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LENNOXVILLE — When Don Matthews was running what he liked to call his “dictatorship” back in the day, he occasionally would release a veteran player early in training camp — just to let the hired help know who was in charge.

But Kavis Reed, the Alouettes’ rookie general manager, and Jacques Chapdelaine, entering his first full season as head coach, don’t possess the same cachet. That’s why Monday morning’s decision to release veteran middle-linebacker Bear Woods — at least for now — makes absolutely no sense and was greeted with shock, both by his former teammates and executives throughout the Canadian Football League, many of whom had a one-word response: Wow.

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“This was the only time I’ve ever shed tears over a teammate being cut,” linebacker Kyries Hebert said. “I understand pro football and the nature of the beast. This one kind of caught you off guard.

“He’s a good man, teammate and player. He does things the right way. Why is above my pay grade. None of us saw it coming.”