Wanna-B-Fanboy

Very interesting read:
Free Agency Frenzy
By Darren Cameron, Director of Communications & Media Relations
Free agency is usually a crazy day in the CFL. Over the past few seasons, it was relatively quiet around our office. Last season, GM Kyle Walters and his team went in with a plan, and though it didn’t pan out entirely as planned, we were able to land coveted receiver Nick Moore.
Back in December, I told you about days of meetings with the entire football operations department, including Assistant General Managers, Ted Goveia and Danny McManus, and National Scout Drew Morris. Along with Kyle and our Head Coach, Mike O’Shea, they listed a number of free agents that were high on the priority list. Around eight names were highlighted at the time. Knowing that many things change; some get re-signed, some try the NFL route, and some choose to go elsewhere, we headed into the morning of February 11 with a list of six or seven players that were still available. A lot of preparation, crunching numbers, film study, and roster evaluation had gone into preparing for that day, and when the clock struck 11 a.m., there sat Kyle in his office chair, leaning back, holding his IPhone a few inches from his face. The hunt was officially on. The plan was to have Ted and Danny also work with agents, while Kyle facilitated and watched the ongoing movement, while also speaking with agents regularly.
Not much conversation took place as things rolled along early on, and there was little action in the first stages. But it picked up. Quickly.
Early in the afternoon, Kyle calmly pointed out to Mike and I, who were both set up in Kyle’s office in the bowels of Investors Group Field, “We are good on Darvin Adams.” Adams had a great career with Auburn, winning a BCS National Championship with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, and has spent time with the Argos since. He is a player the team has had its eye on for a long time now. Here a few clips of Darvin (
), and this one, as part of an SEC Championship Game record 237 yards ( ). From there, things snowballed. Like one of those days you picture everything going the way you had envisioned, without many hiccups, one by one we were able to pick off the guys we had targeted.
It was made very public that heading into free agency we had planned to target offensive linemen. With the signings of Dominic Picard a few weeks prior, we knew that the opportunity to acquire a left tackle – Stanley Bryant or SirVincent Rogers – was both available and necessary. We were aggressive in pursuit of both, and knowing how unpredictable free agency can be, we were prepared for any possible scenario.
We first saw the report of SirVincent going to Ottawa through a Twitter post. When I relayed the information, the room went silent. Kyle looked at me, then looked over at Mike, and without hesitation picked up his phone. He didn’t say who he was calling/emailing/texting, but before he could get through the numbers, his office phone rang. Ted Goveia was on the line, “Guys, I’m calling with a left tackle,” he said in a steady but urgent voice that only Ted can do. “We are agreeable on the numbers for Stanley Bryant”? Ted was on the speaker, and Kyle said, “so this is done?”
It was.
The back to back CFL All-Star tackle was headed our way, making us four-for-four in free agent targeting. Coach O’Shea, with his feet up on a table, smiled, “good day so far, boys.” It was shortly after this that President and CEO Wade Miller came through Kyle’s door. He had been out doing speaking engagements as part of the Blue Bomber Winter Caravan (http://www.bluebombers.com/rural-winter-community-caravan), and had dropped in to see how everything was going. Things had slowed down at this point, and as we sat in Kyle’s office talking over the day’s events, Coach O’Shea looked over at Wade and thanked him for allowing the team to go out and acquire who they felt were important to succeed.
As usual, Wade brushed it aside, suggesting this is just the way it should be. But Wade really does do whatever it takes for the organization to be put in the best position possible. Whether it’s spending the money to acquire talent on the field or on the coaching staff, to chartering aircrafts and ensuring the proper accommodations are provided for the players’ comfort, he gets it. Plain and simple.
Now the focus, from a roster standpoint, shifts to the CFL Draft in May, while also continuing to add pieces through our U.S. free agent camps. With the trade of Cory Watson last month, we now hold three picks in the first 20. I have heard Kyle speak highly of this year’s draft multiple times, at one point calling it ‘the best in a long time.” As policy would have it, I can’t share his specific thoughts on players or who we are looking at just yet, but it’s safe to say we will be a better football team in the long-term after this year’s draft. I’ll touch more on that as the date approaches, and hopefully will be able to provide a bit more detail for you.
With the announcement of Greg Knox as our Linebackers Coach, our 2015 coaching staff is now finalized. With the offensive staff remaining intact – much to the approval of quarterback Drew Willy – and a new defensive staff, there is much excitement about the depth of CFL experience on this staff. In total, the 2015 Blue Bombers coaching staff has won 14 Grey Cup titles, and played a combined 57 years of Canadian football.
As our quarterback Drew Willy said the other day, “June can’t come fast enough.”
If you have any blog ideas, feel free to contact me on Twitter @darren_cameron.
Until next time.
Darren

The answer is, they damn well better. 

Guarantee them 2 Cups, and conditionally give them 1-2 more if they demonstrate commitment to making the Argos succeed and/or the financial need. City of Toronto would need to give some major kickbacks to the Argos and CFL somehow because the city certainly doesn't deserve the economic benefits hosting 4 Grey cups would give them.

No Kidding, You can hear the collective sigh of relief on these boards... heh

Whoa there big fella, i was just kidding. 
 
I thought that was pretty clear- guess i should have used the smiley emoticons.
 
Why does this reminds me of:

 

Whoa there big fella, i was just kidding. 
 
I thought that was pretty clear- guess i should have used the smiley emoticons.
 
