EDMONTON, AB - Oct 21, 2023: Toronto Argonauts vs Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday afternoon.(Chris Lindsey / Toronto Argonauts)
Argonauts.ca’s Mike Hogan was allowed inside the Argos “War Room” for a behind the scenes account of the first day of free agency 2024. The only parameter was that he was not to mention the names of anyone discussed that did not sign with the Argos.
When Michael Clemons took over as the Toronto Argonauts general manager, his goal was to make things boring. Aside from a handful of fretful hours leading up to the opening of free agency on Tuesday, the man nicknamed “Pinball” got his wish.
By “boring” he meant that he wanted people to get used to the team doing the right thing all the time. He didn’t want extreme highs and lows, just perpetual smooth sailing on calm waters.
In his first few years as GM, Clemons has used the CFL’s free agency period as a fishing expedition. He and his crew would cast several lines in the water, not only anxious to catch “the big one”, but also to catch their limit.
This year the angling would consist of fewer lines in the water and hoping they wouldn’t have too many big fish get away.
The Argos personnel department was fully braced for the contractual free-for-all, knowing that salary cap restrictions would make re-signing every potential free agent impossible. They were just hoping they could mitigate the damage, while perhaps adding some key players in their quest to win a fourth consecutive East Division title, and the team’s 19th Grey Cup championship.
They were, however, ready to take some hits along the way.
DAY ONE
The league’s negotiating window, a seven-day period where potential free agents could talk to other teams, began a minute past noon on Sunday, February 4. For the Argos it was a relatively quiet day. Clemons would talk to a handful of players; some currently on the team and some outside of the organization. Some would eventually become Boatmen, some wouldn’t.
Joining Clemons at a gathering at Hotel X, located just east of BMO Field, were assistant general manager John Murphy, head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, special teams coordinator Mickey Donovan, and defensive backs coach Will Fields, who joined the group after most of the day’s phone calls had been made.
Assistant general manager Vince Magri worked from home, talking to agents and players, constantly keeping in touch with the group that was located downtown. He had received signed contracts from receiver Dejon Brissett and kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, preventing the former from becoming a free agent, while welcoming the latter, a 2017 Grey Cup hero, back to the team.
There was quite a bit of talk, but nothing was finalized aside from the two contracts getting signed. Nonetheless, the first fishing lines had been cast.
MONDAY
The team would announce the Brissett and Hajrullahu signings on Monday, a day that would take a take a couple of serious twists and turns.
Adarius Pickett, who was the Eastern nominee for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2023, reached a contract agreement with the Ottawa Redblacks. The Argos didn’t want to stand in his way or prolong the inevitable, so he was released so he could sign before the free agency period officially began.
The first salary cap casualty of the free agency period had been recorded. It would not be the last.
Magri had positive discussions with Fraser Sopik, a linebacker and stellar special teams player who spent last season with the Tiger-Cats. Nothing was finalized, but Magri was optimistic that one of the team’s targets would be headed to Toronto.
At the same time, it looked like the Argos were going to lose linebacker Jack Cassar. It appeared certain that he’d be headed down the QEW to play for Hamilton. It was a move that the organization simply didn’t want to see happen. Clemons and linebackers coach Kevin Eiben reached out to Cassar to attempt to convince him to stay.
Whatever was said to Cassar worked, and late Monday night he agreed to return to the Argos for a fourth season. The deal would be finalized and announced the next day.
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Defensive lineman Benoit Marion, like Cassar, a major contributor on special teams, also agreed to terms late Monday and his deal would also be announced the next morning.
Members of the Argos brass would go to bed with a positive feeling about re-signing the pair and the good news about Sopik, but perhaps dreading the inevitability of the next day.
TUESDAY
Tuesday was a tough one for not only the organization, but for fans as well. Pickett made it official that he had signed with Ottawa. Then came a rapid string of players agreeing to terms elsewhere.
At 10:00 it was learned that Brandon Barlow was headed to Hamilton. Three hours later A.J. Ouellette had agreed to play in Regina, while Jamal Peters would join Barlow down the QEW. At 3:00 it was learned that Javon Leake was headed to Edmonton and an hour after that Dewayne Hendrix became the third player to trade Double Blue for Black and Gold.
While the defections were tough to take, they were expected. The Argos have strengthened their roster to the point where they knew they were going to be pounced upon by other teams; they had gone from being the hunters to the hunted.
There was panic among a portion of the Argo fan base as some popular players were leaving and in rapid succession. From the team’s perspective, while some of those decisions were tough, there was a plan in place to replace each defector. Much of that work had been done in advance so that many big names never got to free agency.
