Steve Milton: Top Ticat defensive lineman could be out for Grey Cup

It's appears that a major component of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' vaunted defence will not be playing in Sunday's Grey Cup game.

Defensive tackle Ted Laurent, a four-time division all-star, missed Friday's practice after also being absent Thursday. If Laurent doesn't play he would be replaced by second-year Ticat Eddy Wilson or first-year-CFLer Ticat Lee Autry.

The talented Laurent who often occupies two blockers on the opposing line, freeing up other Ticats to rush the quarterback and make tackles behind the line of scrimmage, is a key element in Hamilton's plan to limit the effectiveness of Winnipeg Blue Bombers' running back Andrew Harris.

Laurent is a Canadian while both Wilson and Autry, the brother of NFL defensive end Denico Autry, are American. So Laurent's absence would also necessitate adjustments in Hamilton's Canadian/American ratio roster.

An American who was originally going to play Sunday, would have to be sidelined.

Steve Milton is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: smilton@thespec.com