Why does this reminds me of:

 

Whoa there big fella, i was just kidding. 
 
I thought that was pretty clear- guess i should have used the smiley emoticons.
 
Why does this reminds me of:

 

So many good things to say about Hall, he is a first class man. He is very experienced and draws up good game plans each week. Strictly IMO where he fails is adjustments during the game. It appeared that we rarely made any halftime adjustments under Hall, he simply seemed happy to stay the course even at the expense of losing the game. My other beef with Hall is in the last few minutes of the game when we were trying to hang on for a close win, he just wouldn't turn up the heat and end it. His defensive philosophy is such that allows other teams to hang around late into games. He is waiting for opponents to make a mistake more so than trying to force a mistake. Letting him go could very well turn out to be a mistake, time will tell. I believe Hall is a great hire for the bombers, he is strict with discipline and runs a tight ship. His schemes are solid. Adding Hall probably brings 2-3 more wins for you guys based on some of the ones you lost last year. For any of you that get to meet him he is generous with his time and friendly. Always has a minute or two to take pictures with the kids or whatever.  my 2 cents

I can't tell... was this meant as a Personal Message, but was accidentally posted on the forums? Because the other reason looks petty and vindictive with a dash of smug.

I am skeptical though... Was it Bene, or the fact he had Solomon and Bighill as well as a glut of talent on the D? 
 
Those two boys alone would make a lot of coaches look better than they are. That being said- I would be cautiously optimistic if we got Bene. 

Actually, what I took away from Tait's new blurb on what happened is this:
 
MoS wanted to see if he can salvage the system (and Etch) with a few tweeks, realized that there would be too many changes necessary and that Etch's scheme couldn't work with all the changes so he had to let him go and find someone else that schemes the way MoS envision's his D to look like. 
 
He did his due diligence and didn't rush to make changes for change's sake. I am good with how this went down. 

I am skeptical though... Was it Bene, or the fact he had Solomon and Bighill as well as a glut of talent on the D? 
 
Those two boys alone would make a lot of coaches look better than they are. That being said- I would be cautiously optimistic if we got Bene. 

Actually, what I took away from Tait's new blurb on what happened is this:
 
MoS wanted to see if he can salvage the system (and Etch) with a few tweeks, realized that there would be too many changes necessary and that Etch's scheme couldn't work with all the changes so he had to let him go and find someone else that schemes the way MoS envision's his D to look like. 
 
He did his due diligence and didn't rush to make changes for change's sake. I am good with how this went down. 

Actually, what I took away from Tait's new blurb on what happened is this:
 
MoS wanted to see if he can salvage the system (and Etch) with a few tweeks, realized that there would be too many changes necessary and that Etch's scheme couldn't work with all the changes so he had to let him go and find someone else that schemes the way MoS envision's his D to look like. 
 
He did his due diligence and didn't rush to make changes for change's sake. I am good with how this went down. 

Actually, what I took away from Tait's new blurb on what happened is this:
 
MoS wanted to see if he can salvage the system (and Etch) with a few tweeks, realized that there would be too many changes necessary and that Etch's scheme couldn't work with all the changes so he had to let him go and find someone else that schemes the way MoS envision's his D to look like. 
 
He did his due diligence and didn't rush to make changes for change's sake. I am good with how this went down. 

Actually, what I took away from Tait's new blurb on what happened is this:
 
MoS wanted to see if he can salvage the system (and Etch) with a few tweeks, realized that there would be too many changes necessary and that Etch's scheme couldn't work with all the changes so he had to let him go and find someone else that schemes the way MoS envision's his D to look like. 
 
He did his due diligence and didn't rush to make changes for change's sake. I am good with how this went down. 

Believe what you want but i gotta say the way it was handled seemed complete and fair to the nth.
Evaluate…talk…propose changes…make decisions.
It took time. So what.
 
And as to power struggles…abstract twittering. (a new phrase)
The Coach, with discussion and support, made this decision.
As it should be.

Actually, what I took away from Tait's new blurb on what happened is this:
 
MoS wanted to see if he can salvage the system (and Etch) with a few tweeks, realized that there would be too many changes necessary and that Etch's scheme couldn't work with all the changes so he had to let him go and find someone else that schemes the way MoS envision's his D to look like. 
 
He did his due diligence and didn't rush to make changes for change's sake. I am good with how this went down. 

I can't remember a time I was happier to be wrong.  Great move to get rid of Etch.  I wish it had come a month ago, but that's just splitting hairs at this point.

I probably would have. But there were valid arguments on either side of the fence.
 
I'm just happy I don't have to hear about it anymore.

If we want to fix the OL for next season, it won't be through the draft. That's the reality. That's why I say you take the best player available, regardless of position. If we get a Canadian starter at a different position, that could allow us to start an additional American OL and if we recruit properly that could go further towards giving us a better overall OL than any first-year Canadian OL would.

I guess this hasn't been mentioned yet but goes without saying... with the TO win we pick #2, #11, #20 etc...

MOS, in this situation, is right.
Why are you asking questions like that, in the week before the last game, when there are months ahead to subject the Staff to those kind of questions?
And people blame MOS for being short with some reporters.
They're lucky he doesn't pick them up and drive them back 5 yards and slam them to the ground…like he used to do with the opposition.

Hey Guys,
 
Can you please start another thread to deal with your hurt feelings and what not- I came looking to read about Drew Willy our QB; not about pissing matches, hurt feelings, misplaced egos, i told you so and other such nonsense.