Avery Ellis's profession comes full-circle with Alouettes

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TROIS-RIVIÈRES — Getting into his sixth CFL season, Avery Ellis can lastly say his profession has come full-circle — at the very least the Alouettes portion of it.

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The defensive finish, arguably, was Montreal’s prized free-agent acquisition in February 2022, when he left Ottawa to signal with the Als.

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The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder performed 9 video games for his new group earlier than being traded in August to Edmonton for defensive-lineman Thomas Costigan — now not with the group — and cornerback Nafees Lyon.

Whereas Ellis produced 16 tackles, three quarterback sacks and one compelled fumble in seven video games taking part in for a foul Elks group, he was launched one week earlier than the beginning of coaching camp. Edmonton needed Ellis to take a big pay lower and the 2 sides couldn’t come to phrases.

On Sunday, nevertheless, the Als repatriated the 28-year-old native of Newark, N.J. Whereas Ellis wouldn’t disclose the quantity of wage discount sought by Edmonton, it’s believed he’ll make a base of $100,000 with Montreal.

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Als common supervisor Danny Maciocia mentioned Ellis will present the group with manufacturing and depth, including he was shocked the veteran was obtainable. In 9 video games with Montreal, Ellis had 18 tackles and 4 sacks.

Ellis mentioned he was shocked by the flip of occasions in Edmonton, though administration had been in search of to decrease his wage for a number of months. Ellis and his Florida-based agent, Kenny Kim, quashed the provide and determined to roll the cube, believing one other group would have an interest.

“On the finish of the day, I used to be in a tricky place and I’m grateful, at this level, to nonetheless play soccer,” Ellis mentioned Monday, after the Als carried out a 2.5-hour coaching camp exercise at Stade Diablos. “There’s at all times some concern behind your head.”

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Ellis admitted some shock over final season’s commerce, however has been round lengthy sufficient to know what transpires on the sector and in a group’s administration workplaces often are two separate entities. Generally there will be little, if any, correlation.

“I can solely management the issues that occur on the sector,” he mentioned. “No matter occurs within the again workplace, there’s at all times causes for issues. You’re at all times shocked when one thing like that occurs however, on the finish of the day, it’s a enterprise. No matter occurs after that’s out of your management.”

Ellis’s return reunites him with Als defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe, who changed the fired Barron Miles six video games into final season. Thorpe and Ellis additionally labored collectively for 2 seasons in Ottawa.

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“He’s a man that has been productive,” Thorpe mentioned. “He’s an awesome character man within the locker room. That was a simple match for us and there was a necessity there to deliver him again. He has a job right here.

“Avery is an incredible participant with nice character. He performs quick. These are the blokes we’re in search of — that play quick and bodily and might get to the ball. He has the power to get to the quarterback. We’re two weeks into camp however he doesn’t miss a beat. That is the third time we’ve been collectively, so he has an understanding of the defensive system and is aware of the necessities. It was a pure to deliver him again.”

Ellis wasn’t sitting round feeling sorry for himself the final two weeks. He has already began planning for his post-football profession and was working as a personal chef, getting ready dinner events at shoppers’ houses and at supper golf equipment.

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In the meantime, the Als returned to the sector for the primary time since Friday’s opening exhibition sport at Ottawa, Montreal erasing a nine-point deficit within the ultimate 2:36 for a 22-21 victory.

“Within the CFL, you’ll be able to by no means hand over,” head coach Jason Maas mentioned Monday. “The ultimate three minutes are when a whole lot of video games are gained. You need to have that mindset that you just’re going to win these video games and pull them out, it doesn’t matter what the rating seems like. I don’t suppose anybody was shocked (the comeback) was doable. To make it occur is one other factor.”

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