With much discussion on social media about the Argos losing so many players, Magri quipped on Tuesday evening, “We were joking that we should have saved the announcements of Chad Kelly, Peter Nicastro, Dejon Brissett, Dejon Allen, Tommy Nield, David Ungerer, Jake Ceresna, Isiah Cage, Wynton McManis, and Jonathan Jones until today.”
Tuesday was not a complete shutout however, as negotiations with receiver Damonte Coxie were to the point where the club expected he would soon agree to re-sign. Magri had called Coxie, “A high priority from the get-go.” He thought the deal was close before turning in on Tuesday night.
The team talked with fullback Albert Awachie from the Roughriders, a Toronto native and U-of-T product. Discussions with Tunde Adeleke, the veteran defensive back from Hamilton also commenced.
When Ouellette came to terms with the Riders, it made Ka’Deem Carey from Calgary even more of a priority. The running back was injured for much of 2023, one year after leading the CFL in rushing despite playing just 14 games. The thought of him running behind the league’s best offensive line was tantalizing.
LATE WEEK/WEEKEND
The deal with Coxie became official on Wednesday morning, but he wasn’t the only receiver who would sign that day. The defection of Leake opened competition for the job as the team’s number one returner. With that in mind the team inked Savon Scarver to a deal. He spent the early portion of 2023 in Ottawa as insurance to DeVonte Dedmon and Brandin Dandridge. Talks between Scarver – one of the most prolific returners in NCAA history – and the Argos accelerated when it was learned that Leake was heading to Edmonton.
Talks continued Wednesday with several players, some of whom would eventually sign with the Argos, some would not, at least as of the time this article was published.
And there were still ongoing talks with Carey, both sides hopeful of reaching an agreement.
There was one official signing on Thursday, receiver Jeff Badet, who had played in the NFL, USFL and XFL.
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Friday was a quiet day as tire kicking and more serious negotiations continued, seeing if there was a good fit between player and team; not only on the field and in the locker room, but contractually.
Saturday was a very good day for the Argos. They received confirmation that Adeleke had agreed to terms. As well, Quincy Mauger, and Albert Awachie agreed to terms. Two free agent Americans also said they would head north: defensive back Darius Joiner and defensive end La’Darius Hamilton.
The Argos were still waiting to hear back from Global defensive lineman Thaidric Hansen from the Blue Bombers, as well as another current Argo defensive lineman, one that stands 6’9”.
There was also discussion about other players, should Oakman and the team not be able to get together on a salary number.
Sunday was incredibly quiet, while on Monday the team was able to extend the contract of CFL All-Star guard Ryan Hunter.
It set the table for the free-agent frenzy.
OPENING DAY
The first day of free agency was amazingly calm in Argoland.
This year everyone would gather in the offensive coaches’ office, which is immediately next to head coach Ryan Dinwiddie’s office. The space was big, and the coaching staff was in town doing preparation as a group.
The defensive and special teams coaches were also in their offices, both a few steps down a hallway.
That morning, when asked by Argonauts.ca what a good day would be for him, general manager Clemons instead opted to talk about the big picture.
“This is not about a good day, today is about a good team. It’s less makeup and more pushups. We worked the muscles of this organization to return all five starting offensive linemen, the league MVP at quarterback, and two all-stars at receiver.”
He also talked about the job the personnel department has done on defence, despite some substantial defections. The conversation with Clemons was at roughly 10:30 in the morning. It was at that point, and with a smile, he let your humble typist in on some big news, both literally and figuratively.
“We have just agreed to terms with Shawn Oakman.”
With the salary cap constraints, and with Oakman believed to be in line for a financial windfall, Clemons explained why this re-signing took a little longer than others.
“It took a while because of the reset that had to take place,” he explained. “He really wanted to be here.”
The contract was sent to Oakman’s agent and after some wording was changed the re-worked contract was sent back. It would be returned Wednesday afternoon, and the Mighty Oak would keep his roots firmly planted in Toronto.
In previous years the Argos entered free agency worried about one or two big players. In 2019 it was Bo Levi Mitchell, in 2022 Andrew Harris was the biggest question mark, while last year there were some nervous moments regarding Folarin Orimolade and Adarius Pickett.
This year Magri had a sheet of paper in front of him with several hand-written names, much like someone would put together a shopping list. It was a combination of re-signings and free agent targets, not including players who had already agreed to terms with another team.
