Eagletarian

Eagles sign two from CFL

The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian

36 comments

Eagles sign two from CFL

POSTED: Thursday, January 29, 2009, 7:53 AM

Daily News staff

The Eagles have begun the process of bulking up their roster for minicamps and training camp by signing two defensive stalwarts from the Canandian Football League to 3-year contracts.

Toronto Argonauts cornerback Byron Parker and Calgary Stampeders defenisve end Charleston Hughes are both expected to join the Eagles when the offseason workouts begin in March, according to reports in Canada. Hughes, at 6-1, 245, is expected to work at linebacker, given his size.

Of course, neither player has any guarantee, but both jumped at the opportunity to try the NFL and selected the Eagles after interest or workouts from other NFL teams.

Parker, 27, has previously been cut by Dallas and Jacksonville and the Argos would retain his rights if he is cut by the Eagles in training camp. "He and I talked about it. and, as tough as it was emotionally for him to leave, the CFL can't compete financially with the NFL," Parker's agent, Lance Riddle, told the National Post.

Parker was All-CFL in 2006 and 2007, and holds the league record for interception return yardage in a game and for a season.

Among the more interesting factoids about Parker is that he went to Tulane initially on a basketball scholarship and won the NCAA slam dunk contest -- held at the Final Four each year -- in 2003.

Hughes, 25, signed after a workout with the Birds on Monday. He led the Canadian Football League in tackles for loss with 12, tied for the team lead in sacks (five) and fumble recoveries (two) while finishing second in tackles with 66 for the Grey Cup champions.

"Oh, man, I don't even know what to do with myself right now," Hughes told the Calgary Herald. " I don't know whether to jump around and start running or just sit down and say, 'Thank you,' and accept it."

36 comments

Comments (36)

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:32 PM, 01/29/2009

when are the open tryouts? anybody else ready to suit up? i'm pretty good at football- i led my fantasy league in points- a move that smacks of desperation- next we'll be signing australian football "defensive stalwarts" just for the purpose of "bulking up their roster for minicamps and training camp"

— justatc1

Comment removed.

Comment removed.

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:44 AM, 01/30/2009

We don't know what to expect from this guys, if anything, but I always love to find out about players picked up at this time of the year. There's no guarantee that they'll be here come July, but you never know and that's what's exciting about football. There's plenty to be negative about in general, but not this stuff.

— coatesvillain