Argos release Raymond, avoid guaranteeing contract

[R.J]

http://3downnation.com/2016/08/25/ar...eing-contract/

Wow, wasn't expecting this at all.

[Will]

Isn't this what the Argos started doing in 2008 when it was evident that the season was going south?

[R.J]

My concern is who will play Sam ? I really hope it's not Isaac.

[paulwoods13]

Stunned about this, given his leadership skills. He has missed some plays this year -- should have three pick-sixes, not just one, and he's been run past by some receivers. But still, wow, especially with Greenwood still out.

[ArgoGabe22]

I thought we had owners with deep pockets. I don't think he wasn't underperforming so much that he needed to released or be asked to restructure his contract.

[PullTogether73]

Second leading tackler on the team and has two picks, and they don't want to guarantee him to the end of THIS YEAR?
Sigh.

[Wobbler]

I wonder if the Lemon signing pushed our budget a bit too far. Like everyone, I'm quite curious to see the new LB configuration.

[ArgoTD]

I'm surprised and disappointed by this most recent move. This is a team that desperately needs some veterans but they decide to cut the second leading tackler on the team and someone who is a leader in the room. They appear to be a team that is not only petty in their decision making but also a team in total disarray with no overall direction or plan in place. They are quickly becoming a team that is harder and harder to be excited about!

[ArgoGabe22]

Deja Vu (Cory Boyd)

[AngeloV]

Deja Vu (Cory Boyd)

hopefully, it has the same result, but I don't like the move at all. I would much rather Issaac have been released. The only thing I can think of is that they are planning to move Gordon to the LB group, perhaps meaning the return of Gabriel.

[doubleblue]

I thought Raymond was performing better than Issac, but was probably making a lot more money. Strange move on the surface. Must be something more coming. The old Argos would sign a big name Import to create excitement, but I don't think they can now under the Salary Cap System.
Bringing in Johnny Football would probably fill the place up a few times. lol

[paulwoods13]

I think it's likely that when/if Greenwood is healthy, he and McFadden will man two of the LB spots. I also think someone else (Gordon seems a good bet) would play ahead of Isaac, with Isaac possibly coming in for passing downs in a 3-4 config.

I assume Raymond's salary was pretty high. We do have deep-pocketed owners but we can't exceed the SMS and if a release like this is necessary to stay compliant and preserve draft picks, so be it. I liked the guy and felt he played pretty well most of the time, but if we have a younger, cheaper and potentially as-good-or-better guy to fill, may as well do it. As Obie always said, "Better is better," so mgmt "better" be right about this.

[Shipyard]

honestly he has played well, but was he a long term solution. he was a one or two year stopgap
not too many 33yr olds at nickle/sam in the league.

[1971GreyCup]

I think these types of decisions are best made at the beginning and end of the season. Raymond was a leader on defence, experienced and had some profile on a no name defence. I think that if there was a budgetary problem, I could find some cap room to eliminate on the d-line. I don't like the optics of this move. It sure will make veterans think twice about coming to the Double Blue in future.

[gilthethrill]

Could Raymond still be capable of playing HB, where we seem to struggle each year? Move him there if you don't like him at LB. Not a fan of this move at all.

[paulwoods13]

It sure will make veterans think twice about coming to the Double Blue in future.

Really? Because we are the only team that has ever released a vet just before Game 9? It happens fairly frequently in this league. I don't believe any veteran free agent would turn down a competitive offer from the Argos because they cut a guy a year or two earlier.

[R.J]

Could Raymond still be capable of playing HB, where we seem to struggle each year? Move him there if you don't like him at LB. Not a fan of this move at all.

Safety maybe, but too slow to play HB or CB at this point of his career. Hence, why Calgary moved him to sam a while ago.

[paulwoods13]

Could Raymond still be capable of playing HB, where we seem to struggle each year? Move him there if you don't like him at LB. Not a fan of this move at all.

IMO he is likely too slow to play HB. I've seen slotbacks run past him this season. He wasn't terrible but he wasn't great, either.

[1971GreyCup]

Paul, sorry for being a fan! You can leave the economics of the CFL off the sports pages. I have a full day of business and enjoy a few hours of my week watching sports. Barker constantly reminds me of the business side of sports.

Barker brought Raymond into the league and touted his signing in May. What has Barker learned in 8 games that he didn't know in May? Unwilling to pay a premium, ie. a whole season, for Raymond because he is a longstanding veteran. Short sighted! If signing Raymond was a mistake, the blame falls on Barker. Usually in business when you poorly allocate your capital, you go, not the capital.

Well, too bad the average CFL experience on his defences always seem to be less than one year. Raymond was an exception to this rule and he lasted 8 games with cap space the excuse.

Perhaps now we'll See a bunch of NFL cuts that will spend the rest of the season trying to figure out that they have to give one yard between offence and defence. In the meantime, the elite teams with consistent, veteran rosters will pull away from Toronto, with another lost season. I am sure fans are really going to come out in droves to watch this folly.

If that's the case, Barker and SM are gone before the Grey Cup.

[KCargosfan]

Interesting timing, and I can't help but wonder with NFL cuts coming up in 10 days.

Not really a fan of this move as Raymond still had gas left in the tank. Yeah, he wasn't what he was 4 years ago, but still an effective player.

If this was a money move, how much cash are we actually saving? Raymond likely wasn't making more than $120K (and that's probably high), so we're saving roughly $65K at the most.

I wonder after he clears waivers, if Calgary will re-sign him at something close to league minimum?