As signed contracts were returned, Magri would draw a line through that name. There were 16 names on the page; three of whom were looking for contract extensions, eight were CFL free agents, five were free agents from south of the border.
He’d soon be able to start crossing names off the list.
Whatever a hectic War Room looks like, this was the polar opposite. The only conversation about the upcoming few hours occurred just after 11:00 when Donovan reiterated how much he hoping that Sopik would officially sign after 12:01.
In the offensive office there’s a huge boardroom table in the middle, with each coach having an individual desk. Sitting at the table were Magri, receivers coach Pete Costanza, and this reporter from Argonauts.ca. Other coaches continued to work from their desks.
The coaches continued to pore over plays from the previous season, while Magri double and triple checked the contract offers that were about to be sent out. It seemed to be less about the double checking and more about finding a way to kill the remaining time before he was able to send out the proposals.
At 12:01 he sent those offers to the players and their agents.
Agents would send back confirmations that they received the offers, and the waiting game began.
The first signed contract was done in person. Sopik arrived at BMO Field at 1:15 to officially become the Argos first free agent acquisition of 2024.
“I’m super excited,” Sopik told Argonauts.ca in his first interview from his new team’s locker room. “I thought that maybe it would work out last year, but it didn’t. All my family is right here. I live here so I’m really excited.”
There are a couple types of free agents. Some are mercenaries who simply follow the money, while others take more into consideration than just the bottom line, Sopik falls into the latter category.
“Everyone is different. Money might matter more to some people more than others. For me, I just want the best opportunity with people that truly believe that I can play, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s close to home.”
While the interview was being conducted, Tunde Adeleke returned his signed contract and a pair of players who both started their careers in Calgary before playing for the Ticats were coming to Toronto.
The contracts continued to trickle in; Quincy Mauger, Albert Awachie, and Kerfalla Exume. The latter’s relationship with Donovan from their days together with the Alouettes certainly helped bring the special teams ace to town.
Thiadric Hansen’s contract was received at 4:32.
After that, the team started discussing linebacker Malik Clements from the Blue Bombers. Adding an American linebacker was not a priority, but he had reached out to gauge Toronto’s interest. The team had done its due diligence, liked him as a player, and internal discussions heated up quickly. Terms were quickly agreed to.
Late in the afternoon Ka’Deem Carey gave the Argos the news they were hoping for; he was coming to Toronto. He had been in talks with the team for the last week. The two sides had taken their time coming to an agreement, but the CFL’s leading rusher in 2022 will now have the chance to run behind the league’s best offensive line.
Essentially the day was done.
The announcement of Oakman, Clements, and Carey would wait until the next day.
THE SIGNINGS CONTINUE
Over the next couple of days Magri would receive signed contracts from another handful of free agent American players, as well as extending the contracts of Dan Adeboboye, Deonta McMahon, and Dejon Allen, the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
Assistant general manager John Murphy was ready for the loss of some high-profile veterans, and says it’s time for him, Clemons and Magri to continue to get work done.
“We lost Americans (through free agency), but we gained Canadians,” Murphy told Argonauts.ca. “It’s our job to add the Americans between now and training camp to continue that same way of having someone come into training camp who will be the next Qwan’Tez Stiggers, the next Jamal Peters.”
Murphy says there’s method behind the madness of roster construction.
“Replacing an American running back, receiver, linebacker, or defensive back is a lot easier than formulating a concept to have your offensive line put together, the front seven guys, your Canadian content where you can play seven, eight or nine guys and have them locked in under contract. Our offensive linemen and core Canadians have stayed here and now we’ve added a couple of others.”
When newcomer Keith Williams agreed to terms on Thursday, Magri’s sweet 16 list was completed, with every name getting a line drawn through it.
Tuesday was not a day of surprises. The work had been done not only in the preceding week, but in the weeks and months before that. Argonauts.ca asked Magri if this is the personnel department’s version of game day.
“To me game day is still game day, that’s where the wins happen and ultimately that’s why we do what we do. Days like (Tuesday), they are just different avenues of strengthening the roster; whether it’s free agency, the draft, or the neg list. That said, the current format free agency has definitely taken away some of the excitement of the day. We lost a lot of talent which changed the way we went about the day. At the same time, we do feel like we strengthened the roster from where we were a few days ago; we got deeper and more flexible.”
It was a successful fishing trip. The Argos added to a position that many feel is a question mark by adding Carey. They added some top key depth players and potential starters from both sides of the border and did so with next to no anxiety throughout the process.
They’ll soon be able to see how they did as the opening of training camp is less than three months away.