Ticats most active as free-agency frenzy begins

The Tiger-Cats were the most active, most aggressive team in the CFL Tuesday as the free-agent market opened for business. The team signed 6 players with one of the six, Marc Beswick, being a returning veteran. The others came from elsewhere. And the Tiger-Cats are apparently not finished.

If there was a prize for the best free-agent signings, Ticat Kent Austin feels like he won it with Craig Butler. “He certainly was a huge target. We don’t rank them, but obviously he’d be at the top of the list.”

Butler was one of 2013’s Grey Cup champs — he led the Riders with 60 defensive tackles, and had four interceptions.

“The beauty with Craig is he brings huge versatility in the back end. He’ll be our free safety, but we can roll him down and do things with him because of his talent level, which is hard to find in this league.”

That means he could join linebacker Abraham Kromah, who also played for the Riders. He was injured most of last season, but made 39 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, one sack and a forced fumble in 2012.

Another addition to the secondary, is seven-year CFL veteran DB Brandon Stewart, who started all 18 games for the Blue Bombers last season, and made a career-high 47 tackles, with 16 special teams tackles and one interception.

On offense, the Cats added Cary Koch, a 4-year CFL vet who caught 42 passes for 516 yards and four touchdowns in Edmonton last year. He also returned 24 punts for 204 yards and a TD.

Hamilton also signed Steve Myddelton, a 6-3, 305-pound Offensive Lineman was drafted 30th overall by Calgary in 2009, and was traded to B.C mid-way through last season after spending three years with the Stamps.

Since the free agent market opened on Tuesday, Hamilton’s been the busiest of the nine CFL teams. Kent Austin says there’s a reason for that: “We obviously weren’t good enough to win the championship and that’s what we’re hired to do.”