Riders trade Butler to Ticats for Flick, Smith

The Saskatchewan Roughriders acquired wide receiver D.J. Flick and offensive lineman Wayne Smith in a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Wednesday.

The Roughriders also received a second-round draft pick and the negotiating rights to quarterback Dalton Bell in exchange for quarterback Rocky Butler, second- and fifth-round picks and the rights to quarterback Bret Meyer.

"Obviously, we are delighted to add two outstanding players such as D.J. and Wayne," Roughriders general manager Eric Tillman said in a statement.

"Both are established starters and very, very good character guys. The deal allows us to get a young quality Canadian lineman, a big-play receiver and to secure the ninth-overall pick in this spring's Canadian draft."

Flick, a 26-year-old import, had 52 receptions for 693 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games for the Tiger-Cats last season.

He has caught 264 passes for 4,122 yards and eight touchdowns in 74 games over five CFL seasons with the Ottawa Renegades and Tiger-Cats.

Flick joins a Roughriders receiving corps already boasting Matt Dominguez and Jason Armstead.

Smith, 27, made 13 starts for Hamilton last season, his fourth in the CFL.

The Etobicoke, Ont., native has played 49 games since being drafted first overall out of Appalachian State in 2004.

Butler filled in for injured Marcus Crandell last season, completing 38 of 73 pass attempts for 613 yards and five touchdowns with one interception.

In Week 2 versus Hamilton, he threw for 361 yards and five touchdowns.

"Rocky will bring a lot to our team as we witnessed first hand what he is capable of when we played against Saskatchewan last season," Tiger-Cats GM Marcel Desjardins said.

"It was tough to move Rocky," Tillman said. "He is a really fine young man."

Butler is a 51.3 per cent passer in the CFL, having completed 80 of 156 passes for 1,133 yards and five touchdowns with seven interceptions in 27 games over five seasons in Saskatchewan.

The Hofstra product will compete for playing time in Hamilton with veteran pivot Jason Maas, who struggled so badly last year that he was benched the final two games.