A little over a week after becoming the kings of the Canadian Football League, the Montreal Alouettes know very well that the expectations and pressure on the team will be higher in 2024.
With great power comes great responsibility, and general manager Danny Maciocia sees that as a privilege.
Sitting a few feet from the Gray Cup, symbol of a 28-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL championship game on November 19, Maciocia admitted during the Alouettes’ management review on Wednesday that his future plan had been somewhat disrupted. However, he would not trade places with the eight other CFL teams.
“A lot of people would like to have this privilege,” he said in the Alouettes locker room at the Olympic Stadium. I would like that in the coming years, people will look at us and tell us that we are the reference. The organization and the fans deserve it, and that is our ultimate goal. [L’entraîneur-chef] Jason Maas and I made a promise to each other that we would push ourselves to stay competitive. We will continue to put a team on the field that will make us proud. »
Although good, the team that took the field for the first year of this plan was not necessarily described as a contender for major honors by observers. The 11-7 record in the first season under Maas’ tutelage was encouraging for the future, but the fairy tale truly came to fruition in the playoffs.
During the 2022-2023 off-season, Maciocia and the football operations department had to work overtime to find rare gems or to identify overlooked players who could still give a team a lot. This time, the eighth Gray Cup victory in Alouettes history should make things a little easier for them.
Many players have heard of the unity that reigned within the Alouettes, and Quebecers could now be tempted to return home.
“The echoes we hear across the league are that players would like to come play in Montreal. There are Quebecers who play elsewhere in the CFL and who saw what happened on the field and in the locker room. They watched the parade and said to themselves that they would like to have this experience. It’s good to be in this state of mind compared to 12 months ago,” stressed Maciocia.
Free agents
Despite all these positive elements, the general manager also has to deal with a small headache.
Champion teams are often scrutinized after their conquest and players or coaches could arouse desire elsewhere. The CFL being what it is, with a salary cap set at $5.585 million in 2024, the Alouettes will not get any preferential treatment even if they brought the Gray Cup back to Montreal.
Maciocia expects the picture to change a little, but he emphasized the fact that all the players have expressed their desire to return to the Birds. Incidentally, he added that the team was no longer in reconstruction mode, but in rehearsal mode.
“Even coming back from a Gray Cup title, teams are never the same. It doesn’t work like that, he said. What we need to do is identify the core and make sure we fill the other positions. This is our challenge now. We want to repeat, and we have to make the right decisions. It will not be possible to keep everyone and respect the salary cap. »
Montreal’s defense was eyed wide during the playoffs, and a few of its key cogs are now without contracts, including linebackers Tyrice Beverette and Darnell Sankey, as well as defensive lineman Shawn Lemon. Maciocia has already started discussions with them.
“All three are part of our core. The organization would like them to be back and all three players would like to be back, he noted. We still have time ahead of us, but we would like to resolve these three issues as soon as possible. Is it feasible? We will see. »
The team’s three regular running backs, William Stanback, Walter Fletcher and Jeshrun Antwi could also be free as air starting February 13. Stanback led the team with 800 rushing yards in 14 games this season.
“It’s interesting in William’s case, because I got a text message this morning and we’re going to meet this week,” Maciocia said. I’m curious to know how he experienced this season and how he sees his future. We’ll sit down and talk about it. »
Before Maas was hired, some Alouettes coaches had expressed their desire to take control of the team. One Gray Cup ring later, and with Maas firmly in the saddle, the opportunity could present itself elsewhere. Maciocia couldn’t confirm that all of the deputies would be back in 2024, but he expects most of them to return to the nest.
“When you have success, it’s normal that other organizations want to hire some of your coaches. For now, I expect most to be back and they are welcome. We have not received a call on this yet and all football operations staff are under contract in 2024,” he expressed.
“That’s the plan,” Maas added regarding the return of all his deputies. Danny and I need to discuss this further, though. »
Furthermore, Maciocia indicated that veteran lineman Kristian Matte still has not made a decision regarding his future. Matte, 38, got his hands on the Gray Cup after a 13-year wait earlier this month.