Eugene Lewis: Danny Maciocia remains positive

At the players' end-of-season report in November, “Geno” said he was looking for a deal that would secure his financial future, as well as that of his family.

Lewis has since seemed to indicate that the 'Als' have not given him an offer that lives up to his expectations. On a few occasions, he posted posts on his Twitter account to this effect.

“One thing about me: begging is not part of my upbringing. My performance on video and my stats speak for themselves,” he said last week.

“Let me paint the picture for you: I played with 22 quarterbacks. Here are my stats, excluding the playoffs: 4,230 yards, 28 receiving touchdowns, 270 catches and an average of 15.8 yards per catch,” the 29-year-old also wrote, adding the individual honors he deserved.

Asked about the negotiations with his star player, general manager Danny Maciocia explained that the process was taking its course.

“It's going well and we continue to talk to each other. There is zero panic in my case, because when you are able to communicate with a player, it is always good news”, he said during a telephone interview granted between two recruiting sessions in the States. States.

Will it test the market?

The Alouettes' most fervent fans may experience moments of anguish starting February 14, the opening date of the CFL's free agent market.

On Wednesday, Lewis posted a video on his Instagram account and accompanied it with the following sentence: “I will see you all when the free agent market opens”.

This could be a self-representing negotiation tactic. However, it is to be expected that Lewis will be tempted to test his worth with other teams on the circuit, according to Maciocia.

“'Geno' has never been a free agent and it is quite possible that it's something he wants to experience at least once in his career. We may be going to experience it soon with him,” said the CEO.

Maciocia then wanted to be a little more reassuring.

“However, I think he wants to get along with us and be back in Montreal. On our side, we want him back. It's now a matter of agreeing on terms.”

Also asked about the case of quarterback Trevor Harris, who could also become a free agent, Maciocia said the situation is similar to that of Lewis. The leader said he spoke to him on Tuesday and that the communication channels were excellent.