The Montreal Alouettes appear to be the only team in the Canadian Football League (CFL) not using the negotiation window to speak to players who could benefit from their autonomy on February 14.
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According to TSN network journalist Farhan Lalji, general manager Danny Maciocia cannot offer the footballers a contract. In fact, he couldn’t know how much to offer them and what he was entitled to. This delicate situation would be linked to the vagueness that surrounds the owners of the club.
When contacted on this subject, the Alouettes organization declined to comment.
However, we know that the employees of “Als” have no direct contact with the majority owner, Sid Spiegel’s estate. Two lawyers represent the interests of those who own 75% of the Montreal team’s stock, and Maciocia has to interact with them.
It is an open secret that the winery wants to part with the Alouettes. However, the CFL and its commissioner, Randy Ambrosie, appear to be in the dark on the subject.
“I hope to get some clarification by the end of the week. Randy has attended meetings, but I don’t know if it’s about the situation in Montreal. I’ll try to get an update,” CFL spokesman Lucas Barrett told the Montreal Gazette last week.
Since then, no message from the circuit that hasn’t answered our calls.
An exodus?
If Maciocia’s hands are truly tied, it could have disastrous consequences for what he’s been trying to build since his 2020 hire.
3downnation learned this week that quarterback Trevor Harris and wide receiver Jake Wieneke had both accepted offers to join the Saskatchewan Roughriders. These agreements should be formalized at the opening of the free agent market, two days after the negotiation window closes.
There’s also the case of wide receiver Eugene Lewis. The future free agent hasn’t been shy about complaining about the state of the talks on his social media, even claiming the organization is a “shit show.”
Maciocia also secured the services of defensemen Wes Sutton and Raheem Wilson, linebacker Tyrice Beverette, kick returner Chandler Worhty and receiver Kaion Julien-Grant.
One can imagine that these players required a smaller investment than Harris, Lewis or linebacker Adarius Pickett. The new contract holders also had less of an impact on the team’s success in 2022 than the three players mentioned above.