Insider Talk: NFL workouts, GM interviews, Edmonton’s OC

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Insider Talk is a weekly feature on 3DownNation that features anonymous quotes from people around the CFL — players, coaches, personnel people, executives, agents, etc. — regarding the latest news around the league. It’s a combination of insight, analysis, rumours, and friendly gossip.

This week’s Insider Talk is full of discussion regarding CFL players completing workouts south of the border, Ottawa’s GM candidates, the league’s most physically dominant receiver, the future of the running back position in Winnipeg, and some head coaching candidates for 2023.

Enjoy this week’s quotes and come back next Wednesday for another edition of Insider Talk.

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The CFL player with the most NFL workouts this off-season is (Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ defensive back) DeAundre Alford. He doesn’t have as many as Tre Roberson had a few years ago but it’s relatively close.

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You know an interesting name who got interviewed for the GM job in Ottawa? (Montreal Alouettes’ director of U.S. scouting) Russ Lande. He’s brought in some good players for the Als.

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COVID has made these NFL workouts tricky. What if a player catches the virus and has to quarantine for two weeks in a hotel? Good luck getting an NFL team to pay for that.

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(New Ottawa Redblacks’ general manager) Shawn Burke should send Marcel Desjardins a Christmas card for drafting those two futures (Maine/West Virginia defensive end Deshawn Stevens and West Virginia defensive back Alonzo Addae) last year. Those two should boost their Canadian talent right away.

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Eugene Lewis is the most physically dominant receiver in the CFL when it comes to the catch point. He goes up and brings it down no matter what. He’s definitely one of the top three or four receivers in our league. Very underrated.

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The odds of Stephen McAdoo being the new offensive coordinator in Edmonton have to be around 99.9 percent. Chris Jones doesn’t go anywhere without him.

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This is just my opinion, but I don’t think Winnipeg will pay Andrew Harris next year. There’s no need to. (Canadian running backs Brady) Oliveira and (Johnny) Augustine are perfectly capable of carrying the load there.

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(Ottawa Redblacks’ special teams coordinator) Bob Dyce and (Calgary Stampeders’ special teams coordinator) Mark Kilam deserve to be head coaches in this league. Hopefully they both get their shot in next year’s hiring cycle.

John Hodge
John Hodge is a Canadian football reporter based in Winnipeg.