Lions’ Buono grabs insurance if slotback should decide to bolt
By Lowell Ullrich,
Vancouver Province
Wally Buono knew his most recent talk about a contract extension with Jason Clermont would not be his last.
But the Lions coach learned enough from the discussion to know what to do with his first pick in the CFL college draft Wednesday.
The selection of University of Ottawa receiver Adam Nicolson had much to do with grooming another non-import slotback in case the incumbent at the position elects to become a free agent at the end of the upcoming season.
Buono last spoke to Clermont about a new deal two weeks ago, and gleaned enough to realize he better have a backup plan in place for the future.
“His exact quote to me was, ‘It’s a great offer and I’d be nuts not to sign it, but I have other priorities,’ ” Buono said after the annual lottery. “I’m not going to bury my head in the sand here.”
A 6-foot-3, 219-pounder who wasn’t the primary receiving threat for his college team, Nicolson wasn’t the top priority of the Lions either.
Buono tried coaxing the top pick in the draft from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who kept the selection to take Chris Bauman, another receiver from Clermont’s alma mater at the University of Regina.
But naturally, the Lions insist that Nicolson isn’t second prize, given they may eventually need him more.
“His polish and approach just stood out,” said Lions director of Canadian scouting, Mike Benevides. “If something was to happen injury-wise to Jason this year, we’ll be OK. But we need depth for Jason. And I have no doubt thinking Jason will have no problem working with [Nicolson].”
A 14-year streak with at least one B.C.-bred player taken in the first round was maintained when Montreal chose University of Calgary offensive lineman Richard Yalowsky, a Centennial grad, seventh overall.
Picking eighth, B.C. let Port Moody lineman Corey Mace drop out of the first round, leaving him for Winnipeg, which must wait to see if he sticks with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
It was not, however, a benchmark day for the two B.C. CIS schools. UBC quarterback Braden Smith was
taken with the 47th overall pick by Montreal, and the Lions today will announce the signing of undrafted UBC cornerback Konrad Wasiela.
Wasiela will have company at training camp next month in B.C. third-round pick Andre Sadeghian, who was once part of the UBC backfield with Lions winter free agent signing Chris Ciezki before transferring to McMaster two years ago.
Overall, however, Buono’s toughest draft decision was to choose between the eligible sons of two Lions staffers for the last pick overall.
Redshirt Idaho State junior Nic Edgson, son of Art Edgson, a part-time Lions coach and Buono’s lawyer, won out.
SFU receiver Chris Passaglia, son of community relations director/legend Lui Passaglia, did not.
Buono, like his lawyer an Idaho State grad, was not disappointed, however, thinking possibly three of his seven picks might stick this season.
“I wanted depth. I got that,” he said. “I wanted a physical receiver. I got that [in Nicolson]. He reminds me of [ex-UBC great] Vince Danielsen.”
Whether Nicolson has to look like the next Clermont in the future remains unanswered.
