Montreal Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia solved an important issue by signing linebacker Tyrice Beverette on Wednesday to a one-year deal.
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Last year, the 27-year-old American got his first real chance to assert himself in a defensive unit. He was limited to special teams during his stint with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2019 and 2021.
Beverette made 56 defensive tackles in 18 regular-season games with the Sparrows. He also had a touchdown on an interception return. In the first-round game against the Tiger-Cats, the New Jersey native was spectacular with two quarterback sacks and as many forced fumbles.
“Tyrice is a player who shaped us,” said Maciocia. He’s played on special teams for most of his career, but we found he could do more and he showed us he could do well on defense.
Since the start of the Canadian League offseason, Maciocia has offered contract extensions to five of the 28 footballers who can benefit from their autonomy on February 14.
In addition to Beverette, the GM was careful to keep the services of defensemen Wes Sutton and Nafees Lyon in coordinator Noel Thorpe’s squad. Of the remaining big names in this unit, linebacker Adarius Pickett’s name tops the list.
“We are still in negotiations with Adarius,” Maciocia said. We don’t yet know where this will take us, but we continue to speak to each other regularly.