The time John Candy tried to bring 49ers' Joe Montana to Canada

[Will]

http://www.mercurynews.com/49ers/ci_...rs-joe-montana

I believe that this may have been talked about a little bit in the Toronto Star at the time. Montana missed the 1991 season because of injuries and served as a back-up to Steve Young in 1992. I believe that Mark Rypien (being a Canadian) was also discussed. I'm going to try to find the article from the Star archives that discussed the possibility of both coming to the Argos (they were separate rumors).

In the article about Dunigan signing with Winnipeg on May 7, 1992 the Star says that there "is the possibility that the Argos will now pursue Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien with greater intensity." This would have been immediately after the Redskins beat the Bills in the Super Bowl. The Star also had an article on May 22, 1992 stating that Rypien was to meet with the Argos. It seems that this flirtation lasted throughout the season as Rick Matsumoto states on November 6, 1992 that Rickey Foggie's struggles likely weren't helped by this flirtation.

Now to try to find something from that time connecting Montana and the Argos. I'm pretty sure I remember reading it at some point.

[Ron]

As I recall the Montana stuff gained no traction but the Rypien stuff got a lot of attention.

[argonaut11xx]

Mark Rypien is about as "Canadian" as Ted Cruz

[paulwoods13]

Rypien was at SkyDome for an early-season game in which Rickey Foggie led the Argos to a huge win (62-10, I think) over Sask. His presence didn't affect Foggie that night but I bet it didn't help, either. It's a storyline I intend to pursue in a future book.

[argonaut11xx]

I dont think Mark Rypien would have been a successful CFL QB , he would have been the second coming of Dan Manucci

[AngeloV]

I dont think Mark Rypien would have been a successful CFL QB , he would have been the second coming of Dan Manucci

Except unlike Manucci, Rypien had success in the NFL.

[argonaut11xx]

Except unlike Manucci, Rypien had success in the NFL.

Point well taken, but i also think that Dan Marino would have been a terrible CFL QB

[AngeloV]

Point well taken, but i also think that Dan Marino would have been a terrible CFL QB

Well I have no way of proving otherwise, but with his quick release (quickest I have ever seen) I respectfully disagree. I'm sure everyone thought David Archer would have been terrible too, but he put up some pretty good numbers.

[OV Argo]

Well I have no way of proving otherwise, but with his quick release (quickest I have ever seen) I respectfully disagree. I'm sure everyone thought David Archer would have been terrible too, but he put up some pretty good numbers.

Archer could scramble a bit plus had some NFL experience, and came into the CFL on an established team - Sacramento had been a successful team in the old WLAF or what-ever the ***& it was called. I thought he looked good in the CFL right away ( i was at the first ever American team in the CFL regular season game at Lansdowne and the Gold Miners almost beat the mostly sad sack Ottawa Rough Riders of those days)

And IMO - the great pure passing / pocket QBs of all time - guys like Marino or Manning - would do just fine to great in any football league - NFL, CFL, touch, lingerie football, etc. They might not be as suited for the CFL as mobile, scrambling QBs like Flutie or Dunigan, but the notion that a Marino would struggle in the CFL is laughable to me - guy had a great arm and was smart, and the CFL is a passing league. If an immobile under 6' guy like McManus could do well in the CFL with a good arm, a 6-5 Marino with a better arm would have no problem. Rypien was not even close to Marino's class though, but he had a strong arm and was similarly big and immobile. - i think he could have done fine in a good passing CFL offence.

[Rocket]

I remember the 1992 home opener when the Argos played the b.c.lions and Mark rypien was at the sideline behind the Argo bench. Ricky foggie led the Argos that night to a 61-20 win that night I remember rocket Ishmail scroring a touchdown and coming afterwards to mark rypien to embrace each other. After the game I remember there was a crowd of reporters from all over the place asking Ricky foggie about what he thought on Mark rypien being there and he kept on saying no comment like a thousand times in a 5 min period.

[Will]

I can appreciate that Marino had a quick release, he also had an excellent offensive line in Miami, which was also very good when Dave Woodley was the starter in 1981-1982 just prior to Marino being drafted. Marino wasn't a scrambler, but could be elusive in the pocket. Put him behind a rock solid offensive line and I'd be fascinated to see what Marino could do in the CFL.

What are people's opinions about Joe Montana playing in the CFL? He definitely had the smarts, but I'm not sure how well suited his arm strength would have been for the league. Enough people complain about Ray and Harris' tendency to check down. Well, Montana loved to use Roger Craig and Tom Rathman out of the backfield.

