If the Montreal Alouettes were quiet when the Canadian Football League free agent market opened on Tuesday, that's largely because general manager Danny Maciocia was proactive early in the offseason.
“In my case, the free agent period started a few days after winning the Gray Cup,” Maciocia argued during a video conference Tuesday afternoon. I actually wanted to sign our core. I wanted to be proactive with these players.
The reigning Gray Cup champions actually expect to see around twenty of their 24 starters from the previous edition back on the field next season.
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With Austin Mack and Lwal Uguak eyeing the NFL and William Stanback leaving the nest to join the British Columbia Lions, Maciocia has used the last few months to extend the contracts of several key pieces of the recent acquisition, including defensive end Tyrice Beverette, Shawn Lemon and Darnell Sankey to name a few.
Because of these signings, the Alouettes did not have the leisure to spend much money in the free agent market as they had to consider the salary cap.
“Of course you are limited, there is less money today [sous le plafond salarial]“But we were conscious of the decision we were making,” Maciocia admitted. We feel very comfortable where we are.”
Solid defense
Sankey, an American linebacker, signed a contract with the Alouettes last December that runs through the end of the 2025 season. The 29-year-old athlete played a key role in the Montreal team's success in the recent Gray Cup final. He also made eight defensive tackles and a sack in the Alouettes' 28-24 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on November 19 in Hamilton. During the Eastern final against the Toronto Argonauts, Sankey recorded six tackles, in addition to a fumble and an interception.
In Beverette's case, he was voted the Alouettes' MVP defensive player at the end of last season. A few days before Christmas, Maciocia had managed to reach an agreement with him for two more years.
In addition to the returning players, the general manager promises that competition will be fierce next training camp as Alouettes scouts spent several weeks on the road in January discovering new talented players. Fishing there is often more successful than on the free agent market.