THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — Neil McEvoy lives for this time of year. The Lions director of football operations and player personnel is getting ready to attend the first of eight free agent camps the club is holding across the United States.
It all begins this weekend in Los Angeles and Phoenix, with the final camp set for Seattle on May 1. The CFL Draft will be held nine days after that. Finding talent in uncharted waters is one of the keys to long-term success in the CFL.
Entering his 21st season with the organization, McEvoy took some time to discuss the free agent camp process and also reflected on his two-decade plus tenure in the den.
“I was first hired in 1996, “ McEvoy says.
Vancouver businessman Nelson Skalbania had just purchased the club, but was forced into receivership before current owner David Braley stepped in and saved it.
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Two years later, the late Greg Mohns took over as head coach and had visions of a couple of interesting fashion overhauls.
“Greg wanted to change the uniform colours to red and gold like the San Francisco 49ers,” McEvoy remembers. “He also discussed the idea of full on Oakland Raiders style silver and black. They actually had a pullover made up that we saw.”
Not many current staffers were around for the adventure that was the late-90’s. McEvoy started out in ticket sales, moved up to media relations, then began the process of rising through the scouting ranks. He was promoted to his current post in 2013.
The camps have become an integral part of the club’s off-season, compared to when they first started in 2002.
“That year we held just one in Lake Oswego, Oregon,” McEvoy recalls. “When Roy Shivers came on [in 2008] he had done this in the past so we expanded it to what we do now.”
The format of these camps is similar to what goes on at the annual CFL combine. McEvoy, along with Director of CIS Scouting Geroy Simon and Director of US Scouting Ryan Rigmaiden will have players run the 40-yard dash, followed by some one-on-one drills.
“We’re looking for players who fit our system and players who are athletic enough to play at the professional level,” McEvoy states.
In today’s world of digital video and internet communication, McEvoy says they will have seen footage of many free agents before arriving at the various camps. Finding a lot of these players beforehand also hinges on the amount of NFL contacts made at both the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game.
McEvoy says a lot of times NFL scouts will recommend the CFL to certain players they believe will benefit from certain systems in the Canadian game.
“A lot of those NFL scouts have ties to the Canadian Football League. The football brotherhood is very small.”
One prime example is quarterback Buck Pierce whom the Lions signed in 2005 on the
advice of a Jacksonville Jaguars scout. Pierce spent five seasons in the den and was on the field for their lone touchdown in the 2006 Grey Cup victory over Montreal.
Ryan Phillips, Solomon Elimimian, Adam Bighill, Emmanuel Arceneaux and Bryan Burnham are among the current Lions players originally evaluated at free agent camps over the years.
However, the chances of this next crop of free agents making an impact right away are pretty remote.
“Our roster for 2016 is pretty much set”, McEvoy admits. “That being said, we expect to find players that can come to training camp and compete for jobs as well as provide depth at various positions.”
In between Los Angeles, Phoenix and Seattle, the free agent camp tour will make stops in New Orleans, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. You can bet a proven talent evaluator like McEvoy is excited to find that next crop of players that may one day call BC their football home.
For more information on the Lions’ free agent camps, click here.
