As free agency inches closer, on Twitter I have received a lot questions from Alouettes fans about the potential scenario of the team signing Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver, Andy Fantuz.
As I stated in my previous articles about the Fantuz situation, I highly doubt that the team would be in play for him.
Aside from penning Dwight Anderson, the Alouettes have been very judicious in signing outside talent. Furthermore, the confidence that Jim Popp has in himself to discover a player in a tryout camp is large and would be economically cheaper than anything else.
Already, the Alouettes have locked up Brian Bratton, Eric Deslauriers, S.J. Green, and Brandon London. Even though Kerry Watkins announced his retirement last week, it does not hurt the team but rather it frees up money for Jim Popp to use in a future contract offer to Jamel Richardson.
Richardson is set to be a free agent after the 2012 season, and I am sure both parties would take an added interest in the Fantuz negotiations.
In professional sports contracts, the law of averages dictates whatever Fantuz ends up signing for expect Richardson to get a contract number 10 to 20 percent higher than that.
As for where Fantuz could end up, I still believe the three teams in the running are the Edmonton Eskimos, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Toronto Argonauts.
If Alouettes fans are inclined about adding Fantuz to the loaded position group, they should be more concerned that Popp should start negotiations with one of the popular players in Richardson.
The Future of Paul Woldu?
Woldu is one of the Alouettes few remaining free agents that they have yet to re-sign. For all the discussion that was bantered about his future, the feeling is management might allow him to walk.
There’s no denying he had a tough go last year when he was thrown into the lineup after the rash of injuries in the secondary.
The one eye sore he experienced was in Calgary, where Stampeders receiver, Johnny Forzani had a career day in dominating Woldu and the secondary with six receptions for 107 yards, and two touchdowns. Indirectly that was the beginning of the end for Woldu to showcase his skills to management and show he could be a major contributor to the team’s long term cause.
Unless Popp feels there isn’t anyone in free agency or in the draft that could bring the same elements that Woldu has brought to this team, he could make him an offer to him.
But the stars are slowly aligning that a bid from his hometown Roughriders could be in the works. The organization knows him very well from his CJFL, and CIS playing days in the province. In-fact, he had a tryout as a non-roster player with the team in 2006 but was released shortly thereafter.
In an ideal world a team would like to re-sign all their free agents. However, in the business of professional sports the chances are slim everyone would want to comeback considering they’re better offers from other competitors.
Generally, the Alouettes have kept their plans close to the vest. So anything is possible, but it would not be shocking if they’re idle in the free agency sweepstakes.
You can follow me on Twitter @MoeKhan19
Listen to me every Friday morning from midnight-2am on The Midnight Snack, every Tuesday night on Gamepoints, and various shows on TSN 990
Photo credit: huskiesoutsider.com
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