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WINNIPEG — The roots that would eventually bring Miles Gorrell back to Montreal, began a decade ago in Toronto, over coffee with Kavis Reed.

A mutual admiration society was forged between the two. At the time, Gorrell was the Argonauts’ player personnel assistant and director of Canadian scouting, while Reed was the team’s defensive coordinator.

Last December when Reed, the Alouettes’ general manager, was looking to improve the scouting department, he requested permission from his Ottawa counterpart, Marcel Desjardins, to speak with Gorrell, a Redblacks’ scout since March 2013.

Reed made Gorrell an offer he couldn’t refuse — some around the Canadian Football League have suggested Desjardins could employ three scouts for what the Als are paying their new director of national scouting.

After a 3-15 2017 season, the Als will select first overall in the May 3 Canadian college draft and Gorrell’s mandate is simple — don’t screw it up.