May
Tiger-Cats make more roster changes
Courtesy Hamilton Spectator:
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats continued their roster juggling act yesterday, adding five import players while releasing one non-import.
The new signees are linebacker Matt Castelo, as well as defensive backs Carlton Brown, Melvin Matlock, Jacob Patek and Desman Stephen.
“They have the potential to be diamonds in the rough. We saw each of these guys individually throughout our workouts in the U.S.,” said head coach Marcel Bellefeuille yesterday. “They’re all very athletic and they all bring some more speed to our defence.”
The team has 69 players that count toward the league-mandated 75-man limit for the start of rookie camp June 3.
“Some of these guys have a game that’s more suited to the CFL style, while others have NFL experience but it hasn’t worked out. They have the capability to challenge for roster spots right away,” he added.
The team released non-import Jason Nedd, who played 32 games for the Ticats over three seasons after being acquired in a 2007 trade for linebacker Agustin Barrenechea and a draft pick. Nedd made two tackles and 11 special teams tackles in his time with the Canadian Football League club.
His departure thins the ranks at the safety position where the team hopes to play a Canadian this season.
“We were five free safeties deep and we weren’t going to be able to keep all five. Now we have a much more manageable number to make an evaluation,” Bellefeuille said.
Veteran Sandy Beveridge, former No. 1 draft pick Dylan Barker, third-year player Sean Manning and this year’s fifth-round pick, Raymond Wladichuk, will compete for the starting job.
“Sometimes you’ve had players for a couple years and you’ve seen what they can do. When you get the chance to bring someone else in, you have to go ahead and do that,” Bellefeuille said.
