Defensive lineman Anthony Lanier re-signs with the Saskatchewan Roughriders

Anthony Lanier II remains with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Riders announced on Monday that the defender has signed a one-year contract extension.

Anthony Lanier II remains with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Riders announced on Monday that the defender has signed a one-year contract extension. Financial details were not disclosed, but a CFL source said the deal had a guaranteed value of $250,000 and included a $100,000 signing bonus and a $10,000 bonus for reporting to training camp and passing one Investigation.

Lanier, 29, has spent the last two seasons with Saskatchewan. He appeared in 11 regular-season games in 2022 and recorded 19 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles.

The six-foot-tall, 285-pound Lanier has played in 21 regular-season CFL games of his career with Saskatchewan, recording 32 tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles.

Before joining the Riders, Lanier spent five seasons in the NFL with Washington (2016-18), the LA Chargers (2018-20), Kansas City (2020), and New Orleans (2020). He appeared in 15 career games with the Commanders (two starts) and registered 10 tackles (five for a loss), five sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

The defensive line appears to be a priority for Saskatchewan, who signed defenseman Pete Robertson on Saturday. The six-foot-tall, 243-pound Robertson finished fourth in the CFL in sacks with nine last year while also recording 21 tackles (one for a loss), one interception and five forced fumbles in the league.

Lanier was scheduled to become a free agent on February 14th. But as of Sunday, teams were able to speak to pending free agents and Lanier reportedly had four clubs, including Saskatchewan, interested in securing his services for 2023.

According to two CFL sources, Saskatchewan is also talking to quarterback Trevor Harris and receiver Eugene Lewis, both of whom spent last season with the Montreal Alouettes.

Harris, 36, completed 71.6 percent of his passes for 4,157 yards last season, while Lewis was the East Division’s standout with 91 receptions for 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Hamilton announced on Monday that it had signed veteran quarterback Matthew Shiltz. The six-foot-tall, 205-pound Shiltz is entering his sixth CFL season — his second with the Tiger-Cats — and will provide a veteran presence behind veteran Bo Levi Mitchell, who signed a three-year contract with the club last month.

Shiltz, 30, started in three games last season and won two. He completed 85 of 119 passes (71.4 percent) for 935 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing 28 times for 152 yards (5.4 yard average) and one touchdown.

Shiltz was eligible to become a CFL free agent.

Hamilton also signed Canadian running back Sean Thomas Erlington. The 30-year-old Montreal native rushed for 371 yards with 53 carries (a seven-yard average) and a TD last season while adding 25 catches for 216 yards and a touchdown in 18 regular-season contests.

The 5’7″, 217-pounder has appeared in 62 regular-season games of his career in five seasons with Hamilton, rushing 191 times for 1,170 yards (6.1 yards average) and six touchdowns while catching 63 catches for 631 yards and added three TDs.

The Calgary Stampeders signed global punter/kicker Toshiki Sato, a 21-round second-round pick from the Toronto Argonauts, and released American defenseman Trumaine Washington, who was set to become a free agent next week.

Montreal signed Canadian receiver Kaion Julien-Grant to a two-year contract extension. The 5’11, 212-pound Toronto native had 36 catches for 517 yards and three TDs and has 45 receptions for 658 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons (45 regular season games) with the Alouettes last season.

Under the terms of the CFL’s negotiation window, other pending free agents have until Sunday noon ET to receive offers from other clubs.

These proposals—including base salary and incentives—must be registered with the league and the CFL Players’ Association. All submissions are considered binding.

When the window closes, teams will have 48 hours to negotiate solely with their own potential free agents. The CFL provides clubs with registered offers made to these players.

Teams then have until February 14 at 10:00 am ET to submit an offer to their own players, a copy of which must be given to both the league and the CFLPA.

After the 48 hours have elapsed, the player will have two hours (10:00-12:00 ET) on February 14th to select an offer made to them. If he accepts one, the selected team must inform the CFL.

Should the player decline all offers, they will enter the free hand on February 14th at 12:01pm ET. All previous offers are no longer available.

The free agency window was introduced in 2020 to curb manipulation and also allow upcoming free agents to explore all of their options and gauge their worth before the free agent period begins.

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This report from The Canadian Press was first published on February 6, 2023.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

Source: www.mountainviewtoday.ca