I think that Rhodes made a good move here. I think that a major reason why attendance has been stagnant, at best, in Edmonton is because Hervey restricted access to players to the media and, ultimately, the fans. The biggest problem with this move though is the timing which is far worse than what happened with the Argos.
Cameron Dukes + Dan Adeboboye + Kevin Mital + David Ungerer + Damonte Coxie + DaVaris Daniels + Dejon Brissett = Unstoppable Force
That is true - most of his Canadian starters have been acquired via trade or were older vets.
It should be noted though - all five players Hervey drafted in 2015 are on their current roster - I don't think there is another CFL club that can say that - plus both OL Danny Groulx and David Beard are very close to being starters after two years of backing up.
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Mr. Ed took a big gamble with his 1st & 2nd round picks in last year's draft - receiver Tevaun Smith & DB Arjen Colquhon - who were both on NFL radar and continue to hang around down there for this season (far as I know?); then, he had traded away both his 3rd & 4th round picks = so - the end result was zip/nadda NI additions to the Esks' roster last year via the 1st 4 rounds of the draft = not good at all. Might be OK if you have plenty of NI talent - both quality and depth quantity - to begin with, but that was probably not the case - IMO.
At least they signed a top notch Canadian talent in Greenwood this off-season, but they let go their 2 former starter NI DTs (Steele & Don O) and starting receiver Nate Coehoorn just retired (they did sign Shawmad Chambers again after he did little with the Riders).
A new GM might do a much better job of addressing needs with draft picks who are going to show-up and be a fit. They might also get lucky if Smith & Colquhon get released from the NFL and decide to come north.
I hear what you are saying, but I think Ed's record speaks volumes - a Grey Cup and two division finals in the past three years. Sometimes your Canadian talent doesn't come through who YOU draft, but who you acquire by other means. Ed was a good GM and he was not fired because of his inability to run football ops. He did what the fans wanted.
...and yes, hopefully the new guy (whoever he is) can pick up the pieces and hit the ground running. It was a poor time of year to let go of the GM.
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