach Tyron Brackenridge.
The remainder of Chamblin’s staff includes: Wendell Avery (receivers); Justin Poindexter (running backs); Kerry Locklin and Carey Bailey (defensive line).
AMBROSIE LOCKS UP FINLAND, NORWAY, SWEDEN & DENMARK
CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie concluded his trip to Europe on Thursday by adding four more international partners.
The league announced it has secured partnership agreements with football officials from Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Under terms of those deals, the top players from all four countries will participate in the CFL national combine next month in Toronto.
“Our discussions here have been as positive as we could have hoped they would be,” Ambrosie said in a statement.
That increases the CFL list of international partners to eight after securing prior agreements with Mexico’s Liga de Futbol Americano Profesional, the German Football League, French American Football Federation and Austrian Football Federation.
The French and Austrian deals came Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
And like the CFL’s previous deals, the Canadian league and four Nordic counties will work to find way to allow Canadians who’ve completed their university and/or junior careers to continue playing overseas and for Nordic players to attend school and play university football in Canada.
Other elements of the agreement include:
– Developing additional coaching exchanges.
– Finding ways for doctors and physical therapists on both sides to share knowledge and practices.
– Seeking joint business opportunities in broadcast, digital and gaming circles, That includes the potential development of a Nordic edition of the ‘CFL Football Frenzy,’ app.
“There is so much we can do together and learn from one another,” said Lars Carlsen, Athletic Director of the Danish football federation.
Carlsen, the head coach of Denmark’s national team, attended the B.C. Lions’ training camp last year.
“There are opportunities to grow the game across the board,” added Jorgen Benestad-Johansen, Sports Manager of the Norwegian football federation who also served as a guest coach with the Western Mustangs.
The four federations boast 149 clubs and 10,900 total players.
TICATS RE-SIGN LEONARD
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats re-signed American defensive back Richard Leonard.
Leonard, 27, has appeared in 31 career games over two seasons with Hamilton. He has registered 123 tackles, one special-teams tackle, eight interceptions, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
Despite playing in just 13 games last year, Leonard was tied for second in the CFL with 10 pass knockdowns. He was an East Division all-star in 2017 and Hamilton’s top rookie.
BOMBERS SIGN WILLIAMS, JANKE
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed American receiver Dom Williams and Canadian defensive back Dexter Janke.
Janke, a six-foot, 220-pound Edmonton native, spent three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, registering 14 tackles in 16 games after being selected in the fifth round of the ’15 CFL draft. Janke spent his collegiate career at Saskatchewan, rushing for 730 yards and eight TDs as a running back over four years with the Huskies.
Williams registered 192 catches for 2,889 yards and 30 TDs over four seasons at Washington State. He signed the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent and also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions.
RIDERS SIGN PAIR
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed American linebackers Louy Compton and Deion Pierre.
The six-foot-two, 220-pound Compton spent the ’17 at Utah State and was at Florida Atlantic University as a redshirt transfer last season.
Pierre played collegiately at Samford University. The six-foot-two, 227-pound linebacker had 108 tackles, four knockdowns, 1.5 sacks and one interception in 44 games for the Bulldogs.
