Collaros released and apparently signed with Hamilton

[Will]

We all knew the risks when he was released. As a free agent, I don't know what Barker could've done to prevent him from going to Hamilton.

[ArgoGabe22]

I thought a move to WPG was more likely. I'm still not sold on ZC and isn't HAM a pass heavy team that used LaFavour for the option? I don't see how HAM will do any better with Collaros, perhaps even worse. At least it'll make the rivalry more interesting. If he moved to TOR from HAM, he wouldn't hear the end of it from fans like O'Shea but with him leaving the Argos, no one will really care.

[matthew]

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=442555

Not the team I was expecting to get him. Do they really need 3 young qb's. Burris looking for work I'd say.

[AngeloV]

Although I hate to see ZC go...especially to the Cats, I think this bodes well for the Argos this season. Burris really did a number on the Argos in 2013 and IMO the main reason the Argos failed to go to the Grey Cup was that they had no answer for Burris. I believe Collaros has a very bright future in the league, but I don't think the Cats scare me as much with him as they do with Burris.

[Rich]

It takes a brave and visionary front office to replace a great but aging QB with a green but exceptional talent.

The Packers did it with Aaron Rodgers.

The Colts did it with Andrew Luck.

And now the TiCats have done it with Collaros.

Even though Henry Burris badly outplayed Ricky Ray in the EF and took his team to the Grey Cup, Kent Austin had the wisdom and the guts to know that it's better to have a long-term commitment to excellence than it is to have stop-gap short-term success. And the Cats may even suffer in comparison next season, just as the Colts would have been a better team with Manning at the helm this year. But brave and visionary GMs think about the future.

So tell me ArgoFans, who's got a better chance now to have great quarterbacking in 5 years time, the Argos or the TiCats? Any reasonable person will say Hamilton does. We had a chance here to build something long-term with a QB we've developed on our own. But, sadly, there's no guts or vision in the front office. After Ricky's gone, get ready for many more years of the CleoLemon/Cody Pickett-type revolving door at QB, while Hamilton now has a chance for a Calvillo-like run at QB.

I hope you're all happy now.

[Antwon]

I completely agree with you on Austin making the gutsy call with Collaros.
But disagree with the rest.
Who's to say the Argos don't have more talent on the depth chart. They seem to be more patient with the young guns.
So now it's up to Harris to show he's ready after 2 years.
Also if Collaros signed a 3 year deal and plays lights out...he'll want to try the NFL at that point.

[Rich]

Who's to say the Argos don't have more talent on the depth chart. They seem to be more patient with the young guns.
So now it's up to Harris to show he's ready after 2 years.

True, there's no way to predict the future, but at this point only a fool would say that Harris has more potential than Collaros.

[OV Argo]

True, there's no way to predict the future, but at this point only a fool would say that Harris has more potential than Collaros.

Wow - you sure are high on Collaros there Rich; I'd agree he has shown some very good talent in his CFL playing time (= less than a full season of starts), but I'm not ready to annoint him another Doug Flutie or Russ Jackson yet; we shall see after this year, and we'll see if he is even the clear-cut starter in Hamilton (IMO LeFevour could be as good or better and has CFL roster experience/some playing time too, plus was on an NFL roster before). I do agree with Hamilton/Austin in going out and signing this young gun and packing it in with old and iffy Blank Burris ("led" the Ticats to the GC my arse - more like a pathetic chump change game from both the Argo D and O in the 2nd half of the East final handed the Ticats that GC trip); the Ticats now have a trio of young QBs - 2 who have some CFL playing experience where they have looked quite good at times.

And why do you want to write off Harris? - he's looked good in some playing time but hasn't got the opportunity that Collaros has so far; he has as good or better a college ball resume IMO; we shall see on him too (though he may not play much or at all for a couple of seasons if Ray stays healthy); but I'd bet he will do quite OK if he gets thrust into game action as Collaros did.

[AngeloV]

It takes a brave and visionary front office to replace a great but aging QB with a green but exceptional talent.

The Packers did it with Aaron Rodgers.

The Colts did it with Andrew Luck.

And just like the Argos did with Ricky Foggie...on 2nd thought, nevermind.

[Ron]

And just like the Argos did with Ricky Foggie...on 2nd thought, nevermind.

LOL!!

And Foggie looked darned good in relief during those years before he got the starters job.

[argos1873]

LOL!!

And Foggie looked darned good in relief during those years before he got the starters job.

