With CFL Free Agency rapidly approaching in less than a month, the Argos continue to make moves in their secondary. Toronto has re-signed veteran CFL defensive back, Robertson Daniel. The fifth signing by the Boatmen at DB since the New Year.
The Double Blue has also added American free agents Keith Washington II, Qwan’tez Stiggers, Chris Moore, and JT Hassell to the position.
The Grey Cup Champion Argonauts may not be done adding talent to their defensive backfield. After all, the team has the challenge of attempting to replace CFL All-Star Jamal Peters, who is NFL bound after signing with the Atlanta Falcons.
Robertson Daniel Returns For Season Three In The Six
The extension of Robertson Daniel for the 2023 season is a vote of confidence toward a player who has played the last two seasons for Toronto sparingly.
Daniel, 31, played in only one game in 2022 after an injury sidelined him for the season. The 6’1, 205lb DB originally joined the Argos via trade from Calgary in 2021 and played two games for the Boatmen that year, finishing with five tackles, one special team tackle, and one interception.
Daniel was the opening-day starter at boundary cornerback for the Argonauts in 2021. Toronto traded for Daniel from the Stamps two years ago, joining his then and current position coach Joshua Bell. Robertson’s experience and position versatility make him an excellent asset for the Argos in 2023, provided that he can stay healthy this coming season. The Boatmen are banking on it.
Toronto is less than a month away from CFL free agency. The calm before the storm of players hitting the open market.
The 2022 CFL Grey Cup Champion Argonauts now have 21 remaining impending free agents after the re-signing of DB Roberston Daniel. The FA period begins on February 14th.
The Boatmen have several high-profile players set to hit free agency. Star performers such as WR Kurleigh Gittens Jr., LB Wynton McManis, DB Chris Edwards, LB Henoc Muamba, RB A.J. Ouellette, DE JaGared Davis, WR DaVaris Daniels, RB Andrew Harris, DB Shaq Richardson, and QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson.
The above free-agent names for the Arg
onauts are only the icing on the cake. Toronto also has Grey Cup hero Robbie Smith, DB DaShaun Amos, Reciever Markeith Ambles, Safety Royce Metchie, Kicker Boris Bede, and OL Justin Lawrence set to hit the open market as well. Keeping the Argos core intact might mean parting ways with some of the players on this list.
There are hints in recent days that some players who might have considered walking off in the sunset after winning a Grey Cup, like megastar LB Henoc Muamba, could be making a return to his hometown Toronto team for one more season. For the Double Blue’s hopes of defending their throne atop the CFL, the Grey Cup MVP’s return would provide a significant boost for the Boatmen’s chances.
Argos GM Michael Clemons Seeking Greatness
Argonauts General Manager Michael Pinball Clemons and his front office are hard at work trying to retain core players from their championship team. Clemons, who has always been one of the league’s best salesmen, will make a solid pitch in the coming days to keep key contributors from 2022 and entice new talents to hop on board with the Boatmen.
In case you missed it, in a recent int
erview with Don Landry at CFL.ca, Pinball talked extensively about keeping the Argos core intact, which includes re-upping Henoc Muamba. Here is an excerpt from the article below.
When it comes to linebacker Henoc Muamba, who will turn 34 nine days after free agency opens on February 14th, Clemons has a gut feeling. “I expect him to play,” he said of Toronto’s Grey Cup MVP. “I do.”
“We’ve had some unspoken moments that suggest that there’s a better chance than not that he’ll return,” Clemons added. “But of course, I’ll have that real conversation with him in the coming week.”
Also, in the interview at CFL.ca, Clemons was asked about the challenges of attaining and achieving greatness.
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“We had a great moment,” said Clemons of last November. “Now, as we move forward, we can try to move towards being a great team. But right now, we’d be a very good team, with a great moment.”
“If we can continue on this path we can potentially reach that ever elusive idea of greatness.”