Running back William Stanback could become a free agent on February 13th, which could also lead to the end of his association with the Montreal Alouettes.
On Friday, the Canadian Football League (CFL) announced the names of all football players whose contracts ended in 2023. Among the “As,” there are 23 players in this situation, including Stanback.
• Also read: Montreal celebrates its champions
• Also read: The Anglos behind Marc-Antoine Dequoy
According to 3DownNation.com, the 29-year-old American was the circuit’s highest-paid running back this season. He would have received around $160,000.
If he’s looking for a similar salary in his next deal, it will certainly be somewhere other than Montreal. Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia will look to retain several athletes who had a bigger impact on winning the Gray Cup than Stanback.
The veteran played well in the final, but suffered a sharp decline in performance this year. The one who managed campaigns with gains of more than 1,000 yards on the ground in 2019 and 2021 was limited to 800 yards in 2023. He crossed the goal line twice on the ground and again on an aerial play.
The Alouettes’ other two ball carriers, Jeshrun Antwi and Walter Fletcher, could also benefit from their autonomy next winter. Fullback James Tuck also finds himself in this situation.
A lot of guys on defense
Without taking anything away from the offense, it was primarily the defense that enabled the Sparrows to have an incredible run at the end of the season and in the playoffs.
If Maciocia wants coordinator Noel Thorpe to have the same elements in 2024, he should pull out the checkbook in the coming weeks. Of the 12 starters for the Gray Cup game, four could benefit from the autonomy. They are defensive lineman Shawn Lemon, linebackers Tyrice Beverette and Darnell Sankey and defensive back Ciante Evans.
This also applies to defensive backs Najee Murray and Nafees Lyon, who were injured at the end of the season. The other possible free agents who continue to play on defense are Avery Williams, Frédéric Chagnon, Vincent Desjardins, Avery Ellis and Alexandre Gagné.
Other players affected include wide receivers Greg Ellingson, Régis Cibasu and Jake Harty, as well as offensive linemen Kristian Matte, Philippe Gagnon, David Brown, Landon Rice and Jesse Gibbon.