[OV Argo]

I can appreciate that Marino had a quick release, he also had an excellent offensive line in Miami, which was also very good when Dave Woodley was the starter in 1981-1982 just prior to Marino being drafted. Marino wasn't a scrambler, but could be elusive in the pocket. Put him behind a rock solid offensive line and I'd be fascinated to see what Marino could do in the CFL.

What are people's opinions about Joe Montana playing in the CFL? He definitely had the smarts, but I'm not sure how well suited his arm strength would have been for the league. Enough people complain about Ray and Harris' tendency to check down. Well, Montana loved to use Roger Craig and Tom Rathman out of the backfield.

You seriously have some doubts about wether Joe Montana would have been good in the CFL ??? - wow - cause IMO he is maybe the all-time greatest NFL QB - smart with great vision & reads, super accurate passing arm (never heard his arm strength questioned by NFL fans, though he maybe didn't have a rocket for an arm like some QBs), plus he was mobile and just plain won = he would have been an all-time great CFL QB talent if he played up here - IMO.

[AngeloV]

Archer could scramble a bit plus had some NFL experience, and came into the CFL on an established team - Sacramento had been a successful team in the old WLAF or what-ever the ***& it was called. I thought he looked good in the CFL right away ( i was at the first ever American team in the CFL regular season game at Lansdowne and the Gold Miners almost beat the mostly sad sack Ottawa Rough Riders of those days)

And IMO - the great pure passing / pocket QBs of all time - guys like Marino or Manning - would do just fine to great in any football league - NFL, CFL, touch, lingerie football, etc. They might not be as suited for the CFL as mobile, scrambling QBs like Flutie or Dunigan, but the notion that a Marino would struggle in the CFL is laughable to me - guy had a great arm and was smart, and the CFL is a passing league. If an immobile under 6' guy like McManus could do well in the CFL with a good arm, a 6-5 Marino with a better arm would have no problem. Rypien was not even close to Marino's class though, but he had a strong arm and was similarly big and immobile. - i think he could have done fine in a good passing CFL offence.

OV, we are in 100% agreement here.

[AngeloV]

I can appreciate that Marino had a quick release, he also had an excellent offensive line in Miami, which was also very good when Dave Woodley was the starter in 1981-1982 just prior to Marino being drafted. Marino wasn't a scrambler, but could be elusive in the pocket. Put him behind a rock solid offensive line and I'd be fascinated to see what Marino could do in the CFL.

What are people's opinions about Joe Montana playing in the CFL? He definitely had the smarts, but I'm not sure how well suited his arm strength would have been for the league. Enough people complain about Ray and Harris' tendency to check down. Well, Montana loved to use Roger Craig and Tom Rathman out of the backfield.

Montana could have played in any league.

[jerrym]

As I recall the Montana stuff gained no traction but the Rypien stuff got a lot of attention.

That's the way I remember it to. As to their level of success in the CFL, I think Montana's combination of street smart football and passing skills would have made him lights out. However, I have my doubts about Rypien having a high level of success.

[AngeloV]

That's the way I remember it to. As to their level of success in the CFL, I think Montana's combination of street smart football and passing skills would have made him lights out. However, I have my doubts about Rypien having a high level of success.

Can't disagree there.

[Stevoman]

Yeah, I remember Rypien being interviewed and CBC all thought he was coming the CFL for sure because Rypien said "I'm going to lose 20lbs out there!" Hadn't known about the Montana rumour though, that was a fun read.

[argos1873]

While I have no doubt about Montana's greatness, and the possibilities of his abilities in the CFL, I will still put it in the situation of we'll never know. To say he would have ripped the league apart may be true, but stranger things have happened. I think his replacement in San Fran would have been a better fit. But who knows, a whole bunch of stuff has to come together for some players to have success in the CFL, and not all of it is pure talent. Maybe having to spend time in crappy dressing rooms is enough for a star player to not really care enough to put up his best effort. It wouldn't be the first time.

[ArgoRavi]

I don't recall much being said about Montana coming to the Argos in the early 1990s but I do remember seeing some reports in the late 1970s that suggested that he would be heading to Canada as he wasn't considered a great NFL prospect at that time.

[argolio]

I don't recall much being said about Montana coming to the Argos in the early 1990s.

I don't remember any talk at all.