RIDER FREE AGENT LIST
BELL, Graeme
BUTLER, Craig
DRESSLER, Weston
HALL, Alex
HARGREAVES, Aaron
HARRIS, Victor
JOHNSON, Kierrie
KROMAH, Abraham
MAZE, Terrell
MCELVEEN, Jermaine
MILO, Christopher
NEWMAN, Graig
SANDERS, Jock
SCHMITT, Ricky
SHEETS, Kory
SMITH, Taj
WILLY, Drew
WOLDU, Paul
Yikes. B Taman has his work cut out for him. Here's hoping.
Well I don’t know how the Riders managed to have Syracuse on their roster, but it sure would be a costs cutting move to let them leave!
Sheets, Dressler and Butler have to be the top 3
The canadian free agents are strategic. Ottawa is not going to take a player that is a free agent and risk they cannot sign him. So you leave butler, milo, newman, etc unsigned then you dont need to protect them. You might even have started talks with those guys and low and behold they sign back with riders right after the dispersal draft.
Oh !
REDBLACKS 2014 Grey Cup Champions ! You read it here first on CANADA #1 SPORTS BLOG. RODPEDERSEN.COM
Not a snow balls chance on a hot Sask July day. I do wish them luck though. Just not against the Riders.
Pretty much what The Woz said. I wouldnt be surprised If Taman has had conervations with some of the FA's about possible deals and plans to sign them after the draft has completed. Will be interesting nonetheless.
Wow some huge names, but I agree with Woz this helps out with the draft.
I can't imagine being able to hold on to everyone, but there's a few there that can almost ask what they want.
There's a lot of talent on that board. I don't think you can keep everyone. Sheets and Dressler are 1 and 1a priority. Butler and Maze have to be up there too.
Woz,
There is NO way they leave Butler unprotected.
The greedy hands on the controls of this caboose are getting exactly what that deserve.
What have you been smoking?? There is no way Redblacks are winning the cup in 2014!!!!
Never mind with that. That is the same nimrod that was always talking about the ticats winning the grey cup.
Didn't the Tiger Cats get to the Grey Cup game against all odds with all their season injuries falling short in their quest for a Championship, got to credit where credit is due, soon tho, very soon Hamilton will win it all just like the Roughriders did this past season. Renewed fever 2014.
Kim Lether
Morin…why not? If Ottawa takes Butler they would be taking a free agent that could be signed by anyone so there would be no guarantee they would actually get Butler in a RedBlack uniform. Meanwhile by taking him other Rider Canadians would then be off the table given the dispersal draft rules……they would then not be able to take other signed Canadians that we would have to leave unprotected like Picard or Newman. It would be foolish for them to take Butler when they don't know if they can sign him as opposed to taking Picard who would have to… Read more »
I get what you are saying Woz but Ottawa also has a lot more flexibility than we do. If they take him, they can throw a bigger number at him and he has a couple months to sit there and think about it. I don't know about you but if Ott throws $150k at him and says the deal is on the table for x days when he's been making $50k for three years, well, I might be tempted if I were Butler. You're definitely taking some risk there.
Don't want to take that risk. If he isn't already, he soon will be the heart of our defence. As the previos said, Ottawa can say, here's the money if you want it. Just scares me is all.
Hey it is not only ottawa that could offer him big bucks….going with your points though why would Butler wants to sign now then? He may as well wait until after free agency and see what offers he gets from all teams…. There is no incentive for butler to sign with the riders before the dispersal or before free agency for that matter
Fact is the riders could agree to terms with butler now and not release it or officially sign him till after the draft thus leaving him unprotected and protect someone else.