



I've just a finished a big rookie camp preview which I'll post shortly but the news of the day is the team's decision to release running back Martell Mallett (and defensive end Bramdon Pegeuse.)

Mallett was the big free agent signing before last season but tore his Achilles in training camp and missed the season. It wasn't even the worst thing that happened to him last year: his brother was killed in an episode of gun violence as he candidly discussed before mini-camp this spring.

But Mallett did not look great at mini-camp. He seemed to be lacking some explosiveness, hardly unexpected coming off an Achilles injury. And Chevon Walker, who set the CFL on fire last season before getting hurt, looked great. He might have won the job, regardless.

And as it always does, money likely played a role. Walker's on his rookie deal and Mallett's a vet... even if he agreed to take a pay cut, he wouldn't come cheap. The Ticats feel pretty good about some of new import guys they have on the roster already and will likely bring in one or two more.

The trend in the CFL and the NFL is not to pay big money to running backs because it's unnecessary. Unless you're a ratio breaker, like Jon Cornish, the theory is you should be able to find a relatively affordable guy to do the job as long as the pieces around him – offensive line, passing game – are good. Kory Sheets (Saskatchewan) and Chad Simpson (Winnipeg) were relative unknowns before last season and finished second and fourth in league rushing.

The Ticats are about to test that theory.