NotoriousBIG Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 Oh boy... Farhan Lalji @FarhanLaljiTSN 3m This will not end well RT @DidierRDS Higgins's hiring is a slap in the face of Jim Popp who from what I'm told wasn't consulted #Als #CFL Had we known.... that is a very, very good GM that just might be available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Perfect Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 Oh boy... Farhan Lalji @FarhanLaljiTSN 3m This will not end well RT @DidierRDS Higgins's hiring is a slap in the face of Jim Popp who from what I'm told wasn't consulted #Als #CFL Had we known.... that is a very, very good GM that just might be available. With his NFL interest, Popp coming here as GM is just about as far fetched as the chances were of Dickenson coming here as head coach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Perfect Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 Farhan Lalji @FarhanLaljiTSN 2m Popp was prepared to do both jobs this year. #Als have been the #CFLs model franchise under Popp. Now it looks like a franchise from the 90s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Blue Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 I don't see the allure of Higgins. Firing Popp would be a huge mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floyd Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 Popp hired the staff to start the season last year... and is heading into the season with no exp at quarterback - not infallible anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbill2004 Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 This won't end well. My guess is Popp is done with the Als. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelownabomberfan Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 Not a bad hire by the Als. A lot of fans in Mont. think that Popps days are numbered. Could be gone sooner rather than later and some of them are not that disappointed. Popps job seeking in the NFL have finally caught up. With Higgins and his experience I really don't see the need for Popp, other than as a US scout. This must be sarcasm. One of the best GM's in the history of the league should be a US scout for a guy who has basically been blacklisted out of working in personnel and management? Yes it was sarcasm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Popp may have lucked out in having Calvillo as his QB for so many years, but under his command, the Alouettes were competitive almost every year. For the most part, he was very good at finding talent and hiring good coaches. There ought to be several GM/Assistant GM NFL positions coming up,and the CFL can't compete with NFL salaries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebusrankin Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Surprised they would risk alienating Popp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Popp may have lucked out in having Calvillo as his QB for so many years, but under his command, the Alouettes were competitive almost every year. For the most part, he was very good at finding talent and hiring good coaches. There ought to be several GM/Assistant GM NFL positions coming up,and the CFL can't compete with NFL salaries. I don't know if it was always luck, the Als have had great o lines and great depth for many years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2014/02/24/les-alouettes-embauchent-tom-higgins-contre-la-volonte-de-jim-popp Executive Alouettes ruled. Tom Higgins is not Jim Popp to be head coach of the team next season. Popp was not consulted in this decision, learned Le Journal de Montreal . It take the final year of his contract as general manager of the team in 2014. It goes without saying that it is unhealthy when head coach is hired without the approval of the Chief! It's a mess, especially after a disappointing season (8-10 record and elimination in the semifinals). Popp was called to replace Dan Hawkins, who was fired after only five games as head coach in July. The veteran leader, who has been with the team since his return to Montreal in 1996, was prepared to reoccupy the dual functions. Dispute over the contract period Popp however, does not want to engage with the team for a period of four years, as desired by the owner Bob Wetenhall. He would have preferred to sign a contract extension of two years, who wants to keep the doors open in case a job in the NFL would be offered. His name also circulates each winter in the rumors. This file has dragged on for two long months and a half. Popp remained on its positions and suspected that the owner had a plan B up his sleeve. No press conference The Alouettes have just issued a press release Monday afternoon to announce the new hiring Higgins. The latter will participate in a conference call Tuesday morning at 11:00. The team said in the statement that personal obligations and time constraints do not allow the holding of a formal press conference. You guessed that Popp will participate in the press conference on the phone since it is not he who committed Higgins. Bob Wetenhall and his son Andrew, as well as team president, Mark Weightman will be invited to deliver further comments on this job during the conference call. Plans are chambardés Popp had already chosen his successor as head coach of the Alouettes in 2015, the excellent defensive coordinator Christmas Thorpe. He also chose a new offensive coordinator and contacted other coaches, including francophones, for next season. Now, this responsibility to fill positions back to Higgins. An experienced man Who is he? Higgins led the Edmonton Eskimos from 2001 to 2004 and the Calgary Stampeders from 2005 to 2007. He won the Grey Cup in 2003, after losing in the final in 2002. However, it has never succeeded in bringing the Stampeders in the final. It should be noted that Montrealers Danny Maciocia worked with Higgins in Edmonton ... The future CEO? Higgins has contacts all over the league. He was director of arbitration in the Canadian Football League from 2008 to 2013. When he was at the helm of Eskimos from 2001 to 2004, Higgins also acted as CEO of the Alberta training. It leads us to believe that there may well be called upon to replace Popp at the end of the 2014 season, when the contract expires American. As head coach in the CFL, the 59-year-old posted a record of 72-53-1. Higgins was named head coach of the year in the CFL in 2003 and 2005, but has not led a team for seven years. He could hardly do worse than Hawkins ... "This news took me by surprise, commented Luc Brodeur-center Jourdain.J 'have however met Higgins few times in the past. He knows the league very well. It has already won the Grey Cup. This is a good communicator. There will be no gray areas as was the case last year, early in the season ... " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Sounds like Popp has been dropping hints that he wants new horizons, so he may be pushed before he jumps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zontar Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Mediocre move. A huge step down if it means Popp is forced out . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iso_55 Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Popp's always seems to be casting feelers south with NFL interest every year. Perhaps Wettenhal soured on him for that reason. He always seems to be looking like he's just biding time with the ALs until someone gives him a job. Even if it is the **** show in Cleveland as he'd take it. .Not saying Popp shouldn't be looking but I think after awhile an employer would tire of this every year. MAYBE.... just sayin' here.... (in speculation)... Maybe... Wettenhal feels that Popp only wants loyalty one way. The way it suits him best. I think there's always 2 sides to the story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17to85 Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Popp's always seems to be casting feelers south with NFL interest every year. Perhaps Wettenhal soured on him for that reason. He always seems to be looking like he's just biding time with the ALs until someone gives him a job. Even if it is the **** show in Cleveland as he'd take it. .Not saying Popp shouldn't be looking but I think after awhile an employer would tire of this every year. MAYBE.... just sayin' here.... (in speculation)... Maybe... Wettenhal feels that Popp only wants loyalty one way. The way it suits him best. I think there's always 2 sides to the story. I said the same thing to Noeller this afternoon, maybe Popp is more concerned with landing an NFL gig and Wettenhall is pushing him out. iso_55 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atomic Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 The future CEO? Higgins has contacts all over the league. He was director of arbitration in the Canadian Football League from 2008 to 2013. When he was at the helm of Eskimos from 2001 to 2004, Higgins also acted as CEO of the Alberta training. It leads us to believe that there may well be called upon to replace Popp at the end of the 2014 season, when the contract expires American. Well it doesn't get any clearer than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbill2004 Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 @PoppJim: Welcome to the Alouettes family Tom. Tomorrow is your day. Looking forward to working with you & putting a championship team on the field Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuvl Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Higgins also has the advantadge of knowing the cfl rule book by heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Dee Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Will there be a league review of this signing in the upcoming days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17to85 Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Higgins also has the advantadge of knowing the cfl rule book by heart. Are we really prepared to make that statement given some of the refereeing we've seen lately? SPuDS 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iso_55 Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 I can't wait for the first time a ref makes a call that Higgins doesn't like. How will he handle it on the sidelines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 http://www.cfl.ca/video/index/id/94789# Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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