Rick Zamperin
2/18/2013
The GM and head coach of the Tiger-Cats says he's not done shopping yet.
Kent Austin has added five free agents to Hamilton's roster, all on the defensive side of the ball.
But he says they "did not get everyone that we targeted, but we certainly got some of the key guys that we felt would improve our football team."
Click below to hear CHML's Rick Zamperin chat with Kent Austin.
Austin says he pleased with the way free agency has transpired, but adds he's "looking at some other moves as well."
Austin says they "made an attempt a couple of different times" to add offensive free agents, but nothing materialized.
He says any attempt at improving the Ticats offence will come via the trade route.
Regarding free agent quarterback Adrian McPherson, Austin says he has "looked at all the QBs in the league," including all the available ones and others who might possibly become available as time goes on, adding "everything is on the table at this point."
Hamilton's most eyebrow raising move in free agency came Sunday when the Cats signed linebacker Marcellus Bowman.
Austin acknowledges that the former Blue Bombers star is coming off major knee surgery but says they felt very strongly about him.
And Austin says acquiring Bowman doesn't necessarily mean Jamall Johnson, Rey Williams and/or Markeith Knowlton will be traded or released.
He says "we're not going to make any decisions with respect to those types of things without looking at the impact more than one layer deep."
Austin says he wants to make sure his lineup has the flexibility in how they place the best 12 players on the field, "and that might change from down to down."
The Cats have made one roster deletion with the release of 33-year-old running back Avon Cobourne.
Austin says Martell Mallett, who suffered a season ending Achilles injury during training camp last year, has been cleared to play and expects him to be at full speed at camp.
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