Esks sign Ramsay as CFL free agency begins
Brian Ramsay didn't waste any time finding a new home.
The hulking offensive lineman signed with the Edmonton Eskimos shortly after becoming a CFL free agent at 12:01 a.m. ET. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The six-foot-seven, 298-pound Ramsay, a native of Victoria, spent the last two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Ramsay spent the first three seasons of his CFL career with the Toronto Argonauts before being dealt to Hamilton on June 24, 2010 for a 2011 fourth-round pick and a conditional 2013 selection.
Defensive tackle Kevin Huntley, a 2010 all-star, re-signed with Toronto moments after the start of CFL free agency through the 2013 campaign. On Tuesday, the Argos re-signed defensive back Lin-J Shell hours before he was scheduled to become a free agent.
"I believe a dominant defensive front is imperative to win a championship," Argos head coach/GM Jim Barker said in a statement. "This is what Kevin Huntley brings; he's as dominant an inside player as there is in the league. He gives us a presence inside that you can't just go out and find.
"Kevin is a great team player, a hard-working guy who cares about his teammates."
Huntley had a team-high nine sacks in 2010 and added 41 tackles, the second-most on Toronto's defence.
"The most important part of this whole process was for me to be an Argo," he said. "I love all the guys I play with and the people I work with.
"All of our coaches are great and work hard to make us succeed. Football is a rough game and I wanted to make sure I took care of my family and this contract allows me to do that."
Also on Tuesday the Montreal Alouettes signed a running back, but it wasn't Grey Cup MVP Avon Cobourne.
Brandon Walker, a seldom-used four-year veteran, resigned with the defending Grey Cup champions, along with former NFL receiver Jerry Porter and receiver-kick returner Rashaud Slaughter. But the free-agent deadline came and went without Montreal announcing it had re-signed Cobourne, who became a free agent.
Cobourne was named the MVP of Montreal's 21-18 Grey Cup win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in November. He captured the award after rushing for 67 yards on 15 carries and scoring two TDs as the Alouettes earned their second straight CFL championship.
Cobourne ran for 956 yards and sported an impressive 5.2-yard average last year for the Alouettes. But the running back also proved to be a solid receiver -- an important factor in the pass-happy CFL -- with 64 catches for 556 yards.
However Cobourne turns 32 next month and last week the Alouettes signed NFL veteran Ahman Green, the Green Bay Packers' all-time rushing leader.
But Cobourne isn't the only Alouettes veteran facing an uncertain future with the CFL club. Montreal also didn't announce that veteran kicker Damon Duval had re-signed.
The Alouettes also released quarterback Chris Leak and defensive lineman Shawn Mayne on Tuesday, hours before they too were to become free agents. Mayne signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers shortly afterwards.
Other free agents worth noting include offensive lineman Ben Archibald and defensive back Dwight Anderson of the Calgary Stampeders. The six-foot-four, 322-pound Archibald was named the CFL's top lineman in 2010 while Anderson is regarded as one of the league's top pass defenders.
Meanwhile, there are rumours out of B.C. is backup quarterback Jarious Jackson has told the Lions he's looking at free agency and Toronto is interested in him, although a CFL source said the Argos aren't in the Jackson sweepstakes.
Some CFL teams were busy re-signing players before they became free agents.
The B.C. Lions signed non-import defensive end Brent Johnson to a contract extension through the 2012 season while Calgary re-signed receiver Romby Bryant. Defensive back Jonathan Hefney, the East Division's top rookie in 2009, returned to Winnipeg.