CFL B.C. Lions

100 days to 2009 BC Lions Training Camp

Published on February 26, 2009 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
B.C. Lions News Release


(Vancouver) The countdown to BC Lions training camp has begun with GM and head coach Wally Buono along with director of player personnel Roy Shivers and player personnel coordinator Neil McEvoy setting the club's free agent camp schedule.

"We are always looking to improve the team as a whole but our focus among other things is finding some running backs, defensive linemen and receivers who can compete at a high level," said Buono.

Normally the club would make five visits south of the border but with the demise of NFL Europa and the Arena Football League suspending operations for 2009, the talent pool may be significantly deeper this offseason and as a result, seven dates have been set aside for U.S. camps.

"We're going to have an opportunity to take a look at players before and after the NFL Draft which will make these camps very competitive and benefit everyone including our fans in the long run," added Buono.

The search for new talent will kick off in late March as Buono and company visit Atlanta and Washington, D.C. with stops in Dallas, Portland and Las Vegas coming in April and May. The Leos will also make return trips to Dallas, Washington and Atlanta by the middle of May.

"Typically we only visit these cities before the NFL Draft but we're adding return visits later in May to ensure we've given ourselves every opportunity to see those players who may have forgone the first workout in the hope of being drafted or signed as a free agent in the NFL," noted Buono.

Current Lions Buck Pierce, Ryan Phillips, LaVar Glover and Zac Champion are just a few mainstays that were discovered by the Lions at previous free agent camps.

Here's a quick glance at the club's free agent camp dates:

- Saturday, March 28, 2009 - Atlanta, Georgia

- Sunday, March, 29, 2009 - Washington, DC

- Saturday, April 18, 2009 - Dallas, Texas

- Sunday, May 3, 2009 - Portland, Oregon

- Friday, May 8, 2009 - Dallas, Texas

- Saturday, May 9, 2009 - Las Vegas, NV

- Saturday, May 16, 2009 - Washington, DC

- Sunday, May 17, 2009 - Atlanta, Georgia

BC Lions Rookie Camp will begin on Thursday June 4th in Abbotsford and run through Saturday, June 6th with the entire squad hitting the field on Sunday, June 7th.

Check out the B.C. Lions Statistics

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Canadian Football League Stories from February 26, 2009


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