General manager Wally Buono said Tuesday he's giving Simon the opportunity to gauge potential interest because the Lions aren't prepared to pay the veteran his current contract.
The 37-year-old slotback has spent 12 of his 14 CFL seasons with B.C. and last year surpassed Milt Stegall as the league leader in all-time receiving yards.
But hamstring injuries forced Simon to miss five games, limiting him to 54 catches for 700 yards and two TDs in 2012.
It marked the first time in 10 seasons that Simon had not cracked the 1,000-yard receiving plateau.
The Lions have been busy this off-season, signing quarterback Travis Lulay to a contract extension reportedly worth $450,000 annually while also releasing veteran cornerback Byron Parker and slotback Arland Bruce III.
Both Parker and Bruce subsequently signed with the Montreal Alouettes.
© 2013 The Canadian Press
**UPDATE** When contacted about Simon's availabity, the Saskatchewan Roughriders said they have no interest in Simon at his current salary.
21 comments:
Geroy makes about $200,000 per year (based on when Fantuz was negotiating contract. Fantuz was seeking around $300,000 which was $100,000 more than Geroy at the time). A team would have to be pretty desperate to trade for him at this current contract amount. I would only consider Geroy if his contract was a very low base with performance incentives.
Sign him. He is better than anything the Riders have now. They should have gone after Bruce too.
Better then any rider? What about weston? Give your head a shake
Sign him? This ain't the 1990's. The Riders no longer need to stack their team with the castoffs of other squads.
DST
To the above who said that Geroy is better than anything the Riders have at present. Either you are deliberately trying to stir the pot or, on the other hand, you could be as dumb as the statment you made.
I would take Dressler over Simon in heart beat.
OK, we can give you that one... Dressler is probably more of a threat than a 38 year old Simon... not sure who else you would think gives us a better chance though?
At the same time, with the huge salary and his age, I wouldn't be too offended if the Riders passed him up in favour of someone with longer term potential.
200K in the CFL is a cap buster. He can try and teams would like his servces but not at 200K. Every team in the league already has guys at this type of salary and cant afford him or will need to restructure there own key players contract so they do not lose them. Simon will just have to accept the fact that he will not be making 200K anywhere next season. BC would probably offer him the most in a resructed salry cut just out of respect than he would get from any other team.
Wait till he's released, then sign him for his real value. He'd be an asset just to have him play against BC, sure he'd want to burn them!
OK....so last year many on here said the Riders were old and kept many people on our roster passed their prime and that "great" organizations like BC would never do that...now we hear Wally is saying Geroy is done and many on here now want us to pick up a 38 year old has been like Geroy and a 34 year old Bruce....how does that make any sense?????????? Wally is a smart guy - he knows best before dates and is done with Geroy - he is just trying to get some sucker to pay something for him...to me he had lost a step last year....no thanks.
Simon will be in Rider Green after he's released! Taman brought him into the league and he'll finish with him!! Just watch!!
To all of the above.
I'm not sure Fantuz was asking $300K. I heard $240 but whatever.
Would Geroy be better than anyone we have? Crazy talk.
Would Geroy be an asset to the Riders? Absolutely. At the right price. If they can get him at the right price, they should take him. He's a leader and can still be far more dependable than a Taj Smith/Chris Getzlaf or possibly even Greg Carr. (Carr had one hell of a playoff game but didn't impress me besides that. One game doesn't make a legend.)
I realize replacing Getzlaf brings the ratio issue in but if you can make it work it's an improvement.
1 year deal... 2 years at best... good price... take it.
The best franchise in the CFL says that they think "old" veterans like Bruce and Parker can really help them, yet one of the more mediocre/poor franchises doesn't think they will help? There is a hell of a difference between a 34 yr old game breaker and a 38 year old one. Tell me we wouldn't be a better team with both those guys. Oh ya we have a mediocre player in the wings who will be able to continue our tradition. Three cups in 100 years says it all. Even the defunct Ottawa Roughriders have more.
Woz, not sure how you arrive at the word "many"...I think most say no way, or maybe, if he accepts a lot less cash. I'm personally happy going to camp with Dressler, Carr, Taj, Getz, Jock and a hopefully healthy Bagg. (and of course, whichever receivers Riderfans.com annoint as the next great receiver during camp)
I agree I dont see anyone making a trade for him. If BC does not or can not afford his salary they will have to release him.
It is hard to trade an import unless it is a QB because there are so many NFL free agents out there that teams can get to cross the border with the potential. BC got that from Courtney Taylor the main reason why both Simon and Bruce are expendable. With a full season next year he will most likely be 1,000 yard rec and if Gore returns Simon for sure will need to go because he is also another 1,000 yard rec. and a NI to boot. I think gore will be in the NFL though. He will be a huge bargain at the rookie Min 390K as a slot rec off the bench
Wally released Clermont and how did that turn out. Did he make an impact when he came here. NOPE! The same thing would happen with Geroy. Let him go elsewhere. The same with Bruce
Mike
Wally releases two all star receivers because he can find replacements and depth at the receiver position. Why do some fans have little faith in the riders ability to find receivers? If the riders cannot find anything better than Wally's cast offs how can they expect to beat him?
Let him finish his career where it started...Winnipeg. That would be a good fit.
Question to Mr Rod Pedersen voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders via his blog. Is J.T. O'Sullivan one of gm Taman untouchable players? What will be the situation at QB this 2013 CFL season besides the obvious starter Darien Durant? Are any new exciting recruitments on the horizon for future developement, or Is It status quo?
gone is the superman speed..n the football looked like his kryptonyte this yr...NO THANKS!!
Just because BruceIII is signed, and somebody may take a chance on Simon, doesn't mean either one make it out of training camp.
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