Tiger-Cats sign ex-Roughrider Baggs

The long-standing Canadian Football League rivalry between Hamilton and Toronto has become a lot more interesting this week.

The Tiger-Cats dipped into the free-agent pool Thursday with the signing of 2009 West all-star Stevie Baggs, about 48 hours after the Argonauts brought aboard the league's top Canadian of a year ago, fellow defensive end Ricky Foley.

Fans on both sides can mark Oct. 15 on their calendars for the Foley-Baggs showdown at Rogers Centre in Toronto, the final meeting in the three-game season series.

The teams sport identical 5-5 records in the East Division, but the Ticats occupy second spot by virtue of their victories versus the Argos on Aug. 20 and Sept. 6.

Baggs was a recent cut by the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals.

"Stevie is a quick, high-energy player who will help create havoc for the opposition when teamed up with the defensive players we currently have on the roster," Tiger-Cats general manager Bob O'Billovich said in a news release.

"He's also a great character guy who will be a welcome addition in our locker room and the community."

The six-foot-two, 240-pound Baggs is coming off a stellar 2009 campaign during which he posted a CFL-best 12 quarterback sacks as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Baggs added 55 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, four forced fumbles, four tackles for a loss and one interception while helping the Riders reach the Grey Cup.

In four previous seasons with Winnipeg, Edmonton and Saskatchewan, Baggs recorded 80 defensive tackles, eight tackles for losses and 16 sacks.

Also Thursday, the Ticats announced the release of import defensive end Khari Long.