GCn20

Well count me as one who loves this move. Either we have success this year under Walters, or next year we cause the Rider fans heads to explode when we poach John Murphy away. This is so much more satisfying than if we had to get him from Calgary.
 
At any rate, I see this as a non starter because I don't think Murphy will be there long enough to have any tremendous impact before either us, or someone else in the league, poaches him away. He is the next GM in this league imo.

What the Esks did back then that made them successful, was create a shadow roster (kinda like the PR today) but was under the table. They would bring in their talent, groom them in their systems, and it created a steady succession of CFL ready players while other teams were teaching their new imports on the fly. These players were not signed to the team, as there were roster limits, but were paid on personal services contracts to various boosters acting as payroll engines.
It was a big part of why they were so good for so long. While they didn't pay anymore per se for their starting lineup, they did pay a lot more for players than anyone else. It was just off the books.

What the Esks did back then that made them successful, was create a shadow roster (kinda like the PR today) but was under the table. They would bring in their talent, groom them in their systems, and it created a steady succession of CFL ready players while other teams were teaching their new imports on the fly. These players were not signed to the team, as there were roster limits, but were paid on personal services contracts to various boosters acting as payroll engines.
It was a big part of why they were so good for so long. While they didn't pay anymore per se for their starting lineup, they did pay a lot more for players than anyone else. It was just off the books.

Well count me as one who loves this move. Either we have success this year under Walters, or next year we cause the Rider fans heads to explode when we poach John Murphy away. This is so much more satisfying than if we had to get him from Calgary.
 
At any rate, I see this as a non starter because I don't think Murphy will be there long enough to have any tremendous impact before either us, or someone else in the league, poaches him away. He is the next GM in this league imo.

What the Esks did back then that made them successful, was create a shadow roster (kinda like the PR today) but was under the table. They would bring in their talent, groom them in their systems, and it created a steady succession of CFL ready players while other teams were teaching their new imports on the fly. These players were not signed to the team, as there were roster limits, but were paid on personal services contracts to various boosters acting as payroll engines.
It was a big part of why they were so good for so long. While they didn't pay anymore per se for their starting lineup, they did pay a lot more for players than anyone else. It was just off the books.

Who do you like better as an interim HC, Hall or Lapo? I find it amusing that people never even so much as mentioned that Hall may be a HC in waiting when he signed with us last year, but when we hire Lapo there is some sinister plot to move him up to HC first chance we get.
 
Fact of the matter, all conspiracy theories aside, is that we have a much improved OC that also has HCing experience and can no doubt offer some great insight to O'Shea.
 
O'Shea/Hall/Lapolice is light years better than O'Shea/Etch/Bellfool

This is starting to have some eerie similarities to when we hired Mike Kelly, who btw, was an absolutely beloved hire before he flamed out miserably.
 
Similarities:
 
Both hailed as the saviour after a Taman regime
Both abrasive and elusive with the media
Both inexperienced in personnel management
Both in multiple job positions at the same time
Both known for their large egos.
Both given unconditional control of football ops
Kelly states in first presser " No one will handle the QBs but me"
Jones states in first presser " No one will handle the defence but me"
 
Are the Rider repeating history here?
 
If Jones states that everything will be handled internally, I will lose my ****.

Who do you like better as an interim HC, Hall or Lapo? I find it amusing that people never even so much as mentioned that Hall may be a HC in waiting when he signed with us last year, but when we hire Lapo there is some sinister plot to move him up to HC first chance we get.
 
Fact of the matter, all conspiracy theories aside, is that we have a much improved OC that also has HCing experience and can no doubt offer some great insight to O'Shea.
 
O'Shea/Hall/Lapolice is light years better than O'Shea/Etch/Bellfool

Prediction:
 
3 years (or less) from now Chris Jones will become the most hated man in Riders history when he jumps ship to another team. Once a merc always a merc. Chris Jones doesn't love the teams he's employed by, Chris Jones loves Chris Jones. I have zero doubt that the Riders are not the last stop on his magical mystery tour.
I could see him jumping to US college as early as next year, and if not, I suspect small market Regina is not a big enough destination for him to call home for too long.
I think he will do good things while he is there, but first chance he gets he will be in Toronto, or Vancouver etc.

