Ideally, professional sports teams would make decisions based only on winning. However, in reality, signing or re-signing a player involves a complex mix of economics and relationships. This off-season, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and wide receiver Tim White chose not to repeat last year’s financial dispute regarding White’s situation with the Tiger-Cats.
As a result, the Tiger-Cats and WR Tim White mutually agreed to part ways, and the Tiger-Cats released White.
Over the past five seasons, wide receiver Tim White has established himself as one of the CFL’s most consistent performers, playing in almost every regular-season game and surpassing 1,000 receiving yards each of the past four years. Despite his outstanding play for Hamilton, a dispute last off-season seems to have led both the Tiger-Cats and White to decide to part ways.
The dispute was White’s desire to be paid at a rate that matched his production, which is at the top of the league. However, the Tiger-Cats wanted to invest more money into acquiring former Winnipeg Blue Bombers wide receiver Kenny Lawler. That investment paid off, with Lawler adding an explosive element to the Tiger-Cats’ passing game, helping them win the East Division during the regular season. Playing both White and Lawler at the top receiver position is not a decision the Tiger-Cats want to make with their limited resources, which has led to White’s departure when he became a free agent in February.
In addition to letting Tim White go, Hamilton has also made the decision not to re-sign former Winnipeg Blue Bombers wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky. During his seven seasons in Winnipeg, Wolitarsky had carved out a role as a consistent possession receiver, which led Hamilton to sign him. However, during the 2025 season, Wolitarsky did not crack the Tiger-Cats lineup at wide receiver and did not catch any passes for Hamilton.
QB Dolegala Re-Signed, Add RB Rountree and WR Matthews
While the Tiger-Cats are making difficult decisions about who will return to their roster for the 2026 season, they have chosen to keep backup quarterback Jake Dolegala. During the 2025 season, Dolegala carried the ball 22 times for 50 yards and 1 touchdown for Hamilton. Despite Dolegala’s lack of statistical relevance, the Tiger-Cats chose to re-sign Dolegala for another season.
In addition to re-signing Dolegala, the Tiger-Cats have signed two prospects for evaluation at training camp. Those players are American running back Larry Rountree III and American wide receiver Jesse Matthews. Both played with NFL teams earlier in their careers before coming to Hamilton.
Larry Rountree III, a 5’10”, 210-pound running back from Raleigh, North Carolina, was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 6th round of the 2021 NFL Draft. After two seasons, he was released and joined the Houston Texans’ practice squad. Rountree III then spent two seasons with the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL, running 43 times for 174 yards and four touchdowns, and catching six passes for 23 yards.
Jesse Matthews is a 6’0, 190-pound wide receiver from San Diego, California. During the 2024 and 2025 NFL seasons, Matthews played for the Atlanta Falcons. Matthews played college football at San Diego State University, catching 175 passes for 2,124 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns across 49 games.
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