THE CANADIAN PRESS
Cedric Gagne-Marcoux is officially a CFL free agent, but the question is, for how long?
The six-foot-two, 290-pound guard’s contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats expired at 12:01 ET on Tuesday, meaning he’s now free to sign with any CFL team. And it seems he won’t have to wait long.
The Toronto Argonauts are seemingly at the front of the line to secure the services of the 27-year-old native of Baie-Comeau, Que., who was selected in the first round, eighth overall, by Hamilton in the 2006 CFL Canadian college draft.
Gagne-Marcoux would certainly fill a need in Toronto by adding physicality and nastiness to the offensive line. The Argos posted a league-worst 3-15 record in 2009 and missed the playoffs for a second straight season, due in large part to an anaemic offence that finished last in total yards (283 per game), yards rushing (82.5 per game) and sacks allowed (55). Toronto was also second-last in yards passing (229.3 yards).
But the Argos might also be looking for help in their secondary. A CFL source to told The Canadian Press on Monday night that the Ticats are interested in free-agent cornerback Willie Middlebrooks, a former NFL first-round pick who spent the last two seasons with arch-rival Toronto.
The Argos also released veteran cornerback Jordan Younger earlier this off-season.
Should Middlebrooks leave, that could leave the door open for cornerback Byron Parker to return to Toronto.
Amidst the workouts and the waiting, Parker has been watching. From his off-season home in Atlanta, the veteran CFL cornerback stumbled across an Olympic biathlon broadcast over the weekend and was astonished to learn that "guys are getting medals for skiing and shooting BB Guns."
Parker, 28, has spent the winter wondering what kind of reward he might receive when he became a free agent Tuesday.
Some of the biggest names had already re-signed with their teams before the deadline, including Calgary running back Joffrey Reynolds and Saskatchewan receiver Andy Fantuz. Only two established running backs (Toronto’s Jamal Robertson and Saskatchewan’s Wes Cates) and one quarterback (Saskatchewan’s Steven Jyles) were left on the market shelves heading into the free-agent period.
"I think my phone should be ringing," Parker said.
Some teams had more pending free agents than others, but none more than Saskatchewan and Toronto. The Argos were not planning to re-sign receivers Reggie McNeal or PK Sam, nor did they expect to retain Robertson.
"Most teams have done a good job of signing their guys," Toronto general manager Adam Rita said Monday. "You’ve got to kind of worry about a guy who’s not been signed yet."
The Argos have been in talks with return specialist Dominique Dorsey, but had not reached an agreement as of Monday afternoon. The team might have interest in Parker, who was twice named a CFL all-star when he played in Toronto.
Parker was traded to Edmonton last year in one of many questionable moves made as Bart Andrus fumbled through his rookie season as head coach in Toronto. Andrus was fired in December.
Still, Toronto and the Montreal Alouettes were busy Monday.
The Argos re-signed linebacker Raymond Fontaine and receiver Obed Cetoute through the 2011 season. Meanwhile, Montreal reached agreements with all-star receiver Kerry Watkins on a two-year deal, plus an option, as well as one-year contracts, plus an option, with Canadian fullback Kerry Carter and defensive end Jermaine McElveen.
Not every team embraces the free-agent market. Montreal general manager Jim Popp has historically been among the least active in free agency, opting instead to groom and retain his own players. The Alouettes had already re-signed pending free agents such as linebacker Diamond Ferri and centre Bryan Chiu.
"I don’t think that’s the grounds for having long-term success," Popp said of free agency. "You may have one good year, and you may not have it for the next two or three years.
"If you want to have long-term success, you’ve got to build, and you have to hope your fans are patient with you."
Some teams might be looking for a quick fix, though. The B.C. Lions are said to be in the market for a pass-rusher, while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers could use a quarterback.
Meanwhile, the West Division-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders managed to keep two of their own, re-signing fullback Chris Szarka and offensive lineman Marc Parenteau. The six-foot-three, 235-pound Szarka, of Vancouver, has spent his entire 13-year career with the ‘Riders. The six-foot-five, 290-pound Parenteau, a native of Sherbrooke, Que., is a five-year CFL veteran who has spent the last three seasons in Regina.
Hamilton might be one of the more active teams. The Ticats hosted their first playoff game in eight years last fall after finishing second in the East Division with a 9-9 record.
"I think we’re in pretty good shape to take a run at some guys who might be guys we’re interested in," Ticats general manager Bob O’Billovich said. "In the morning, there will be more things going on in regards to finding out what some of this stuff is all about."
Parker, who does not expect an offer to stay in Edmonton, would prefer to return to southern Ontario. He spent the first four of his five CFL seasons in Toronto, where he collected most of his 21 interceptions.
"I would love to play in Hamilton," Parker said. "I know the area. And I’m trying to set myself up for after football, and I think being in Hamilton or Toronto would benefit me just because of the connections and the relationships I have there."
