CFL NOTEBOOK: LIONS RELEASE LUMBALA
The B.C. Lions released veteran Canadian fullback Rolly Lumbala on Friday, two days before the CFL team opened its training camp.
Lumbala served on the CFL Players’ Association’s bargaining committee this off-season. Earlier this week, the league and union reached a tentative agreement that’s pending ratification by the players.
Lumbala, an 11-year veteran with B.C., becomes the second long-serving veteran recently released by the Lions. Linebacker Solomon Elimimian, who was also part of the union’s bargaining committee, was let go by the CFL club April 30 after 11 seasons.
Elimimian eventually signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Lumbala appeared in 188 regular-season games with B.C. and helped the club win the 2011 Grey Cup.
“Rolly has been a big part of the Lions for more than a decade and an even bigger part our community efforts away from the field,” GM Ed Hervey said in a statement. “We’re grateful for his many contributions to our organization and we wish him the very best in the future.”
BOMBERS SIGN ROOKIE KONGBO
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Canadian defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo on Friday.
Winnipeg selected Kongbo in the first round, fifth overall, in the 2019 CFL draft out of Tennessee. But the six-foot-five, 254-pound native of Surrey, B.C., isn’t expect to start playing until sometime this summer after suffering a season-ending knee injury last October in a game versus Auburn.
Kongbo started 17-of-30 games at Tennessee, seeing action as both a linebacker and defensive lineman. Over his collegiate career he had 51 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions _ returning one 50 yards for TD _ and two knockdowns.
Winnipeg also added Canadian receiver Dylan Schrot to the roster while releasing Malik Richards, also a Canadian. The Bombers selected Richards in the fifth round, No. 43 overall, in this year’s draft.
ESKIMOS RELEASE OL WOODS
Canadian offensive lineman Mason Woods was released Friday by the Edmonton Eskimos.
Edmonton acquired Woods from the Toronto Argonauts in December 2017 in a deal for quarterback James Franklin. The Argos selected the six-foot-nine, 324-pound Woods in the second round, No. 10 overall, of the 2017 CFL draft.
Mexican receiver Diego Jair Viamontes Cotera, the first player taken in the first-ever Liga de Futbol Americano/CFL draft in January, was among eight players signed by Edmonton, including three other global performers.
STAMPEDERS SIGN DL MASSAQUOI
The Calgary Stampeders signed former NFL defensive lineman Jonathan Massaquoi on Friday.
The six-foot-three, 245-pound former Troy State player was taken in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He also spent time with the Tennessee Titans (2015) and Kansas City Chiefs (2016). Most recently, Massaquoi played for the Alliance of American Football’s Birmingham Iron.
TICATS SIGN ENTIRE DRAFT CLASS
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Friday they’ve signed all eight players they selected in the 2019 CFL draft.
Hamilton took Waterloo offensive lineman Jesse Gibbon with the second overall selection. The Ticats also selected receivers Nikola Kalinic and David Ungerer III (both in second round), running back Maleek Irons and defensive tackle Sheriden Lawley (both in third round), defensive ends Derek Dufault and Malcolm Campbell (seventh and eight rounds,. respectively) and long-snapper/linebacker Gordon Whyte (eighth round).
ARGOS SIGN CANADIAN QB, OTHERS
The Toronto Argonauts announced on Friday night that they signed two selections from the 2019 draft and two players from the first-ever CFL-Liga de Futbol Americano draft.
Defensive back Matthew Boateng of Ajax, Ont., was drafted in the second round, 18th overall, from Fresno State and quarterback Michael O’Connor of Orleans, Ont., was drafted in the third round, 20th overall, out of the University of British Columbia.
Toronto also signed defensive lineman Jose David Casarrubias Santiago, who was taken in the second round, 13th overall, of the CFL-LFA draft. Linebacker Christian Alejandro Hernandez Delgado, a third round pick taken 22nd overall.
The Argos first round CFL-LFA selection, Uriel Martinez Bernal from Tigres UANL, suffered a season-ending injury and will not be in camp with the Argos. Marc Anthony Hor from Germany, Toronto’s selection in the inaugural CFL European Draft, has chosen to pursue other career opportunities and will not be in camp with the team.
