By Canadian Press

Calgary Stampeders re-sign trio just before free agency begins

Feb 12, 2019 | 11:00 AM

While the real fireworks came after CFL free agency started on Tuesday afternoon, some notable names re-signed with their clubs just before they hit the open market.

Most notably, receivers Eric Rogers and Juwan Brescacin and Canadian defensive lineman Junior Turner opted to remain with the Calgary Stampeders.

Last season, Rogers started eight of nine games he appeared in, registering 36 catches for 499 yards and five TDs. He had six catches for 61 yards and a club playoff-record three TDs in the West Division final before adding six receptions — including three second-down conversions — in Calgary’s 27-16 Grey Cup victory over Ottawa.

Rogers has appeared in 28 career regular-season games over three seasons with Calgary. He’s accumulated 132 catches for 2,096 yards and 17 TDs.

“Eric was an excellent and productive player for us and we’re very pleased to welcome him back,” Stampeders president/GM John Hufnagel said in a statement. “Eric is familiar with our offence and he obviously had an excellent rapport with Bo Levi Mitchell, so I look forward to seeing him perform once he’s been given an opportunity to get readjusted after two years away from the CFL.”

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After being limited to a total of 13 games in the previous two seasons due to injuries, Turner played all 18 regular-season contests for the Stampeders in 2018, including four starts at defensive tackle. He recorded 21 tackles including one tackle for a loss and established a new career high with four sacks. The Toronto native also had one fumble recovery.

Brescacin, a Mississauga, Ont. native, set career highs with 35 catches, 567 receiving yards and three touchdowns last year, his third with the Stampeders.

Here is a look at other players who re-signed on Tuesday:

ALEXANDER SIGNS EXTENSION

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed American defensive back Brandon Alexander to a two-year contract extension. He was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday.

The six-foot, 192-pound Alexander has played in the secondary and at outside linebacker in his two previous seasons with Winnipeg.

ALOUETTES RE-SIGN CUNNINGHAM

The Montreal Alouettes signed American receiver B.J. Cunningham to a two-year extension hours before he was scheduled to become a free agent.

The six-foot-one, 199-pound Cunningham was the club’s receiving leader last season with 52 catches for 631 yards and three TDs.

MADU STAYS WITH REDBLACKS

The Ottawa Redblacks have re-signed American running back Mossis Madu Jr. to a one-year extension. He was scheduled to become a free agent on Tuesday.

Madu has spent the last three seasons with the Redblacks after starting his CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2014.

In 30 career games, Madu has 263 carries for 1,259 yards and eight touchdowns.

TICATS COME TO TERMS WITH PAIR

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats re-signed American defensive end Adrian Tracy and Canadian receiver Mike Jones just prior to the start of free agency.

Tracy started 11 games for the Ticats last year, registering 20 tackles, five tackles for a loss and two sacks. The former New York Giants draft pick has been with Hamilton since 2015.

Jones had a career-high 49 receptions for 841 yards and three touchdowns last year. He has been with the Ticats since 2016.

The Canadian Press