Usually Jim Popp does his recruiting with players you haven’t heard of before in the CFL.

This season, the Montreal Alouettes GM is adding some veteran names off the free-agent market, but only on the defensive side of the ball.

On Tuesday morning, the Alouettes announced officially they have added defensive tackle Aaron Hunt, who spent the past six seasons with the B.C. Lions and was part of the foundation there.

They also added linebacker Mark Restelli, who spent three seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos and part of 2011 with the Miami Dolphins. Along with the signing of Rod Davis last week from those same Eskimos, the Alouettes are putting together a veteran defence as they hope to return to the Grey Cup after a year away.

The biggest problem the Als had in 2011 was in the secondary. Not so much in that they didn’t have talent, but injuries took a toll. The Montreal Gazette had a report last week that Dwight Anderson will indeed be back for a second year after a tumultuous first season after signing as a high-profile free agent. Cornerback Mark Estelle is still a free agent, but there is rumours a deal is getting close, while the rest of the group is expected back healthy.

It’s not exactly clear how Restelli and Davis fit into the Alouettes system. They let veteran defensive end Anwar Stewart go early this season and haven’t signed lineman Jermaine McElveen either. The linebacking corps of Ramon Guzman, Chip Cox and Shea Emry is solid when healthy.

It doesn’t matter to Popp, who always finds some diamonds in the rough through college scouting. He can let coach Marc Trestman sort it out in camp.

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Dales goes to Edmonton
The transaction wire slowed down over the weekend, but there was one more officially announced. Punter Burke Dales switched sides in the Battle of Alberta, going to the Edmonton Eskimos after seven seasons with the Calgary Stampeders.

The Eskimos have a group of four kickers to work with. Incumbent Derek Schiavone, newcomer Grant Shaw (trade, Toronto) and import Eric Wilbur (free agent) will try to win jobs. It would seem the 35-year-old Dales will be paired with a Canadian kicker to form a duo, although Schiavone does punt as well.

Here are the free-agent signings to date:
OL Glenn January, Winnipeg (Winnipeg)
R Cary Koch, Edmonton (Saskatchewan)
DL Don Oramasionwu, Edmonton (Winnipeg)
DB Paul Woldu, Saskatchewan (Montreal)
LB Jason Pottinger, Toronto (Toronto)
OL Brendon LaBatte, Saskatchewan (Winnipeg)
OL Dominic Picard, Saskatchewan (Toronto)
LB Rod Davis, Montreal (Edmonton)
R Greg Carr, Edmonton (Winnipeg)
DB Byron Parker, B.C. (Toronto)
RB Stu Foord, B.C. (Saskatchewan)
R Andy Fantuz, Hamilton (Saskatchewan)
LB Kevin Eiben, Hamilton (Toronto)
C Tim O’Neill, Hamilton (Calgary)
DL Greg Peach, Hamilton (Edmonton)
OL Andrew Jones, Toronto (B.C.)
DB Tristan Jackson, Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan)
S Willie Pile, Toronto (Toronto)
QB Jarious Jackson, Toronto (B.C.)
P Burke Dales, Edmonton (Calgary)
DL Aaron Hunt, Montreal (B.C.)
LB Mark Restelli, Montreal (Edmonton)

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Tributes pour in for Cal Murphy
I’ve only met Cal Murphy a couple of times and didn’t get a chance to know him. When visiting Regina, he would sit in the back row of the Mosaic Stadium pressbox wearing his Indianapolis Colts jacket and hat, looking and acting the part of curmudgeon until he saw a familiar face.

So many others in the CFL knew him well and will miss him dearly after he passed away Saturday. There are some great columns out there about Murphy and his impact.

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun wrote about Murphy and his relationship with former Colts president Bill Polian. A heart transplant never slowed Murphy down, Kirk Penton wrote in this story, while longtime Bombers beat writer Jim Bender reveals his memories of coach Cal. Murphy is a legend in Winnipeg, where he proved community-owned teams can work, and punter Bob Cameron remembers how Murphy saved his career.

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Fantuz unveiled in Hamilton
Andy Fantuz was in Africa when he agreed to a deal with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, so the team officially introduced their new prized free agent receiver on Tuesday morning.

While Fantuz could have made more money in Saskatchewan, he chose Hamilton because of family. That isn’t to say Fantuz will be underpaid in the Hammer. Our friend Arash Madani breaks down the Fantuz contract here, and explains how it will be beneficial for the Cats.

— Buz