OUT OF THE TUNNEL: DISSECTING THE NEG LISTS
BY: RODPEDERSEN.COM STAFF
It’s now a biannual release where the CFL gives fans a little taste of who their teams have on their oh-so secret negotiation list. Each team is allowed to claim exclusive rights to 45 players. Those players can be traded (sometimes secretly), added and removed at any time.
This week was the latest. It’s the fourth such list since the it began in February 2018. What do these lists mean? Well, it seems like just to create a small amount of buzz in the slowest time of the CFL calendar.
For fun, let’s look back at the first list released on February 20, 2018 to see what names are still making waves and just how much the staffs at the time allowed the fans to see.
Like always, quarterbacks are usually the headliners.
B.C. Lions:
They had the biggest star-studded quarterback list of the nine teams.
It included current NFL quarterbacks Lamar Jackson Jr., Ryan Finley and Brett Rypien, current NCAA seniors Khalil Tate (Arizona), Deondre Francois (Howard/Florida State), Shea Patterson (Michigan/Mississippi) and Gage Gubrud (Washington State). Throw in future NFLer Jake Fromm and that is one heck of a quarterback list.
The one that may have the best shot at seeing the CFL is Tate. He fits the prototypical dual threat pivot that fits in the CFL. He was also on the most recent release.
Edmonton Eskimos:
Nothing really stood out on this list. Quarterback Shane Buechele transferred to SMU and is still on the negotiation list. Running back Phillip Lindsay is close to setting an NFL record as the first free agent running back to run for 1,000 yards in his rookie year.
Two names have potential. Shane Zylstra, the younger brother of former Eskimos all-star Brandon Zylstra just finished his senior season at Minnesota State and had 1,669 yards receiving. The other was Jerry Louie-McGee, a receiver out of Montana who just finished his senior season with the Grizzlies and is a return specialist. If he is still on Edmonton’s list, we may see his name in a CFL camp next season.
Calgary Stampeders:
Quarterback Tyler Rogers was at Stampeders training camp in 2019. Quarterback Brandon Silvers, who was with the AAF this past winter, will try the XFL on for size and QB Greg Ward Jr. is now a receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles.
They had one player on their 2019 roster, defensive tackle Anthony Johnson. He played five games with the Stampeders in 2019.
Saskatchewan Roughriders:
They had three quarterbacks on the list: Trace McSorley is now with the Baltimore Ravens, B.J. Daniels will play in the XFL and so will Luis Perez.
Fans will recognize two names from the list. Curt Maggitt played a handful of games with the Riders in 2018. Adam Zaruba was a tight end with Simon Fraser University and gave the NFL a shot with the Philadelphia Eagles. He is currently playing rugby with the Canadian national rugby sevens team.
Here is the list of 10 players on the CURRENT Rider neg list released by the CFL this week:
Name / Position / College
BARKER, Kaleb QB Troy
CHEEVERS, Hamp DB Boston College
GARCIA, Antonio OL Troy
GREEN, Chaz OL Florida
LIPPETT, Tony DB Michigan State
LOVE, Josh QB San Jose State
MCBRIDE, Tre WR William & Mary
MURPHY, Marcus RB Missouri
PUMPHREY, Donnel RB San Diego State
SMITH, Terrance LB Florida State
Winnipeg Blue Bombers:
Two names on this list had a giant part in their 2019 Grey Cup Championship.
Quarterback Chris Streveler went right from South Dakota State into the starting role for Winnipeg in 2018, replacing a then-hurt Matt Nichols. He did the same in 2019 before Zach Collaros came in and led Winnipeg to the title.
The other is defensive back Marcus Sales. He was a CFL West Division all-star with three interceptions, taking two of them back for touchdowns.
No other names on this list stand out. The two other quarterbacks are Quinton Flowers who will toil in the XFL in 2020 and Alex McGough, a back-up in the NFL.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats:
Hamilton also had two players from this list that played in the CFL in 2019. One helped in their run to the Grey Cup game and the other was a solid contributor to the Ottawa Redblacks
Defensive end Julian Howsare had six sacks in 18 games this season (his second in the CFL) and defensive back Randall Evans played 17 games with Ottawa in 2019 picking up 68 total tackles.
Hamilton had three quarterbacks on the list. Robert Griffin III is a back-up in Baltimore, Tua Tagovailoa had a potential Heisman Trophy season end because of a devastating hip injury with Alabama and McKenzie Milton had his career end with a knee injury in 2018 while playing with Central Florida.
Toronto Argonauts:
WR Rodney Smith played in his second season with Toronto and was solid with 646 yards receiving and five touchdowns. The other player with a CFL resume is defensive back Will Likely. He played three games with Hamilton in 2019 spending the bulk of the season on the practice roster.
The Argos also listed quarterbacks Baker Mayfield (no explanation needed), Aaron Murray and Denard Robinson who will both play in the XFL in 2020.
Ottawa Redblacks:
Not a single player on this list has or will ever see a CFL roster. Quarterback Tyler Ferguson now runs his own quarterback school and Phillip Walker will be in the XFL.
Three players are currently in the NFL: Bug Howard (Denver), Joey Ivie (NY Jets), JoJo Natson (LA Rams).
Montreal Alouettes:
Woody Baron is the only player that took the field for the Alouettes in 2019. He played all 18 games at defensive tackle.
Just one other player on the list is still in football. Running back Brian Hill is with the Atlanta Falcons.
They also had Colin Kaepernick on the negotiation list.
(RODPEDERSEN.COM STAFF)
