1963 Free Agency Part 1

1963 Free Agency Part 1

The free agency period ended up having a slow start. There was not a lot of action in the first few days, with players taking a lot of time to make their decisions. In the end, the first to budge was LB Wilson Rockwood-Barnes who would end up heading to Indiana on a 2-year deal at $16,500 a season. Rockwood-Barnes immediately shores up the LB score for the Victors who will be aiming for greater improvement next season. Shortly after the Rockwood-Barnes signing, LB Elijah Goldwater made his move. Goldwater had a lot to deliberate in his decision but ultimately the desire to get a completely fresh start while also remaining somewhat close to his hometown of Portland, ME, would win out and he would sign for 2 years with the Montreal Rouge. 

The action once again hit a lull after the first two players went. One of the biggest delays came with the DL Timmy Kerr signing. Timmy and his twin brother RB Tommy Kerr were both free agents. They wanted to play on the same team this season, and so they bargained that you get both or none if you want to sign either player. In the end, Boston, who has needed to add on the D-line in almost every single season in the last few years, would bite and sign both Kerr brothers to 2-year deals. OL Ulysses Fairgrove would then be the next to sign heading over to Providence to take another shot at the McCallister Cup. RB Eddie Thompson is heading to Ottawa to take the starting role while RB Corbyn Knight continues to develop. LB Patrick Terry, a providence native, would return to his hometown to take a shot with his childhood team. 

There were plenty of signings, but one of the more interesting stories heading into the draft is the Raiders. They would end up bringing in former Victors’ starting QB Stanley Troyer. It seems that the deal might be a bigger sign that QB Lyle Painter could be on the move as Long Island also could be targeting another young QB in the draft on top of having Troyer and Terry Bourbon. 

Top 25 Free Agents
1 - LB Elijah Goldwater PRO -> MTL - 2Y, $19,500 - NTC
2 - DL Timmy Kerr LI -> BOS - 2Y, $16,000
3 - OL Ulysses Fairgrove LDN -> PRO - 1Y, $14,500 - NTC
4 - QB Stanley Troyer IND -> LI - 2Y, $18,000
5 - LB Wilson Rockwood-Barnes LDN -> IND 2Y, $16,500 
6 - QB Stanislav Ovechkin LOU -> LOU - 1Y, $14,000
7 - RB Eddie Thompson BOS -> OTT - 1Y, $14,000
8 - DB Carson Scott MTL -> BUF - 1Y, $14,500
9 - QB Oscar Rigano LI
10 - WR Trig Jegman HFX
11 - DB Dennis Kirchner PRO
12 - DL William Collins LDN -> IND - 1Y, $16,000
13 - LB Patrick Terry MTL -> PRO - 2Y, $15,000
14 - LB Alister Henry OTT -> HFX - 2Y, $14,000
15 - DB Larry Pickett BUF -> LI - 2Y, $7,500
16 - WR Angus Stevenson OTT
17 - WR Ronald Vernon PRO
18 - WR Fredrick St.Pierre BOS
19 - RB Tommy Kerr PRO -> BOS 2Y, $13,000
20 - RB Leo Ravelli BUF
21 - DB Petr Westerburg BOS -> BOS 1Y, $10,000
22 - RB Wally Morton OTT
23 - WR Nick Nacker LI
24 - OL Jack Workman OTT
25 - LB Felix Bender IND