PICARD, MILO, RIDERS IN THE NEWS

Montreal, January 19, 2016 – The Montreal Alouettes announced on Tuesday that the club has signed veteran national offensive lineman Dominic Picard to a one-year deal.

Picard (6’2″, 310 lbs.) played ten seasons in the CFL, helping the Saskatchewan Roughriders win the Grey Cup in 2013. He also played for the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who selected him in the third round (23rd overall) of the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft. Last season, he started 14 games at centre for Winnipeg. The 33-year-old played 151 career-games in the CFL, starting 143 of them. He was voted the most outstanding offensive lineman of the Argonauts in 2011 and of the Roughriders in 2012 and 2014.

“We welcome Dominic home and to the Montreal Alouettes. His availability and passion to play in Montreal come at a time of need,” said Alouettes General Manager and Head Coach Jim Popp. “With the injury to Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, we obviously had some concern with depth at the centre position. Picard’s acquisition brings veteran leadership and experience to our talented offensive line.”

In the collegiate ranks, the Sainte-Foy, QC native played for the Université Laval Rouge et Or, winning the Vanier Cup twice. He was the recipient of the J.P. Metras trophy in 2005, awarded to the top offensive lineman in the country. He was named a CIS All-Canadian in 2004 and 2005. He was also voted the Quebec conference rookie of the year in 2002.

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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League announced Tuesday that the team has extended the contract of national kicker Chris Milo through 2017.

The 29-year old Milo was signed by the REDBLACKS on July 31 which proved to be a key signing for the Eastern Division Champions. The Montreal, QC native was 32/36 on field goals (88.9%) good for fourth in CFL with his longest kick coming from 48 yards. Milo posted the league’s third-best extra point conversation rate going 34/39 (87.7%) and tallied 131 points – the fourth most in the CFL.

“Chris was a great asset for us in the second half last season,” REDBLACKS General Manager Marcel Desjardins. “He brought stability to the position and leadership to the team and we’re glad that he will continue to be a REDBLACK through 2017.”

Milo enters his sixth CFL season in 2016 and has made two trips to the Grey Cup in the past three seasons. On October 29, 2011, Milo tied the record for the longest punt ever kicked in professional football when he punted the football 108 yards. Prior to playing in the CFL, Milo captured a pair of Vanier Cup championships in four years with the Rouge et Or in Laval.

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The Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced international defensive back Curtis Brown, international defensive end Ryan Jones, international offensive lineman Joseph Treadwell, and international running back Devrin Young have all signed with the team. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Brown (6’0 – 185) is a veteran of 34 NFL regular season games played with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2011 to 2013 after originally being selected by the team in the 3rd round (95th overall) of the 2011 draft. Last season, the 27-year-old Texas native attended training camp with the New York Jets, playing one preseason game, after signing with the team in February.

Before going pro, Brown spent four seasons at the University of Texas where he played 52 career collegiate games picking up 120 defensive tackles, 35 special teams tackles, and two interceptions while also adding 14 punt returns for 199 yards.      

Jones (6’4 – 245) joins the Green and White after spending three seasons at Montana Tech where he recorded 127 defensive tackles and 10.5 quarterback sacks. The Reno, Nevada native went on to sign with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in May, 2013.  

Treadwell (6’5 – 325) joins the Riders after spending four seasons at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The Jacksonville, Florida native started all 48 career collegiate games played spending time at both left and right tackle.

Last season, the 23-year-old signed with the Houston Texans in May as an undrafted free agent. Treadwell spent time on the teams practice roster after attending training camp and playing in three preseason games.

Young (5’8 – 173) signs with the Green and White after spending four seasons at Tennessee. In 33 career collegiate games, Young totaled 67 kickoff returns for 1,543 yards and 32 punt returns for 312 yards. He also added 50 carries for 204 rushing yards, and 18 receptions for 144 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League announced two new additions to their staff on Tuesday. Jean-Marc Edmé joins the football club as the new Player Personnel Coordinator while Beau Walker is the REDBLACKS new Offensive Assistant.

Edmé has spent the last eight seasons with the Montreal Alouettes. Five of those years were spent as the Defensive Assistant and Football Operations Assistant which came under Marcel Desjardins tenure as Assistant General Manager. The Montreal, QC native has spent the last three season as the Al’s Pro/College and Advance scout.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Jean-Marc in the past and I am delighted that he has joined the REDBLACKS,” said General Manager Marcel Desjardins. “He brings a tremendous amount of knowledge, experience and work ethic to our personnel department.”

Walker joins the REDBLACKS following a collegiate playing career that led straight into a collegiate coaching career. After seven years at Oregon State as both a player and Graduate Assistant (Offensive Line), the Bend, OR native followed Beavers head coach Mike Riley to Nebraska to serve as the Graduate Manager – Offensive Assistant of the Cornhuskers.

“Beau is an up and coming coach whose experience working at major NCAA division 1 programs will serve him well as he transitions to pro football.” said REDBLACKS Head Coach Rick Campbell. “We look forward to him joining our REDBLACKS football family.”