CFL NOTEBOOK: RIDERS QB TREVOR HARRIS AGREES TO RESTRUCTURED DEAL

REGINA – 3DownNation reports Saskatchewan Roughriders QB Trevor Harris has agreed to take a paycut from the $525,000 he was scheduled to earn in 2024.

However 3Down says Roughriders GM Jeremy O’Day declined to disclose the amount of the restructured contract.

You can read the story here.

EDMONTON – The Edmonton Elks released American quarterback Taylor Cornelius and Canadian linebacker Adam Konar on Tuesday.

The release of Cornelius wasn’t surprising as Edmonton signed veteran quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson last weekend. However, Cornelius will reportedly still receive $100,000 from the club, which was guaranteed for 2024.

Cornelius spent three seasons with Edmonton (2021-23). In 44 career games, he completed 451-of-779 passes (57.9 per cent) for 5.868 yards with 25 touchdowns and 31 interceptions.

WINNIPEG – Kyle Walters is in a holding pattern.

The Winnipeg general manager has re-signed seven of the Blue Bombers 35 pending free agents to date. But Walters can’t really start talking turkey with many of his high-end players until his top two — Canadian running back Brady Oliveira and American receiver Dalton Schoen — complete their NFL due diligence.

“There’s so many pieces that need to fall into place at the high-end price points and (then) everything else will sort itself out,” Walters said Tuesday during a Zoom call from the CFL meetings in Nashville, Tenn. “We’re in a bit of a waiting pattern at the moment … it is a little bit slower than normal years but it is only Jan. 9 so we’ve got plenty of time to get this sorted out in the next month.”

CFL free agency opens at noon ET on Feb. 13.

Oliveira, the CFL’s top Canadian last season, and Schoen, the league’s outstanding rookie in 2022, top the Bombers pending free-agent list. Oliveira, a 26-year-old Winnipeg native, ran for a CFL-best 1,534 yards, the second-most by a Canadian after Hall of Famer Jon Cornish had 1,813 yards in 2013.

Following Winnipeg’s 28-24 Grey Cup loss to Montreal in November, Oliveira talked about wanting to give the NFL a shot. To date, though, the five-foot-10, 222-pound running back has yet to work out for a club south of the border.

Schoen, 27, has registered 141 catches for 2,663 yards and 26 touchdowns the last two seasons with Winnipeg. He was the CFL’s top rookie in 2022 after leading the league in receiving with 70 receptions for 1,441 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Walters said he’s had very preliminary discussions with both players.

OTTAWA – Shawn Burke has a big decision to make.

The Ottawa GM confirmed Tuesday veteran quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is due a signing bonus (reportedly $100,000) Monday. Masoli joined the Redblacks before the 2022 season but has missed most of the last two years due to injury.

“Since the end of the season through now we’ve been in constant communication with him,” Burke told reporters Tuesday via Zoom from the CFL meetings in Nashville, Tenn. “He knows his role is changing with the team.

“Our perspective going into training camp this year is much different than the last two years so he definitely knows where we’re at. We’ll continue to converse and hopefully work toward something as the week goes on.”

The five-foot-10, 208-pound Masoli suffered a season-ending leg injury in ’22 that forced him to miss the first three games last year. In his return to action July 8, Masoli went down with a torn Achilles tendon in a 21-13 loss to Hamilton.

TORONTO – Keeping Toronto’s staunch defence intact promises to be a big challenge for Argonauts GM Mike (Pinball) Clemons.

Toronto has already lost defensive coordinator Corey Mace, who was hired last month as the Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach. And linebacker Adarius Pickett, the East Division’s top defensive player last season, tops the list of key Argos defenders who are slated to hit the CFL free-agent market next month.

The 2023 campaign was a historic one for Toronto (16-2). It established a club record for most regular-season wins while tying the CFL mark with a defence that led the league in sacks (68), turnovers forced (27), interceptions (27), fewest rushing yards (83.6 per game) and was tied with Hamilton for most fumbles recovered (15).

However, a dominant regular season ended with a gut-wrenching 38-17 lost to eventual Grey Cup-champion Montreal in the East final. A BMO Field gathering of 26,620 — the largest crowd for an Argos game since they moved there in 2016 — watched the Alouettes force nine turnovers.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the group,” Clemons told reporters via Zoom on Tuesday from the CFL meetings in Nashville, Tenn. “I’ve never had a season where every guy has returned and that’s a fact of life.

“But our desire to sign every guy, or as many guys as we can, is still there and we do believe the majority of our roster will remain intact. We still have that hope and while it’s not easy, it’s not supposed to be.”

Pickett (105 tackles — five for loss — six sacks, forced fumble, two fumble recoveries) and fellow linebacker Wynton McManis (79 tackles — five for loss — four sacks, four interceptions and a fumble recovery) were two of Toronto’s defensive linchpins. McManis is also a pending free agent.

“We’ve spoken to them … the conversation is certainly ongoing,” Clemons said of the pair. “They will decide.”

Other potential free agents include defensive lineman Brandon Barlow (nine sacks), defensive backs Robertson Daniel (four interceptions, two fumble recoveries) and Jamal Peters (four interceptions). And stalwart cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers, the CFL’s top rookie, is eligible for the ’24 NFL draft.

Clemons didn’t sound optimistic Canadian linebacker Henoc Muamba, the MVP and top Canadian in Toronto’s ’22 Grey Cup, would return in 2024. He spent all of last season on the injured list.

“I believe he’s transitioning but I hate to draw those conclusions for players,” Clemons said. “So I think speaking to him directly is probably best.”