I think it is a little silly to just look at the end of last year and say we sucked last year and nothing changed.

I took a look at the first few depth charts and feel this team really has evolved.

- labbe started the year as mlb and was replaced by muamba

- douglas was hurt and his spot was taken by tamorina. Now he's healthy and lost his job to boatman

- collier was a starting dt who was replaced by gilmore

- Garrett and simpson were hurt so we played Dorzon. Now Garret is healthy and waiting in the wings behind simpson and ford.

- kowalzchuck was a starting center and lost his job to sorenson who will start this year as center

- last year sam was a revolving door and hopefully this year will be locked down by sears after he's healthy

- watson started the year hurt. this year its poblah but Etienne was actually pushing work work in tc.

lost of changes from our brutal start last year.

We missed the boat on a few game changers , but I don't think it would of really mattered.

Kindly name them.

Anyone think that Cauchy would of signed here if his bro wasn't playing for us.

    So what? Does that mean he doesn't count? Immaterial either way, Henoc does play for us, and Cauchy has signed with    

    us. Moot point.

Nobody wanted Pierce...

    But we needed him, so we went out and got him. Does he also not count as a FA signing? And who knows what sort of

    offers he got. Do you think we should have stood pat with Jyles?

Boatman was a cast off....

    And here he is a year later, actually in game shape starting at RT. Does he have no value?

Sorenson same as above...

    Starting at C for us. Am I totally missing your point here? One of us is out to lunch.

Bowman signed with Hamilton because our offer was based on his health.....

    And there he sits on their 9 game IR, with nobody entirely sure if he'll be his same old self when he finally heals.

I can't think of one desired free agent we have signed in years....

    Excepting for Cauchy, Pierce and Palardy. And all our own FA's we didn't lose.

We missed the boat on a few game changers , but I don't think it would of really mattered.

    Do tell. I wanted Picard and Muamba, 1 out of 2 ain't bad. Who did you want?

Our poor signings have been in the coaching area...

    Even this I must disagree on. Dickenson and Burke were both highly touted coordinators, at the time they were signed to

    our team they were arguably the best in their role. Burke with 3 (eventually 4) consecutive GC appearances as a

    coordinator. What a slouch.

With respect, I disagree.

Because they have had as many busts as successes, so excuse me if I don't blindly put my trust in them.

I disagree with this statement, please provide proof...

Anyone think that Cauchy would of signed here if his bro wasn't playing for us.

That was a factor but do you think if Toronto or Hamilton had offered the same or more money that he would have turned down playing closer to home.

So...maybe you should've specified which ones you thought were viable options.

 

Then people don't have to assume you want Tristan Black as a starting LB, for example.

 

Smart Alec.

 

Nothing changed, no veteran free agents were signed, doesn't matter who, when, where or what.

 

The simple fact that none were signed is proof that nothing has changed.

 

Sorry if the gang is too slow to get it, it's not my problem.

Smart Alec.

 

Nothing changed, no veteran free agents were signed, doesn't matter who, when, where or what.

 

The simple fact that none were signed is proof that nothing has changed.

 

Sorry if the gang is too slow to get it, it's not my problem.

 

I know he's a 'running joke'... but I actually would take Tristan Black over Labbe.

Smart Alec.

 

Nothing changed, no veteran free agents were signed, doesn't matter who, when, where or what.

 

The simple fact that none were signed is proof that nothing has changed.

 

Sorry if the gang is too slow to get it, it's not my problem.

From your book "how to win friends and influence people"?

Your opinion might be right. Or wrong. Who gets to decide?

From your book "how to win friends and influence people"?

Your opinion might be right. Or wrong. Who gets to decide?

 

At least you are now asking the right question.....thank you.

 

If there is evidence to contradict my opinion, then I would gladly admit I am wrong.

This is a legitimate debate that always gets hijacked...

 

Mack has never been against free agents, he just is ultra-conservative.  He went after or sniffed around Gauthier, Picard, Van Zeyl and a few others - he just balks at the final price tag and backs off.  Same thing happened with Reilly because whatever anyone wants to believe, if Mack offer some substantial picks for Reilly and the chance to start, Reilly is not turning around and going to Edmonton just because he has buddies there.  But, I digress.

 

People weren't calling for half a dozen free agents over the years...  Just some depth guys, a vet to compete in camp, an OL, etc.  There were decent guys available, we all know this.  Its just not Mack's style.

 

I liked this year's signings - Muamba and Dewit - but again, Dewit's back injury and cutting Logan before TC kind of soured it for me.

 

The unfortunate part is that I believe Mack now has a reputation with other GMs and agents of being a 'non-player' in trade and free agent talks...  just my feeling, but even if he wants to change now, its probably too late.

At least you are now asking the right question.....thank you.

 

If there is evidence to contradict my opinion, then I would gladly admit I am wrong.

 

Maybe an even better question is: would change for the sake of change have yielded better results? I'm also still unclear on who you think should have been signed, fired, hired - anything representing the change you believing is missing. That's all.

 

Smart Alec.

 

Nothing changed, no veteran free agents were signed, doesn't matter who, when, where or what.

 

The simple fact that none were signed is proof that nothing has changed.

 

Sorry if the gang is too slow to get it, it's not my problem.

 

Your problem is that you have an opinion, but can't back it up with evidence.

This is a legitimate debate that always gets hijacked...

 

Mack has never been against free agents, he just is ultra-conservative.  He went after or sniffed around Gauthier, Picard, Van Zeyl and a few others - he just balks at the final price tag and backs off.  Same thing happened with Reilly because whatever anyone wants to believe, if Mack offer some substantial picks for Reilly and the chance to start, Reilly is not turning around and going to Edmonton just because he has buddies there.  But, I digress.

 

People weren't calling for half a dozen free agents over the years...  Just some depth guys, a vet to compete in camp, an OL, etc.  There were decent guys available, we all know this.  Its just not Mack's style.

 

I liked this year's signings - Muamba and Dewit - but again, Dewit's back injury and cutting Logan before TC kind of soured it for me.

 

The unfortunate part is that I believe Mack now has a reputation with other GMs and agents of being a 'non-player' in trade and free agent talks...  just my feeling, but even if he wants to change now, its probably too late.

 

Great post, and I agree, it's not that he doesn't 'kick the tires' we know he does, just at the end of the day it's the same old, same old, close but no cigar.

 

I also agree that Mack is the 'outsider' when it comes to GM's in the league, not his fault really, just that he had been awol for 25 years and most of the old guard he came up with are out of the league now.