Joe McGrath Released

Right tackle Joe McGrath was synonymous with a second-half turnaround by the B.C. Lions last year. But it brought him no guarantees for the 2011 CFL season, a fact of business life borne out by his official release Tuesday along with veteran wide receiver O'Neil Wilson.

For McGrath, the move had been anticipated since the Lions signed import free-agent left tackle Ben Archibald and coach Wally Buono suggested that sophomore pro Jovan Olafioye would be moved over to play McGrath's right-tackle spot.

"It's business, it's football, and it happens all the time," McGrath said. "You can be a rose one day, a dandelion tomorrow. But it wasn't like the decision caught me off guard. We've [McGrath and Buono] been talking about my situation for a while. No, I wasn't surprised."

McGrath and Wilson were part of a spring house cleaning which also swept out import defensive end Jeremy Geathers, who tore his ACL in his CFL debut last season and never did complete a full game with the Lions.

McGrath, 30, signed with B.C. on Aug. 19 last year after being released by the Edmonton Eskimos and took some satisfaction in making his former coach, Richie Hall, eat his words. Hall deemed McGrath "too soft." But the former Miami Hurricane was a bulwark on the offensive line as the Lions went 7-3 over their final 10 games -with the Moose Jaw native starting at right tackle -to qualify for the playoffs.

With Buono's attempts to trade him bearing no fruit, McGrath feels his release will make it easier to catch on with another CFL team. The newlyminted free agent has spent time with every one of the four teams in the West Division during his eight-year career.

"Being a free agent is nice," McGrath said. "It means the next step is somewhat in my control, where I go. I still have a lot of my football career left. Unfortunately, it won't be with the B.C. Lions. We really bonded at the end of last season. They have a great coaching staff and great players."



(vancouversun.com)