CFL NOTEBOOK: NICHOLS, BOMBERS AGREE TO TERMS
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| Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press |
CFL insider Justin Dunk of 3DownNation.com reports quarterback Matt Nichols and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have agreed to a contract extension, per sources.
Sources made it known the 29-year-old was in Winnipeg for work in the community. He had been set to become a free agent in February and was considered one of the premier pivots potentially available – particularly after Saskatchewan dealt the rights to Darian Durant to the Montreal Alouettes.
Nichols made 13 starts last season going 10-3 for Winnipeg and he now has a 17-15 career record as a starter.
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WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has signed international receiver Kenny Stafford to a two-year contract.
Stafford (6-3, 205, Toledo, April 20, 1990 in Columbus, OH) spent part of last season with Montreal, where in nine games he caught 16 receptions for 218 yards and two touchdowns. Stafford’s best season came in 2015, hauling in 47 receptions for 732 yards and nine touchdowns in 18 regular season games with Edmonton. He also recorded four receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown in the 2015 playoffs, helping Edmonton win the 103rd Grey Cup.
“Kenny is an experienced receiver in our league, with great athletic ability and big play capability,” said Blue Bombers General Manager Kyle Walters. “He’s got the range to go up and get the football and he’s a competitor. We’re very confident he will fit comfortably into our locker room, and are excited about what he will bring to our offence.”
Stafford has played 41 career CFL regular season games, catching 89 receptions for 1,214 yards and 12 touchdowns.
“I’m really excited to start a new chapter of my career with an organization who wants me and a fan base who is so passionate about its team,” Stafford said. “Every time I have played in Winnipeg, I’ve thought about how great the atmosphere is, and to be on the good side of it will be a great thing. This is a team on the rise with great leadership, and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
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WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed receiver Darvin Adams on Monday to a contract extension through the 2019 season.
The six-foot-two, 200-pound Adams was scheduled to become a free agent next month.
Adams had 51 catches for 690 yards and six touchdowns in just eight games last season. He had over 100 yards receiving in four of his 2016 contests.
“Darvin has continued to develop over the past two seasons, and in our view, is now one of the league’s top-end targets,” Winnipeg GM Kyle Walters said in a statement. “He was having a great season last year before unfortunately suffering a tough injury, but we look forward to watching him build off of his season in 2017 and beyond.”
Adams had 61 catches for 839 yards and a team-high six TDs in 2015, his first season with Winnipeg. He has 133 catches for 1,790 yards and 14 TDs in 35 career CFL games.
“This was something I wanted to get completed, and not head into free agency,” said Adams. “This is such a great organization, and for them to want me back, with the direction the team is going, that means a lot to me.
“I couldn’t be happier to be remain a Bomber.”
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EDMONTON – The Edmonton Eskimos have signed Vidal Hazelton, who joined the team’s practice roster last year after being part of a wide receiver purge by Toronto.
The New York native had 27 receptions for 361 yards and three touchdowns in eight games for the Argonauts last season when he was cut along with Kevin Elliott, Tori Gurley and Phil Bates after a loss to Montreal.
Hazelton had a strong 2015 with Toronto with 70 receptions for 803 yards and six touchdowns and was the East Division finalist for CFL Rookie of the Year.
Prior to the CFL, Hazelton spent time with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers (2011), Cincinnati Bengals (2011-12), Tennessee Titans (2012) and New York Jets (2013).
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VANCOUVER – The B.C. Lions signed rookie quarterback Alex Ross on Monday.
The six-foot-one, 205-pound Ross attended the Atlanta Falcons training camp last summer before being released.
Ross played collegiatedly at Coastal Carolina and left in 2015 as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards (9,918), attempts (1,174), completions (760) and touchdowns (72).
“Alex enjoyed a very successful college career and possesses the kind of unique quarterbacking skills that make him well-suited to our game,” Lions head coach/GM Wally Buono said in a statement. “Competition at every position on the field is critical in building a championship team and we look forward to seeing what Alex has to offer when he is up for mini-camp in April.”
(With files from The Canadian Press)
