Toronto Argonauts Release Dariusz Bladek To Give Him Early Jump On Free Agency
Offensive lineman Dariusz Bladek has been given a head start on free agency by the Toronto Argonauts, who released the veteran guard on Friday.
Consider the move a courtesy from the Argos toward the well-established and respected 29-year-old interior lineman.
The Boatmen are reshuffling their deck before a potential raid arrives with free agency on Feb. 13.
The American-born Bladek, who qualified for Canadian citizenship through his Montreal-born mother, joined the Argonauts before the canceled 2020 season as a free agent. He started 27 games through the 2021 and 2022 CFL seasons. Bladek, one of the league's toughest road graders, helped the Argos beat Winnipeg for the Grey Cup 109 championship.
A lingering ankle injury and a crowded Argos offensive line, however, forced Bladek to the sideline for the entire 2023 CFL season. The emergence of fellow Canadian guards Peter Nicastro, Dylan Giffen, and Gregor MacKellar, along with league standout Ryan Hunter, made Bladek expendable.
Toronto is looking to allocate its resources and cap space in other areas, so Bladek's departure seemed inevitable. Toronto wasn't going to re-sign him, so it allowed Bladek to get an early jump on finding a new home as a free agent.
The Argos have more tough decisions to make in the coming days and weeks. They traded Canadian wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. to Edmonton for defensive lineman Jake Ceresna in a preemptive strike, anticipating the loss of several pending star free agents on the defensive front.
Argonauts 2024 Pending Free Agents
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Mike Mitchell is a pro football writer/insider with decades of experience covering and following multiple leagues. He covers the New York Jets for TheJetPress.com at FanSided. He has also written for XFL Board and at Hub Publishing covering the CFL, XFL and USFL.