Veterans Find New Homes as Five Trades are Made

EDMONTON, AB, CALGARY, AB, WINNIPEG, MB, REGINA, SSK, VANCOUVER, BC-A stunning day of trades came to an end with a total of seven players in five trades finding new homes.


BC-Winnipeg: Trade 1
The BC Lions traded offensive guard Kelly Bates to the Blue Bombers for a 2011 CFL Draft pick.

Bates, who hails from Saskatchewan, played 115 games for the team and was a Western and CFL All-Star in 2007. He made seven trips to the playoffs with BC, and won the Grey Cup in 2006.


Saskatchewan-Edmonton: Trade 2
The Saskatchewan Roughriders sent defensive lineman Kitwana Jones to the Edmonton Eskimos for backup quarterback Juan Joseph.

Jones becomes the third player to rejoin former Roughriders' defensive coordinator and new Eskimos head coach Richie Hall in Edmonton. Defensive back Scott Gordon and linebacker Maurice Lloyd signed with the Eskimos as free agents.

Joseph, who signed as a free agent with the Eskimos in March, threw for 3,463 yards, 32 touchdowns and just six interceptions in his senior season at Millsaps College. Joseph joins Darian Durant, Steven Jyles and Dalton Bell in what should be a competitive training camp at the quarterback position.


Calgary-Winnipeg: Trade 3 and 4
In two separate deals the Calgary Stampeders sent linebacker Neil Ternovatsky and defensive back Lenny Walls to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for second round pick in the 2011 CFL Draft and a sixth rounder in the 2012 CFL Draft. Both deals were because of money and depth on Calgary's part.

Walls joined the Stamps during the 2008 campaign and dressed in four games before getting injured. Ternovatsky signed with Calgary prior to the 2007 season and dressed in 16 contests over two seasons.


Edmonton-Winnipeg: Trade 5
The Edmonton Eskimos sent veteran defensive end Fred Perry to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for veteran defensive back Kelly Malveaux.

Perry was acquired by the Esks prior to the 2008 campaign, but saw action in only seven games, managing just one sack. The native of Fort Smith, Arkansas has 299 tackles, and 57 sacks in his CFL career. Winnipeg will be the fifth different stop on Perry's CFL resume, including two stints with the Eskimos. The Bombers were thrilled to get an impact defensive player into the fold for the upcoming season.

Malveaux had a productive year for the Blue Bombers in 2008, contributing 63 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack. Edmonton will be his fifth CFL destination as well, after spending time in Saskatchewan, Calgary, Montreal, and Winnipeg.

In other news the Eskimos signed quarterback Lester Ricard, linebacker Greg Whelan and defensive back Elliott Richardson, the Stampeders signed import wide receivers Vincent Marshall, Jermaine Jackson, Titus Ryan and Johnny Thomas and finally the Blue Bombers released offensive lineman Bobby Singh and defensive back Marc Beswick.