Football101 - Das American Football Online Magazin

The league has to be hoping that the season-opening overtime matchup between Calgary and Montreal on June 17th was a preview of a regular season ahead that is as positive as the offseason was.

Over the past 18 months or so, the CFL has experienced a growing prosperity that it has not known in many years. They've achieved labour peace until at least the end of the 2005 season. They've signed a television contract which will see the majority of the games televised across the country, as well as increase revenue for each team. They've also increased corporate sponsorship.

Player movement during the offseason has created a buzz of excitement among casual and die-hard fans alike. In particular, the return of quarterback Dave Dickenson drew a great deal of positive attention to the league.

Dickenson was the 2000 season league MVP with the Calgary Stampeders. He had spent the last two seasons jumping NFL roster to NFL roster, never getting any playing time. When his options appeared to run out, he chose to return to the league that allowed him his first opportunity to shine.

A number of CFL clubs were involved in the courting of Dickenson, among them Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and his former club, Calgary. In the end, he chose to go to the BC Lions, in large part because BC's head coach is now Wally Buono, the gentleman who coached the Stampeders when Dickenson was so successful for them. Buono was involved in a dispute with team management, which led his leaving the club. Mere days later, he was the Lions' head coach.

Naturally, a signing of Dickenson's caliber will have a ripple effect. Dickenson's arrival meant that long-time Lion QB Damon Allen was considered expendable. The team released Damon shortly thereafter and he has resurfaced in Toronto, hoping to be the final piece of the Argos rebuilding project. His arrival in turn meant that Reggie Slack was no longer needed by the Argos, and they released him. He was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats recently when the Ti-Cat's regular starting QB, Danny McManus, suffered an injury during a preseason contest which is expected to keep him out of action for a few weeks.

The Slack signing was one of necessity because the team, throughout the spring, had focused on bringing back some of their own players rather than bring in talent from outside. In fact, not only did Hamilton resign the majority of its quality free agents such as RB Troy Davis, slotback Archie Amerson and DB/LB Chris Shelling, they also brought back names from previous that have sparked interest among Tabby fans.

Offensive Lineman Carl Coulter was signed away from Ottawa. He was a long-time Ti-Cat who'd been selected by the Renegades in the expansion draft the previous year. But the splashiest acquisition was that of DE Joe Montford who played in Hamilton from 1996 - 2001. He'd been signed away by Toronto last season, to the dismay of Ti-Cat fans, but struggled in the defensive scheme there and was obviously not happy with his situation.

The coaching vacancy in Calgary was filled by Montreal offensive coordinator Jim Barker. Jim Barker is known for his offensive prowess and his ability to develop quarterbacks. He will be responsible for helping quarterback Marcus Crandell fulfill his potential with the Stamps after a rough year in 2002. Barker attempted to surround his QB with greater talent by bringing in RB Lawrence Phillips, whose checkered background is well-document.

Still, it seems that Barker never had difficulty with Phillips and he feels confident that he can make that situation work. Phillips twice walked out on the Montreal Alouettes last season and was released with little fanfare due to not meeting "behavioral standards", according to a team press release.

NOTEBOOK: RB Michael Jenkins returned to Toronto after spending a year on the Houston Texans' practice roster. Jenkins ran for 1000+ yards in 2000 and 2001 for the Argos...

Previous to Phillips being let go by Montreal, Mike Pringle made the same request of his team and had his wish granted by them. Pringle is within reach of the league's all-time rushing record and wanted a better opportunity to see the field rather than play 2nd-string to Phillips. He signed with the Edmonton Eskimos, who sought to replace a running back of their own, John Avery. Avery signed with the Minnesota Vikings earlier this year...

Pringle's signing became even more significant when RB Thomas Haskins, signed as a free agent from Montreal, had to have an operation to remove a non-malignant tumour from his brain. The operation, not suprisingly, ended Haskins' 2003 season.

The Stampeders raised eyebrows at the draft when they traded WR Travis Moore to Saskatchewan for an additional first- round pick and LB Chris Hoople. Moore had 70 catches and over 1100 yards for the Stamps in 2002. That move, as well as previous trades, gave them 6 of the first 12 picks in the college draft. Their first choice was a young man by the name of Steve Morley, a huge tackle who signed with the team just before the season started...

Moore was angry with the trade, feeling it was a slap in the face, but his anger has since cooled and he's committed himself to his new team. Calgary replaced him with former Washington Redskin and New Orleans Saint Albert Connell...

Joining Moore on the way out of Calgary was RB Kelvin Anderson, who'd rushed for 1000 yards for the Stampeders in each of the past two years and was 4th in the league in rshing in 2002. Phillips' arrival marked the end of Anderson tenure with the team and he, like Dickenson, went to join his old coach, Wally Buono, in BC.

Among the significant retirements are WR Darren Flutie's (Hamilton, and the CFL's leading career receiver with 967 grabs), LB Stefan Reid (7 years with Montreal, 6 sacks and two interceptions in 2002) and "veteran" kicker Bob Cameron (Winnipeg) who'd played 23 seasons. He retired at the age of 48...

UN-retiring was DL Joe Fleming to rejoin his old team, the Calgary Stampeders. Fleming totalled 18 sacks in 2000 and 2001 and was a fan favourite.

The Ottawa Renegades let out a sigh of relief when RB Darren Davis was cleared to play after suffering a neck injury in the 5th game of the 2002 season. Davis' loss took a spark away from the offence and the injury had been thought to be potentially career- threatening...

Speaking of Ottawa, former Bergamo Lion QB Dan Crowley has been named the starting QB for the Renegades this season. A number of QB's had been signed to challenge him, most of whom will be familiar names to NFL Europe fans: Dameyune Craig, Romaro Miller, Kerry Joseph and rookie Sam Clemons. Joseph and Miller won the #2 and #3 jobs, the others were released. Crowley's inconsistency was blamed for many of the team's troubles in the team inaugural season...

Faced with a numbers crunch, Edmonton was forced to cut star LB Terry Ray and Winnipeg was all too happy to sign him. Ray has been on three of the last four all-star teams and is considered an emotional leader.

Jean François Fournier