Wednesday, March 23, 2011

The Return of Superman, and other CFL contract news


Star B.C. slotback Geroy Simon  has been one of the most iconic Lions over the last decade, and he should be wearing the black and orange for at least another year after signing a contract extension today that will take him through the 2012 season. Simon, affectionately known as "Superman" to many Lions' fans, has been a crucial player for the club since joining them in 2001; he's been their top receiver for most of that period and helped them to the 2006 Grey Cup.

Simon (seen above showing off the Lions' retro jerseys at Empire Field last July) is 35 and has played 13 CFL seasons (11 with B.C. after spending his first two years in Winnipeg). He's currently B.C.'s all-time leading receiver and fifth on the league's all-time list with 13,737 career yards, but he isn't showing his age yet; he racked up his eighth consecutive 1,000-yard-plus season in 2010, picking up 1,190 yards and six touchdowns on 78 catches. As I've written before, there are plenty of older players who survive and thrive in the CFL, and all signs would suggest that Simon's likely to continue to be one of them.

In other recent contract news around the league:

— Drew Edwards reports that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have apparently agreed to a contract extension (one year plus an option) with quarterback Kevin Glenn. The deal isn't official yet, but should be soon.

— The Tiger-Cats also signed quarterback Quinton Porter to a two-year extension last week. There isn't expected to be any quarterback controversy there, though, as Glenn has clearly established himself as the top option in Hamilton, and should be paid accordingly; Arash Madani mentions that Glenn's contract could be worth up to $300,000 with incentives. According to Sportnet's Perry Lefko, receiver Arland Bruce III is also expected to sign an extension with Hamilton. The Tiger-Cats had one of the most dominant pass-and-catch combinations in the league with Glenn and Bruce, and they should continue to form an effective partnership for years to come.

— Meanwhile, in addition to signing Kitwana Jones as a free agent, Montreal has extended the contract of long-time backup quarterback Adrian McPherson through 2012. McPherson should provide veteran experience if Anthony Calvillo is hurt, and he could potentially compete for the starting job in 2012 if Calvillo retires after this season (that's far from a sure thing, though).

Jill Arrington Tami Donaldson Padma Lakshmi Sarah Mutch Gabrielle Union

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