Edmonton GM Brock Sunderland made a ‘ridiculous’ lowball contract offer to Almondo Sewell

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

Edmonton Football Team general manager Brock Sunderland lowballed longtime team member Almondo Sewell during contract extension negotiations.

The 34-year-old Sewell had played nine seasons with the EE Football Team, establishing himself as a stalwart on the defensive line.

“It wasn’t even remotely respectable. That’s the nicest way I can say it. Ridiculous. To be honest, I felt disrespected,” Sewell told Postmedia reporter Herb Zurkowsky.

“[Sunderland] obviously wanted to go in a different direction. I don’t have a problem with that. I told them many times I know where the front door is. If they don’t want me there I’ll go somewhere else.”

That’s exactly what happened as the Montreal Alouettes secured Sewell’s services over other interested franchises. Als GM Danny Maciocia inked the veteran to a two-year contract on the opening day of CFL free agency.

In 139 career games, Sewell has registered 282 tackles, 60 sacks and forced two fumbles. Sewell helped Edmonton win the 2015 Grey Cup. During the 2019 season, the six-foot-four, 288-pound disruptor recorded 35 tackles, eight sacks with one forced fumble and recovered another while earning CFL all-star honours.

Sewell has been named a league all-star six times in his outstanding career.