Lloyd's Signing Bonus Is T-h-i-i-i-i-i-i-s Big
18/02/2009 06:43
Deal with more money up front helps linebacker choose Esks over Argos
The Edmonton Eskimos made a big splash on the Canadian Football League free agency market on Monday.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a lesser team for it, but it cost the Eskimos handsomely.
More to nab Mo, as it were.
Edmonton general manager and director of football operations Danny Maciocia managed to sneak in and steal away Riders linebacker Maurice Lloyd in a bidding war with the Toronto Argonauts. It came at a hefty price, as sources say Lloyd attracted a $100,000 signing bonus to go with a $65,000 base on a one-year deal, plus an option. That means he can opt to sign with a National Football League club next winter.
The Argonauts were pitching $75,000 as a bonus and a $100,000 salary. The bonus is subject to a lower tax bracket for American players.
"It feels good to get it over with," Lloyd said, minutes after agreeing verbally to the deal. "Yes sir, it came out to be a bidding war. In the end it came down to who I feel more comfortable with. It's a defence I know and a coach I feel very comfortable with."
Lloyd, a five-foot-11, 235-pounder who had 74 tackles and five sacks last season, said he weighed his pros and cons. The pros included head coach Richie Hall, whom he played for the last three years in Regina, and a familiar defence. The con is having to move further from his family; wife Kaysie and children, Jayde, 8, and Jared, 4, live in Connecticut.
He is reunited with former teammate Fred Perry and is joined in Edmonton by Riders safety Scott Gordon, whom Maciocia also managed to attract.
The Eskimos GM then nabbed offensive lineman Kyle Koch -- to replace Joe McGrath, who signed with the Riders -- and fullback and special-teams player Graeme Bell, both from Winnipeg. Non-imports Gordon and Koch have signed for two years, plus an option. The other deals are verbal agreements and, like Lloyd, the Esks swooped down on Winnipeg to steal Bell with a last-minute deal. There is no doubt Lloyd was the No. 1 priority for the Eskimos.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Eskimos’ General Manager Danny Maciocia had a good couple of days on Sunday and Monday. SWIVEL HIPS is very happy.