The Montreal Alouettes kept a key member of their offensive line off the free agent market by signing Jeff Perrett to a three-year contract Tuesday.
The six-foot-seven Perrett has been with the Alouettes since he broke into the CFL in 2007.
The Lethbridge, Alta., native, who missed four games in 2012 with a hyperextended left knee, was a starter on an offensive line that allowed only 30 sacks, tied for the lowest in the league. They helped three different starting running backs average 5.0 yards per carry.
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General manager Jim Popp said in a statement the signing "allows us to go into camp with our offensive line intact from one year ago.
"Jeff brings a massive, imposing figure to the right tackle position and is a very difficult player to get around to get to the quarterback."
The CFL free agent market opens on Friday.
He is the fourth offensive lineman to sign a new deal this off-season, following fellow Canadians Andrew Woodruff, Kristian Matte and Ryan Bomben.
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Popp also announced that running back Jerome Messam has passed his physical exam, which makes official his acquisition last week from the Edmonton Eskimos for a sixth round draft pick.