CFL NOTEBOOK

TORONTO – Canadian linebacker Henoc Muamba has called it a career.

The 35-year-old made the announcement Sunday on his Instagram account. Muamba played in the CFL with Winnipeg (2011-13), Montreal (2015, 2018-19), Saskatchewan (2016-17) and Toronto (2021-23) while also spending time in the NFL with Indianapolis (2014-15) and Dallas (2016).

“I’m forever grateful to God for endowing me with the skills and the ability to play football at a professional level,” Muamba wrote. “I pray everyone reading this can also discover the hidden gifts within themselves like I did years ago.

“It’s been a tremendous journey. Football has taken me to so many cities and more importantly, allowed me to meet some amazing individuals.”

Muamba was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but grew up in Mississauga, Ont. The six-foot, 230-pound Muamba played collegiately at St. Francis Xavier University, in 2010 capturing the President’s Trophy as Canadian university football’s top defensive player.

Muamba, the first player taken in the 2011 CFL draft, appeared in 135 career regular-season games. He recorded 610 tackles (35 for loss), 78 special-teams tackles, 17 sacks, seven interceptions, 14 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

WINNIPEG – Experience has taught Sergio Castillo the value of patience.

The veteran kicker re-signed with Winnipeg on Friday, some 10 days after becoming a CFL free agent. But with CFL rushing leader Brady Oliveira — the league’s top Canadian last season — and American receiver Dalton Schoen among the Blue Bombers slated to hit the open market, Castillo understood the club’s priority in trying to get those players signed first.

“I understood from the get-go it was going to be a little lengthy,” the 33-year-old Castillo said during a teleconference Monday. “I had to be patient.

“Being in my ninth year already, I understand how free agency works and understanding that helped give me a bit of a calm and just that once those guys signed I knew I’d probably next in line.”

The five-foot-nine, 197-pound Castillo made 46-of-51 field goal attempts last season, his 90.2 per cent success ratio being the best in Bombers history. He was perfect (31-of-31) from inside 40 yards, 15-of-20 from beyond 40 and a stellar four-of-six from 50-plus yards with a season-best 53-yard boot.

This will mark the first time in Castillo’s pro career (which began in 2014 with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons) that he’ll play two straight seasons with the same team. Castillo began his CFL tenure with Winnipeg (2015-16) but started on the practice roster in August 2015 then opened 2016 on the injured list behind veteran Justin Medlock before being released in September.

Castillo earned a Grey Cup ring with Winnipeg in 2021 before signing a two-year deal with Edmonton. But after making 37-of-44 field goals (89.7 per cent) and 26-of-29 conversions in 2022 Castillo was released before the start of training camp in 2023 and quickly re-signed with Winnipeg.

Despite being a CFL free agent, Castillo said leaving Winnipeg wasn’t really on his radar.

“It was just Winnipeg the whole time,” he said. “I’ve learned over the years I’ve had to keep my emotions to the side, not take everything to heart and understand that everything works at its own time.

TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts signed free-agent receiver Rasheed Bailey on Monday.

The 30-year-old American joins the Argos after four CFL seasons with Winnipeg. The six-foot-one, 217-pound Bailey had 46 catches for 508 yards and six TDs in 18 regular-season games with the Blue Bombers.

Bailey had 180 catches for 2,072 yards and 20 TDs in 58 regular-season games with Winnipeg. He also helped Winnipeg make four straight Grey Cup appearances, winning two.

(Canadian Press)