Did someone call for me?
 
I don't pile on do I? LOL.
 
Seriously though, I am about as neutral as one can get on this regime. My mind changes daily on whether we should fire them or not.

This is starting to have some eerie similarities to when we hired Mike Kelly, who btw, was an absolutely beloved hire before he flamed out miserably.
 
Similarities:
 
Both hailed as the saviour after a Taman regime
Both abrasive and elusive with the media
Both inexperienced in personnel management
Both in multiple job positions at the same time
Both known for their large egos.
Both given unconditional control of football ops
Kelly states in first presser " No one will handle the QBs but me"
Jones states in first presser " No one will handle the defence but me"
 
Are the Rider repeating history here?
 
If Jones states that everything will be handled internally, I will lose my ****.

May I be the first to say what we are all thinking, here's to Chris Jones falling flat on his face and be less successful than New Coke in Riderland.

Did someone call for me?
 
I don't pile on do I? LOL.
 
Seriously though, I am about as neutral as one can get on this regime. My mind changes daily on whether we should fire them or not.

I'm begrudgingly willing to give Walters one more year because I believe a GM and scouting unit needs that to fully implement their plan. However, I will say that I am disappointed in the progress we have seen so far. He better knock it outta the park this offseason. No more farting around. FIX IT.

Did someone call for me?
 
I don't pile on do I? LOL.
 
Seriously though, I am about as neutral as one can get on this regime. My mind changes daily on whether we should fire them or not.

Not to mention, no Paul Jones or Ed Hervey or a pretty much ready made team just in need of tweaking to take over. Success has followed Jones around but he has also had the benefit of coaching under some pretty darn good football coaches/GMs. He's pretty good at picking up and going to teams on the verge of winning. Saskatchewan will be an entirely different story, That team needs a rebuild from the top down. This will truly be his first test as both a GM and taking over a team hopelessly devoid of talent.

Not to mention, no Paul Jones or Ed Hervey or a pretty much ready made team just in need of tweaking to take over. Success has followed Jones around but he has also had the benefit of coaching under some pretty darn good football coaches/GMs. He's pretty good at picking up and going to teams on the verge of winning. Saskatchewan will be an entirely different story, That team needs a rebuild from the top down. This will truly be his first test as both a GM and taking over a team hopelessly devoid of talent.

Top rated by who Mark? Certainly not his last two employers. I think there are better candidates out there and they won't cost us a shot at Harris.

I don't want Chaps either. He is Marcel v2.0 imo. His offences only have a chance if there is an all star calibre OL.

I don't want Chaps either. He is Marcel v2.0 imo. His offences only have a chance if there is an all star calibre OL.

At this point, I think this is getting blown out of proportion by the media. I don't think this realistically has the legs they are trying to give it. I would think the likelihood of Jones going to the Riders is slim. It would be insane for the Esks to let him go....and they don't have too.

TBurg, you say you would endorse a Huf or Murphy/Murphy's choice HC...yet all I can envision after about a month are posts berating the Bombers for hiring someone old and declining (Hufnagel) or too inexperienced and their lousy choice of HC (Murphy). I don't realistically believe there is a candidate that exists that would keep you from dumping on the Bombers.

I don't see any problem with attending a football game and socializing at the same time. Can be done you know. Our new stadium has a nice set up allowing people to still be able to catch the on-field action and socialize at the Rum Hut etc. A play takes 5 seconds and then there is almost a minute between for the next one. Socialize and watch football at the same time. Not really a problem.

In 2011 we sold out just about every home game and we weren't even that great a team. Put a winner on the field and we won't even be discussing attendance as a potential issue. Not sure where people are so concerned. This past few years might have been the worst stretch of football in Winnipeg since Jeff Reinbold was in town and we still had good attendance. Sheesh...the doomsayers are out in full force.

In 2011 we sold out just about every home game and we weren't even that great a team. Put a winner on the field and we won't even be discussing attendance as a potential issue. Not sure where people are so concerned. This past few years might have been the worst stretch of football in Winnipeg since Jeff Reinbold was in town and we still had good attendance. Sheesh...the doomsayers are out in full force.