CFL NOTEBOOK: POPP JOINS USFL
Long-time CFL executive and coach Jim Popp has joined the United States Football League as Director of Player Personnel.
The move was announced on Friday by Popp’s management company Octagon.
The North Carolina product has won five Grey Cups as General Manager with the Baltimore Stallions, Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts. Since 2020 Popp has been Assistant Head Coach & Running Backs Coach with Alabama State.
The eight team USFL kicks off its 2022 season on April 16.
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REGINA – The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed American receiver Kyran Moore to a contract extension Friday.
The five-foot-10, 165-pound Moore had 64 catches for 585 yards with three TDs in 11 games last season. Moore registered 78 receptions for 996 yards and six TDs in 2019.
The CFL didn’t stage a season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moore is entering his fourth CFL season, all with Saskatchewan. He has accumulated 174 catches for 2,056 yards and 10 TDs.
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CALGARY – The Calgary Stampeders re-signed Canadian receiver Colton Hunchak on Friday.
The Calgary native was scheduled to become a CFL free agent next month.
The five-foot-11, 208-pound Hunchak had 16 catches for 247 yards in 14 regular-season games last year. He also had two receptions for 11 yards in Calgary’s 33-30 overtime West Division semifinal loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders before suffering a foot injury.
Calgary selected Hunchak in the eighth round of the 2019 CFL draft out of York. He has 32 receptions for 478 yards in 28 career regular-season games.
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The Montreal Alouettes acquired defensive lineman Michael Moore from the Edmonton Elks for offensive lineman Tony Washington and running back Martese Jackson on Friday.
All three players are Americans.
The six-foot-four, 269-pound Moore appeared in 11 games last season with Edmonton, registering 19 tackles and two sacks. He has appeared in 48 career regular-season games, having accumulated 69 tackles, 17 sacks and a forced fumble.
Washington was set to become a free agent next month but has agreed to a one-year deal with Edmonton. Washington is a 12-year CFL veteran who has dressed for 129 career games with Calgary (2011), Toronto (2012-2013), Edmonton (2014-2016), Hamilton (2017-2018), and Montreal (2018-2021).
The five-foot-six, 171-pound Jackson has spent time in the CFL with Winnipeg (2015), Montreal (2015-16, 2021) and Toronto (2017-18).
(CP)
Jim Popp is the definition of a m.a.n. This is the guy who came to the CFL, essentially landed on the shore and burned the boats. His record speaks for itself and I have him up there on Mt Rushmore of CFL executives. Having conquered this league which for all intents and purposes is done he has moved on. He went from interviews with NFL teams where if he can’t run the show he isn’t interested. A pandemic results in him taking a coaching job. The point is men work and grind. For those of you left behind in pre-covid… Read more »
Good executive…….terrible coach.