ULLRICH: Looking at the B.C. Lions’ long free agent list

There’s a silver lining for Ed Hervey in the cloud that is above the B.C. Lions after another post-season flameout. If the general manager wants to clean house for the second straight winter, it’s only a matter of waiting out the calendar.

Free agency in the CFL is a changed beast as a result of the expiring collective bargaining agreement and it will be a winter that will be even more challenging with the arrival of the new Alliance of American Football.

But if Hervey wants to make additional changes he can do so by jettisoning players from the following list of 34 free agents who’ll hit the open market if not signed by the second Tuesday in February.

 Offence (18) – Bryan Burnham, Ricky Collins, Cody Fajardo, Joel Figueroa, Chris Greaves, Cody Husband, Jon Jennings, Jeremiah Johnson, Travis Lulay, Wayne Moore, Jovan Olafioye, Chris Rainey, Hunter Steward, Cory Watson, Shaq Johnson, Manny Arceneaux, Brandon Rutley, Anthony Parker

Defence (13) – Micah Awe, Otha Foster, T.J. Lee, Shawn Lemon, Bo Lokombo, Ivan McLennan, Anthony Orange, Garry Peters, Winston Rose, Anthony Thompson, Odell Willis, Maxx Forde, Dominique Termansen

Special teams (3) – Mitch Barnett, Dyshawn Davis, Ty Long

It might be more instructive to take note of the players who are under contract for next season.

That would include Solomon Elimimian, who agreed to take a pay cut prior to last season, along with defensive rotational regulars Junior Luke, Jordan Herdman and David Menard. Davon Coleman extended just prior to the playoffs.

But it’s a new offence you want, it’s a new offence the Lions can have. David Foucault has a contract for next year to play on the offensive line. Aside from the Lions 2017 draft class, most of whom have deals through 2020, Hervey can start from scratch. He likely will too.

Lowell Ullrich
Lowell Ullrich has covered the Lions since 1999 and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2014. He is also a contributor to TSN1040.