Sep 21 Alouettes Trade QB Ricky Santos for defensive ends Riall Johnson and Shawn Mayne from the Bombers

Montreal, Sept. 21, 2009 – Montreal Alouettes’ Vice President and General Manager Jim Popp announced today the acquisition of non-import defensive ends Riall Johnson and Shawn Mayne in a trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in exchange for import quarterback Ricky Santos.

Johnson (6’3’’, 250 lbs) is a five-year CFL veteran, having played with the Argonauts from 2005 to 2008 before being traded to the Blue Bombers in February 2009 for Zeke Moreno. The 31-year-old defensive lineman had recorded 20 career sacks with the Argos before moving to Winnipeg. He initially went to Toronto after playing 32 games with the Bengals from 2001 to 2003 after being drafted by Cincinnatti in sixth round of the 2001 NFL draft. He also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos, as well as the NFLE Amsterdam Admirals. He played his university football with the Stanford Cardinal.

Mayne (6’3’’, 248 lbs) joins the Alouettes after three seasons with the Bombers, with whom he played principally on special teams as well as serving as a backup defensive lineman. A native Montrealer, he was chosen by the Tiger-Cats in the third round, 18th overall, of the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft. The 29-year-old Vanier College product played his university football with the Connecticut Huskies.

‘’Ricky is a player we really believed in and he was a great teamate, but this trade creates opportunities for both parties,’’ Popp said. ‘’It gives Ricky an opportunity to get on the field quicker and we gain two valuable non-import players who will give us flexibility to make potential ratio changes down the stretch. This trade is the result of numerous injuries to our non-import players.’’

Santos joined the Alouettes in 2008. He spent the first part of the season on the nine-game injured list before joining the practice roster. He has been on Montreal’s injured list since the beginning of the 2009 season.

Tags: Montreal Alouettes \ quarterback \ Riall Johnson \ Ricky Santos \ Shawn Mayne \ trade \ Winnipeg BlubBombers