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December 4, 2020

CFL Releases Pending Free Agents List

Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker Justin Medlock tries for a field goal against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during first half football action in the 107th Grey Cup in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, November 24, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers brain trust tasked with building a roster for a Grey Cup title defence will soon have the official green light to continue construction.

The Canadian Football League announced Friday the moratorium on re-signing players put in place following the cancellation of the 2020 season will be lifted at 11 a.m. on December 7. As well, the league set the date for the opening of free agency for February 9, at 11. a.m.

“While we are quite aware of the COVID-19 challenges currently facing society at large and sports in particular, we are also encouraged by the almost daily reports of progress in the development and distribution of rapid tests, treatments and, most importantly, vaccines,” said CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie in a statement. “We are taking every step to be prepared to return to the field next year.”

The league released the entire team-by-team list of prospective free agents with the Winnipeg list including 32 names (not including Jovon Johnson, who signed a one-day contract last March to retire as a Bomber).

The Edmonton Football Team has the largest list with 47 prospective free agents, while the Toronto Argonauts have the least at 22.

The proliferation of one-year contracts over the last few years the Bombers list of free agents is substantial and features some juicy names, including stars like Andrew Harris, Stanley Bryant and Justin Medlock.

Winnipeg’s list includes nine players who started games last year on offence and seven on defence. Here’s the breakdown (*indicates American player):

STARTERS (OFFENCE)

  • RB Andrew Harris
  • OL Stanley Bryant*
  • WR Rasheed Bailey*
  • WR/KR Lucky Whitehead*
  • SB Nic Demski
  • OL Cody Speller
  • OL Geoff Gray
  • OL Jermarcus Hardrick*
  • OL Patrick Neufeld

STARTERS (DEFENCE)

  • DB Brandon Alexander*
  • DE Jackson Jeffcoat*
  • DB Josh Johnson*
  • DB Nick Taylor*
  • DT Jake Thomas
  • LB Kyrie Wilson*
  • DT Steven Richardson*

SPECIALISTS

  • K Justin Medlock*
  • LS Chad Rempel
  • LS Maxime Latour

OTHERS

  • QB Sean McGuire*
  • FB Mike Miller
  • LB Jesse Briggs
  • LB Thomas Miles
  • WR Daniel Petermann
  • DB Chris Lyles*
  • DB Kerfalla Exumé
  • BL Shayne Gauthier
  • WR Julian Feoli-Gudino
  • DL Oluwatobi Antigha*
  • FB John Rush
  • LB Brandon Calver
  • OL Darrell Williams*

Worth noting also are some of the names NOT on the list – players who were already under contract for 2021 or signed extensions this past offseason.

That group includes: quarterback Zach Collaros; offensive linemen Michael Couture, Drew Desjarlais and Tui Eli; defensive linemen Willie Jefferson and Connor Griffiths; receivers Darvin Adams, Charles Nelson and Drew Wolitarsky; running backs Johnny Augustine and Brady Oliveira; linebackers Micah Awe and Adam Bighill and defensive backs Nick Hallett and Mike Jones.

As well, players who had previously asked for their release after the cancellation of the CFL season to pursue NFL opportunities are also pending free agents, but not free to sign with other clubs until the opening of the market in February.

That group of Bombers includes WR Kenny Lawler, WR/KR Janarion Grant, DL Thiadric Hansen and DB Mercy Maston.