John Chick, of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, holds his trophy for the CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player during the 2009 Gibson's Finest Players Awards on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009 in Calgary, Alta. The Montreal Alouttes take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders this Sunday in the 97th Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntoshJeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
It was a cruel weekend for most former CFL or Canadian university players trying to make a jump to the National Football League.
In fact, the only one who managed to land on an active roster is former Concordia linebacker Cory Greenwood, a Toronto Argonaut draft pick who didn't ink his contract with the Kansas City Chiefs until well after the NFL draft.
Three former CFL players did manage practice roster spots, last season's CFL defensive player of the year, former Saskatchewan DL John Chick (Indianapolis Colts), former B.C. Lions DL Ricky Foley (New York Jets) and former Lions RB Martell Mallett (Philadelphia Eagles).
A fourth player, former B.C. Lion Stefan Logan, who spent last season with the Steelers, was waived by Pittsburgh but claimed by the Detroit Lions.
The rest weren't so lucky.
Former University of Sherbrooke receiver and kick returner Sam Giguere saw his two years with the Indianapolis Colts come to an end on Saturday. And former University of Waterloo offensive lineman Joel Reinders, a Toronto Argonaut draft pick, was cut by Cleveland.
Among former CFL players set free over the weekend were former Saskatchewan DL Stevie Baggs (cut by Arizona, CFL free agent) former Montreal KR Larry Taylor (cut by NYJ, CFL rights belong to Alouettes), former Saskatchewam linebacker Renauld Williams (cut by Pittsburgh, CFL rights belong to Roughriders), former B.C. Lion Rolly Lumbala (cut by Dolphins, CFL rights belong to Lions), former Winnipeg DB Jonathan Hefney (cut by Lions, CFL rights belong to Blue Bombers), former Toronto DL Walter Curry (cut by Jacksonville, CFL rights belong to Argos), former Hamilton DB Bo Smith (cut by NYJ, CFL rights belong to Tiger-Cats), and former Winnipeg receiver Dudley Guice (cut by Colts, CFL rights belong to Blue Bombers).
Brett Romberg, a Windsor, Ont. native selected by B.C. in the 2002 entry draft, was released by Atlanta after seven NFL seasons.