The Edmonton Eskimos said goodbye on Wednesday to one of their longest serving players as they released defensive back Marcell Young.
Young, 30, played 74 games over five seasons with the Eskimos and was a part of the 2015 Grey Cup team. Only five players remain on the team that have been with the Eskimos longer.
Last season, Young spent more time on the injured list than on the playing roster, seeing action in only seven games and recording 16 defensive tackles.
Young began his career with two seasons in Hamilton before joining the Eskimos as a free agent for the 2013 season. He is, to a certain extent, a victim of the numbers game on the Eskimos roster.
The green and gold currently have 16 defensive backs listed on their roster, 13 of them international players like Young and 10 played at least one game in the CFL last year. All of the projected starters are younger than Young.
The Eskimos also announced on Wednesday that they came to terms with offensive lineman Chauncey Briggs. The 6-6, 300 pounder spent training camp with the Oakland Raiders of the NFL last year.
The 23-year-old graduate of Southern Methodist University was born in West Bloomfield, MI.
Briggs played four seasons at SMU, starting 32 games. He can play both tackle and guard.
The Eskimos will hold a mini camp with the full roster in attendance in late April in Las Vegas.