Trades, retirement decisions and drug charges highlight frenzied Friday in CFL

Kaylee Pofahl

Trades, retirement decisions and drug charges highlight frenzied Friday in CFL image

The CFL may have set a record Friday for the most activity by any professional sports league in a single day. 

To say a lot happened would be an understatement. There were flipped trades, acquisitions, retirements and drug charges. 

Here's everything you need to know about Feb. 2, 2018, the day the CFL went wild. 

Gripped and flipped

Early on Friday, the Tiger-Cats acquired defensive end Charleston Hughes from the Calgary Stampeders. Hamilton then flipped the four-time CFL All-Star to the Saskatchewan Roughriders hours later in exchange for quarterback Vernon Adams.

It was a perplexing move by the Tiger-Cats considering the stark difference between the players. Hughes is a 10-year veteran who can still hang in the league. He totaled 27 sacks over the last two seasons and has 99 in his career, ranking second among active players. The 25-year-old Adams has two CFL seasons under his belt, both of which were spent as a backup quarterback. 

Hamilton recently allowed Johnny Manziel's self-imposed signing deadline of Jan. 31 to pass by with no deal in place , making the decision to trade for a backup quarterback rather interesting. 

Meanwhile, Ottawa saw Hamilton's confusing flip and raised it by two players. After acquiring two-time All-Star defensive end Odell Willis from Edmonton for defensive lineman Jake Ceresna, the Redblacks flipped Willis to the BC Lions. In exchange, the Lions will send a fourth round pick in the 2018 CFL draft to Ottawa, as well as a player on BC's negotiation list. 

Similar to Hughes, Willis is another standout 10-year veteran defensive player. The 33-year-old notched 22 tackles and eight sacks in 16 games during the 2017 season and has totaled 86 sacks in his career. During his rookie campaign last season, 23-year-old Ceresna registered 18 tackles and two sacks in 14 games. 

Align and Re-sign

Three-time All-Star Rick Ray was 11 days away from free agency when he inked a one-year deal with the Argonauts. 

The 38-year-old quarterback led Toronto to a Grey Cup title last season, the fourth of his career and most in CFL history at his position. 

"Ricky Ray will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the CFL, but we are thrilled he’s not done adding to his historic career just yet,” GM Jim Popp said in a statement . “We are very excited to welcome him back for another season in the Double Blue.”

One of the biggest questions heading into offseason was whether Ray would return to football next season. After over two months of reflection, Ray decided to return to the field for at least one more season. 

Demond Washington also committed his future to his current team Friday, re-signing with the Tiger-Cats. In seven starts for Hamilton last season, the 30-year-old defensive back recorded 32 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. He has played five CFL seasons, splitting time between Winnipeg and Hamilton. 

Heading south

DeVier Posey is NFL-bound. 

The Argonauts released the wide receiver, who was a pending free agent and is expected to sign with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. 

The 27-year-old Posey played two seasons in the CFL, making 12 appearances for Toronto and finishing with 52 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns last season. 

A third-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Posey spent three seasons with the Houston Texans and had stints with the Denver Broncos and New York Jets. 

Bowing out 

Calgary's Dan Federkeil is retiring, according to TSN's Farhan Lalji . The 34-year-old offensive lineman was a Stampeder for life, spending all four of his CFL seasons in Calgary. 

An Alberta native, Federkeil's pro football career began in the NFL, where he played for the Indianapolis Colts and won a Super Bowl ring in 2006. 

Busted

Saskatchewan's Duron Carter was arrested and charged with marijuana possession at the Saskatoon Airport. 

“We can confirm there was an incident last night where Duron Carter was charged with marijuana possession at the Saskatoon Airport. He was released from the airport and given an upcoming court date,” Ryan Pollock, director of media relations and football communications for the Roughriders, said in a statement.

Carter also took to Twitter to make a statement of his own. 

A 2017 CFL All-Star, Carter had a breakout rookie season with the Roughriders, finishing with 73 receptions for 1,043 yards and eight touchdowns. He signed a one-year contract extension with Saskatchewan at the end of January and is scheduled to make his first appearance in Saskatoon Provincial Court on March 27. 

Kaylee Pofahl