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Neither he nor the team will say why they announced he was re-signing in 2020 and then that didn’t happen.
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We’re still not exactly sure what transpired that day in February 2020 between Ciante Evans and the Alouettes, except that one minute the team announced his re-signing, and then he was gone.
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He might have verbally agreed before putting pen to paper and, in retrospect, the point remains moot since the CFL eventually cancelled its season due to COVID-19.
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All that matters, following two seasons with Hamilton, is Evans decided to return to the Als, agreeing to — and signing — a one-year deal on Feb. 17, four days into free agency.
“It’s a negotiation period and we were talking,” Evans told the Montreal Gazette on Thursday following practice at Molson Stadium. “I was feeling out the contract. We were communicating back and forth. I liked (the offer) but I just needed X, Y and Z. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.”
General manager Danny Maciocia was similarly as vague. “We were in the running” was all he would say.
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While Evans hasn’t exactly returned home — he spent the first four seasons of his CFL career in Calgary — he was productive for Montreal in 2019, and the Als wanted him back. In 13 games that season, he produced 29 tackles while intercepting three passes.
At age 30, Evans will add experience and versatility to the Als’ defence. A former cornerback, defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe has Evans playing field halfback, between veteran safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy and new corner Dionte Ruffin, who was added from the Stampeders.
“I watched (Evans) come in here as a rookie with Calgary and was really impressed with his game,” Thorpe said. “He’s a solid player. That shows up on game day. He’s physical and has really good coverage ability. Getting into that room, you understand the type of leadership ability he brings to the table.
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“His skill set suits what we’re asking him to do right now.”
In 87 career games, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Evans has 225 tackles, 14 interceptions and three forced fumbles. He played 13 games last season, pilfering one pass. But he was at his best breaking up pass plays, with 12 knockdowns. With the Tiger-Cats going through their own personnel turnover in the secondary, Evans decided it was time to move on. He played on the corner in 2022.
Evans, from Fort Worth, Texas, said it was prudent to return to the Als.
“I got accepted by this organization and they wanted me to come back,” he said. “I was ecstatic to be offered the opportunity … and I took the chance.
“It’s not necessarily always about the money. A lot of times you’re sitting at home and you analyze the roster, talent, past experience … just being in a great mental state, too. A lot of those factors. Energy, happiness and the vibe you get. They all come to mind.”
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While the Als were inconsistent defensively last season, Evans remains confident the team will prosper on that side of the ball, knowing the unit has had all of training camp to work with Thorpe, who replaced the fired Barron Miles four games into last season. He said communication will be paramount between him and Ruffin, since they’ve never played together.
“Things happen fast, especially to the field,” Evans said. “We all have to be together, learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s going to take time to build chemistry.
“Adversity will hit; that’s what I do know. Everything’s not going to go your way. If you stay with the foundation and stick to the game plan and what the coaches are telling you, you’ll be able to see it through.”
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The Als conducted their final full practice Thursday before Saturday’s regular-season opener, at home, against Ottawa. And if nothing else, some players appear eager to start the year in earnest, considering the dispute that developed between defensive tackle Mustafa Johnson and Kristian Matte, who lost his helmet while engaging with Matte and was visibly upset.
Head coach Jason Maas was hardly perturbed.
“I love competitiveness, fire, all those things,” he said. “This is professional football. It’s a physical, demanding sport. I don’t want guys to back down, that’s for sure. Leave it on the field and don’t take it into the locker room.”
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1
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