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The 3DownNation CFL Free Agency Live Blog

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Welcome to the 3DownNation live blog with all the breaking news from insider Justin Dunk, signings from around the CFL and snap analysis from editor Drew Edwards and former Montreal Alouettes assistant general manager Joey Abrams. Our roster of 3DownNation insiders will be chiming in throughout the day as well.

This page should refresh automatically every few minutes so tuned throughout the day.

8 p.m Drew: Well, after eight-and-a-half hours, we’re pulling the plug on the Live Blog. Considering we set a new daily record for page views, I’m calling it a resounding success. We’ll continue to track the signings for the rest of the evening and into (at least) tomorrow so keep it locked to 3DownNation.

7:47:

7:45 Josh Smith: Ticats shore up the secondary on day one of free agency.

7:41:

7:15 Abrams: Emanuel Davis a top three defensive back on the market. Playing a tough position and doing it at a high level. Ticats secondary looking good.

6:57 Dunk: The Ticats have agreed to a two-year contract extension with defensive back Emanuel Davis.

6:30 Joel Gasson: LaFrance is a surprise. Didn’t expect Jones to go Canadian at RB. It’s a risk given LaFrance having one great game to his name. They do have a backup in Greg Morris.

6:25 Joel Gasson: Thoughts on Dennis: it’s no secret the Riders needed help along the offensive line. Xavier Fulton is in Hamilton and Thaddeus Coleman is a free agent, they badly needed help at tackle. Chris Jones got that in Dennis. The Canadian market for linemen isn’t thay strong but they could still add some depth there.

6:18:

6:17 Drew: Another big name falls as the Riders Canadian running back Kienan LaFrance.

5:42 Santino Filoso: Six quick thoughts on the Redblacks free agent moves…

1. Marcel Desjardins isn’t pulling any punches, even if Ottawa fails to repeat at home, it won’t be due to any glaring roster holes.

2. Not surprised to see Chris Milo released. Was very inconsistent in 2016 and the team showed it can survive with Ray Early.

3. Didn’t expect to see the Redblacks pursue any LBs, let alone Khalil Bass. Damaso Munoz had incredible chemistry with Tank Reed, let’s see if Bass can replicate it.

4. Diontae Spencer and Kenny Shaw will be familiar with not only Trevor Harris, but also OC Jamie Elizondo, who was their receiving coach in 2015.

5. Losing Abdul Kanneh (after already losing Mitchell White and Forrest Hightower to the NFL) hurts, but AJ Jefferson excels in man coverage and projects to be a playmaker in Mark Nelson’s defence.

6. Adam Berger is a sneaky good signing. Provides much needed depth behind Antoine Pruneau and will contribute on special teams.

5:35:

5:30:

5:26 Drew: Is it worth mentioning they traded a first round pick for Vernon Adams last spring? Yep.

5:17 Dunk: Rich Stubler is in Toronto helping the Argos, who are currently without a general manager or head coach, with free agency.

5:15:

4:35 Drew: So… on the opening day of CFL free agency, the Toronto Raptors make a big trade and the Montreal Canadiens fire their head coach and hire someone else. I realize that’s not necessarily big news in every CFL market but in Toronto and Montreal, where the league is desperate for coverage, it will push any news even further away from relevancy.

4:30:

4:27:

4:17 John Hodge: Saskatchewan and Toronto entered today as the clubs with the most holes to fill. The only team plugging holes right now is Ottawa.

4:14 Drew: Sources telling me that former Ticats quarterback Jacory Harris will be joining the Montreal Alouettes.

4:04 Dunk: The Ottawa Redblacks have agreed to terms with former Argos defensive back A.J. Jefferson.

3:49 John Hodge: Riders, who have yet to add a Canadian player today, just lost one (Andrew Lue) they gave up an asset to acquire.

3:47 Abrams: Andrew Lue the Alouettes in ST tackles in his rookie year. Has had some fluke injuries. Is a very solid addition which could turn great.

3:35

3:34

3:33

3:31 John Hodge: Middling day for #Bombers in #CFLFA. Nevis solid add, but deal is rich. Hurl & Coates decent CDN depth pieces. Jabar Westerman a must-add.

3:29 Abrams: I’m a big Jeff Mathews fan. I think he can be special. Nice job by Spencer and the crew in TO.

3:22

3:22:

3:09 Josh: Is the Willy-Ray-Mathews triumvirate the least-mobile in CFL history?

3:09 Drew: Hearing that the Ticats are still in pursuit of their former receiver Terrell Sinkfield… wanted him back in September when he signed with Lions.

3:06 Drew: Former Ticats quarterback Jeff Mathews has signed with the Argos annd running back and return man Kendiall Lawrence has re-joined the Esks.

2:58 Justin: Former Redblacks receiver and reigning East Division MOP Ernest Jackson is close to signing with the Argos.

2:49 Joel Gasson: Thoughts on Dennis: it’s no secret the Riders needed help along the offensive line. Xavier Fulton is in Hamilton and Thaddeus Coleman is a free agent, they badly needed help at tackle. Chris Jones got that in Dennis. The Canadian market for linemen isn’t thay strong but they could still add some depth there.

2:40 Josh Smith: Ticats needed secondary help and got the best available guy, while in the process taking a key player from a division rival.

2:36 Drew: Kanneh can play multiple spots in the secondary and helps address a big need for Hamilton. His signing doesn’t mean the Ticats are out on Emanuel Davis.

2:31 Drew: The Ticats have signed former Redblacks defensive back Abdul Kanneh.

2:26: Drew: Former Ticats linebacker Ron Omara has agreed to terms with the Redblacks. Solid special teams contributor.

2:05 Abrams: Derek Dennis to Saskatchewan makes a ton of sense. That signing will make their quarterback better by offering him time.

2 p.m.: The Riders have signed all-star offensive lineman Derek Dennis.

1:58 p.m. Abrams: Excellent signing Redblacks in receiver Kenny Shaw. A sure handed second down go to guy who will go across the middle for the touch catches.

1:56 Justin: Feels like there’s a bit of a logjam as teams wait on Derek Dennis and Ernest Jackson to sign. Once big ticket items move, things could open up.

1:48:

1:44:

1:43

1:31:

1:28

1:24 Drew: Doesn’t sound like Canadian RB Anthony Woodson will be back with the Ticats.

1:19 Justin: Kenny Shaw has agreed to terms with Redblacks.

1:15

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1:03

12:59:

12:57

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12:37:

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12:30

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12:22

12:19:

12:15 Justin: Barring something unforeseen, don’t expect Chad Owens to be back in Hamilton.

12:10 Drew: Expect the Ticats to take a big run at receiver Terrell Sinkfield. Wanted him back in September when he signed with B.C. Lions.

12:04:

12:00:

11:59:

11:59:

11:58 Josh:

11:57:

11:52 Drew: Hearing that the Argos may have interest in former Ticats  and Stamps receiver Bakari Grant.

11:38:

11:37:

11:36 Abrams: I expect Montreal will go with a national at defensive tackle and will need to dip into the free agent pool to do that.

11:33 Dunk: Expect money to come fast and furious at Calgary offensive lineman Derek Dennis. Best American offensive lineman out there.

11:30 Drew: Should we actually talk about some football….

11:01 Drew: This a live shot from the 3DownNation.com “newsroom.” We definitely have a scrappy internet start up motif going on.

11 a.m. Drew: This is like the seventh year I’ve done a CFL free agency live blog. It’s the most exciting day of the CFL off-season… and the longest. I’m already on coffee number two.

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