Courtesy Montreal Gazette:

Head coach Marc Trestman insists the Alouettes are prepared to enter the season with a second-year Canadian, Shea Emry, as the team’s starting middle linebacker.

Following the expected release of veteran Reggie Hunt, Emry, Montreal’s first-round draft choice in 2008, has inherited the all-important position. But, as anyone who follows the Canadian Football League knows, much can change between now and July 1, when the Als open the season at Calgary in a Grey Cup rematch.

Two sources have told The Gazette they expect JoJuan Armour to surface in Montreal. Armour, a veteran middle linebacker, was recently released by the Stampeders following repeated displays of a lack of discipline during practice.

With the Als about to play Calgary, it would be more than coincidental to sign Armour. However, Montreal reached an agreement in principle with Armour in the winter of 2008, when he was a free agent. Nonetheless, Armour opted for less money, an estimated $85,000, to sign with Calgary.

But Armour also remains in the mix at British Columbia and has peddled his services to Edmonton, according to sources.

Hunt, who missed most of camp with a shoulder injury, has also called the Lions, although he didn’t return a message left by The Gazette. Wally Buono, the Lions’ general manager and head coach, said he could be interested in Hunt. Signing him would reunite him with his brother, Aaron, a Lions defensive lineman.

“When we started training camp, we expected Reggie to be on the team,” Trestman said. “But we could see early that Emry had elevated quickly. He was performing at a high level and had taken a leadership role. Plus, he’s Canadian. We feel he’s ready to take on the opportunity to be (a starter).

“It’s a leap of faith letting Emry take over, but he has been a consistent performer. We didn’t expect him to move (up the depth chart) so quickly.”

If Armour isn’t signed or, if he is and can’t learn the team’s defence quickly enough, Emry will be backed up by American rookie Ramon Guzman. Guzman can play all three linebacker positions along with rush end and is adept at special teams.

“We wanted to get him on the field,” Trestman said.

The other released players included: quarterback Brad Banks; receivers S.J. Green, Chris Nickson and Marco Thomas; linebackers John Mohring, Ivan Brown and Stan van Sichem, and defensive tackles Martavius Prince and Sean Ortiz. Brown and van Sichem both have Canadian college eligibility remaining.

Any player released over the last two days could resurface on Montreal’s practice roster, expected to be announced today.

In another significant move, the Als disabled veteran running-back Mike Imoh. Imoh remains Montreal’s property and will receive 60 per cent of his salary while disabled, but has likely played his last game for the team. He returned home earlier this week for personal reasons which, according to Trestman, is a family illness.

Why continue paying a player who no longer is in the team’s future? The Als were attempting to trade Imoh, Hunt and Banks, and likely received some interest in Imoh – enough, at least, to believe a trade can be completed.

Saskatchewan, for example, could be in the market. Roughriders running back Wes Cates has been slow to respond from shoulder surgery and could be sidelined up to six weeks.

The emergence of Brandon Whitaker, who can back up Avon Cobourne in the Als’ backfield, also makes it easier for the team to potentially part with Imoh. Whitaker gained 94 yards on just nine carries last Tuesday, in an exhibition game against Winnipeg.

“Chances are we’ll move on (without Imoh),” Trestman said.

In other moves, the Als suspended guard Gurminder Thind, meaning they retain the rights to the 2008 draft choice. Six players – Cory Huclack, Chris Jennings, Stanford Samuels, Ricky Santos, Dylan Steenbergen and Andrew Woodruff – were placed on the one-week injured list. Walter Spencer has been placed on the nine-game injured list.

The emergence of Adrian McPherson and, to a lesser extent Chris Leak, made Banks expendable, Trestman explained. However, the Als now don’t have an experienced backup should Anthony Calvillo get injured. McPherson becomes Calvillo’s backup.

Banks likely is finished in the CFL, unless the Roughriders reach out for him or an early injury occurs somewhere. Saskatchewan GM Eric Tillman, on a paid administrative leave, put Banks on Ottawa’s negotiation list earlier this decade, eventually signing him as a rookie in 2004.

Banks, who also spent time in Winnipeg, hasn’t had much of an opportunity to play and hasn’t had a chance to develop considering he was once the runner-up in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Note – The torn knee ligament suffered against Winnipeg by draft choice Nickolas Morin-Soucy, a rush end, is serious, Trestman said. He won’t play this season, but it’s not considered to be career-threatening. Trestman said the player was in position to have made the team.

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