And who did Foggie replace to get that starting job? By replace I mean outplay. Who exactly?

[paulwoods13]

It takes a brave and visionary front office to replace a great but aging QB with a green but exceptional talent.

The Packers did it with Aaron Rodgers.

The Colts did it with Andrew Luck.

And now the TiCats have done it with Collaros.

So tell me ArgoFans, who's got a better chance now to have great quarterbacking in 5 years time, the Argos or the TiCats? Any reasonable person will say Hamilton does. We had a chance here to build something long-term with a QB we've developed on our own. But, sadly, there's no guts or vision in the front office. After Ricky's gone, get ready for many more years of the CleoLemon/Cody Pickett-type revolving door at QB, while Hamilton now has a chance for a Calvillo-like run at QB.

I hope you're all happy now.

So it's a given that ZC will be as good a replacement QB in the CFL as Rodgers and Luck are in the NFL? I think the jury's still out on that. He is talented, but only time will tell if he's closer to being the next Anthony Calvillo or the next Steven Jyles.

As for which team will have better quarterbacking in five years, I note that Collaros signed a three-year deal. He could be coming into free agency right around the time Ricky Ray is ready to retire or move into a mentoring role. If he's as great as you think he is, why would he reup with Hamilton before testing the free agent waters?

[Rich]

So it's a given that ZC will be as good a replacement QB in the CFL as Rodgers and Luck are in the NFL?

I never said that. I said their GMs faced a similar situation that Barker did. Those guys had no guarantees that Rodgers or Luck would pan out at all. But they took the chance and rolled the dice and dumped their great but aging QBs. That's where the courage comes into play.

[paulwoods13]

I never said that. I said their GMs faced a similar situation that Barker did. Those guys had no guarantees that Rodgers or Luck would pan out at all. But they took the chance and rolled the dice and dumped their great but aging QBs. That's where the courage comes into play.

Tillman also showed courage when he traded Ricky Ray for Steven Jyles. Peter Pocklington showed courage when he traded/sold a "diminishing asset" named Gretzky. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. I'm happy to have kept the proven commodity, still just 34 years old, over the unproven 25-year-old with great potential. If the latter turns out to be as good as he seems he might become, this decision might end up being a mistake. If the former keeps playing at his current level, it likely won't. And again, Collaros is locked into the Ticats for just three years, so if he's as great as you think he will be, we can go after him when his contract expires.

[ArgoRavi]

Although I hate to see ZC go...especially to the Cats, I think this bodes well for the Argos this season. Burris really did a number on the Argos in 2013 and IMO the main reason the Argos failed to go to the Grey Cup was that they had no answer for Burris. I believe Collaros has a very bright future in the league, but I don't think the Cats scare me as much with him as they do with Burris.

You make a good point, AV. Burris had some problems with inconsistency this past season but when he is on his game as he was in the East Final, he is as good as anyone.

[Argo57]

Although I hate to see ZC go...especially to the Cats, I think this bodes well for the Argos this season. Burris really did a number on the Argos in 2013 and IMO the main reason the Argos failed to go to the Grey Cup was that they had no answer for Burris. I believe Collaros has a very bright future in the league, but I don't think the Cats scare me as much with him as they do with Burris.

Not surprised at all with how this has all played out.
My sources are telling me that Collaros is in Hamilton having most of his teeth extracted for the upcoming press conference.

[AngeloV]

Not surprised at all with how this has all played out.
My sources are telling me that Collaros is in Hamilton having most of his teeth extracted for the upcoming press conference.

When will I learn to stop drinking my soft drink while reading some of these posts....there goes another keyboard.

Perhaps the greatest post ever!!!

[hugoagogo]

All three of the Argo QB's looked good under the offense you ran last year, so it will be interesting to see how well Zach does in a different environment. I like Collaros' style and think he has the potential to be a good one. I think from a development standpoint, he's better off in Hamilton versus Winnipeg.

[ArgoGabe22]

No one can predict the future so I won't go into the "Zach was the future" debate. I'll just sit back and watch the Colts win the Super Bowl on Sunday.

[Rich]

No one can predict the future so I won't go into the "Zach was the future" debate. I'll just sit back and watch the Colts win the Super Bowl on Sunday.

I understand some people are geared for instant gratification, and others prefer to plan for the future. But when it comes to Manning vs. Luck, talk to me in five years. And then the five years after that. Then we'll have a better idea if it was a good decision to dump Peyton.