CFL Notebook

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced national defensive back Graig Newman is retiring from the Canadian Football League.        

The 27-year-old Saskatoon resident spent three of his five CFL seasons with the Green and White. Newman spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons with the Riders before joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He returned to Saskatchewan for the 2016 season after signing with the team as a free agent.

Through his three seasons with the Riders, Newman picked up 37 special-teams tackles, 10 defensive tackles and one quarterback sack in 44 regular-season games.

He also played in three playoff games and was a member of the Riders’ 2013 Grey Cup-winning team.

“First, I would like to thank the Saskatchewan Roughriders for providing me with the opportunity of a lifetime,” Newman stated. “It has been a dream come true for a kid growing up in Saskatchewan.

“I would also like to thank the best fans in the CFL, Rider Nation, for their support over the years,” added Newman. “To all the teammates, coaches and staff that I have had the pleasure sharing this amazing experience with, thank you! It has been an honour and a privilege to play in the CFL and I am extremely proud to retire a Saskatchewan Roughrider.”

Newman continues to live in Saskatoon where he works for ClearTech Industries.  

(Ryan Pollock/Riders PR)

----

CFL Week festivities get underway Tuesday in Regina. Several players arrived at the Regina International Airport on Monday including new Rider Chad Owens,  Hamilton's Simoni Lawrence and the league's most outstanding player last season--Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell (getting interviewed by CTV's Lee Jones).  Many of the events will be happening at Evraz Place starting Tuesday morning with the big event being the CFL combine on the weekend as those who are draft eligible get put through the paces under the watchful eye of scouts, coaches and general managers from the 9 CFL teams in advance of the draft. 

----

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have added former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to their exclusive negotiation list.

Kaepernick has played six seasons in the National Football League and made headlines last year for not standing for the U.S. national anthem. He has been a free agent since opting out of his contract earlier this month, after originally signing a $114-million, six-year contract with the 49ers in 2014.

The 29-year-old threw for 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 starts in 2016. He's thrown for 72 touchdowns since joining San Francisco as a 2011 second-round draft pick.

Kaepernick rose to stardom under former Niners coach Jim Harbaugh, leading them to the 2012 NFC title, but he's struggled in recent seasons and was benched for journeyman Blaine Gabbert last year.

The Ticats currently have three quarterbacks on the roster, including starter Zach Collaros.

Kaepernick becomes the second big-name NFL quarterback added to a Canadian Football League negotiation list in recent months. Vince Young was added by the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Feb. 2 and ultimately signed with the team March 11. 

The Ti-Cats have also reportedly added another former NFL quarterback looking for work to their neg list.  That quarterback would be Robert Griffin III.

(Justin Dunk/Hamilton Spectator)