Marcus Ball Released by 49ers

[Argo]

It's pretty hard to find a downside of landing a popular player with CFL experience. He has 15 games experience playing at the highest level in 2016. Most of the previous three years he earned $6,900 per week. He'd likely make more in Canada. He was considered a very good teammate and at past Argofan Corn Roasts, came across humble and approachable. He has a young family and am pretty sure he'd like a few more earning years before retirement.

Trestman / Popp may look good to MB, and if his expectations are reasonable he may like the thought of trying to resume his career here (and if he signs and works out, great, if not c'est la vie).

[1971GreyCup]

I'm not sure signing Marcus Ball to a "fat" contract would be a horrible thing. 60,000 people in Toronto watched him play a heck of a Grey Cup game in 2012 and he played much of last year for the 49ers. JB would always play the player who was one step faster, but does that bring in butts in the seats. Popp understands media exposure all the way back to the Stallions who were a very successful CFL franchise. How tough would that job have been in Baltimore?

Blow up the salary cap in year one and get back to relevance here. Is that a crazy idea?

[Mulder]

I'm not sure signing Marcus Ball to a "fat" contract would be a horrible thing. 60,000 people in Toronto watched him play a heck of a Grey Cup game in 2012 and he played much of last year for the 49ers. JB would always play the player who was one step faster, but does that bring in butts in the seats. Popp understands media exposure all the way back to the Stallions who were a very successful CFL franchise. How tough would that job have been in Baltimore?

Blow up the salary cap in year one and get back to relevance here. Is that a crazy idea?

Only 7,000 off on that one. Besides, the 100th Grey Cup and sold out in June, before Marcus Ball played his first regular season game in the CFL. I'm sure purely his signing lead to the completely sold out 100th Grey Cup, right?

[1971GreyCup]

Only 7,000 off on that one. Besides, the 100th Grey Cup and sold out in June, before Marcus Ball played his first regular season game in the CFL. I'm sure purely his signing lead to the completely sold out 100th Grey Cup, right?

Very constructive input. Thanks!

What's that saying, if you're not part of the solution.....?

This is another example how special the Argos fans are.

[Mulder]

Very constructive input. Thanks!

What's that saying, if you're not part of the solution.....?

This is another example how special the Argos fans are.

Dumb comment deserves a sarcastic response. At least mine was factual.

Hopefully you included yourself in that "special Argo Fans" group.

[1971GreyCup]

Dumb comment deserves a sarcastic response. At least mine was factual.

Hopefully you included yourself in that "special Argo Fans" group.

Absolutely, let's squash all "out of the box" ideas. Make sure everyone who provides input is put in their place. Let's stick to the status quo. Next year we'll look back fondly at the time we still had 3,500 STHs.

Whoever said "there are no stupid questions", what were they thinking?

[Will]

Are the 52,000 who attended the 100th really remembering Marcus Ball's performance or are they remembering Ricky Foley and Chad Kackert. The casual is likely remembering the latter players.

[1971GreyCup]

Maybe.

Ironically, both players above recently released. One for bonus purposes and one I had to dig to find out he was no longer on the roster. Ricky a local player and very popular out here in the East.

I'm not saying they shouldn't be released, but they were contributors on a big stage in front of 52,000 football ticket buyers.

[Mulder]

Absolutely, let's squash all "out of the box" ideas. Make sure everyone who provides input is put in their place. Let's stick to the status quo. Next year we'll look back fondly at the time we still had 3,500 STHs.

Whoever said "there are no stupid questions", what were they thinking?

You are advocating blowing up the team for 1 player who
a) Hasn't played in the CFL in a few years, who knows what impact he'd have.
b) Ball has been active in exactly 6 NFL games in the last two seasons
c) Would be a marginal marketable player at best. Certainly not drawing "60,000". Nor did he draw 60,000 to the 100th Grey Cup (Which you have also claimed).

The Argonauts have other areas of need, namely offense.

As for your "no stupid questions" comment, you phrased your original post on the topic as a statement.
Regardless, there is stupid ideas and "Blowing up the Salary Cap for a American Linebacker" certainly is one of them.
Bring him in and see if he can make an impact? Sure.
Thinking he is going to sell tickets? No. It won't move the needle in Toronto, it barely would anywhere else in the CFL.

[Will]

The troubles the Argos have are far greater than what one individual player will ultimately solve. Recall that this is the team that added Doug Flutie in 1996, went 30-6 in two seasons, kicked the shit of most teams and still couldn't draw above 20,000.

[paulwoods13]

IMO the problem with the notion of "blowing up the salary cap" for one year is that it represents yet another attempt at a quick fix. This team's history is full of quick fixes, from Anthony Davis to Terry Metcalf to Rocket Ismail to Tracy Ham to Kent Austin to Doug Flutie to Ricky Williams. Did any of them produce sustainable, long-term growth of the business and fanbase? What's needed here is a team that competes and is entertaining every year, not a team that flares up in popularity from time to time (e.g. 1991 and 2012) only to fall off the radar right after.

If we were going to blow up the salary cap, it would have to be for a guy or guys who would definitely sell a lot of tickets. Loved Marcus Ball when he played here, but he isn't even on the radar of hard-core NFL fans in this market.

[Jon Gonzo]

No one will be blowing up any salary cap for one Marcus Ball. I would love to have him, but he won't be getting huge bucks and he'd still have to make the team. Bring it on. He's a baller. Van Roten, Greg Jones, same deal. The more better ball players around, the better it is for all.

[Will]

No one will be blowing up any salary cap for one Marcus Ball. I would love to have him, but he won't be getting huge bucks and he'd still have to make the team. Bring it on. He's a baller. Van Roten, Greg Jones, same deal. The more better ball players around, the better it is for all.

I'd rather have Van Roten over Ball. Van Roten is versatile and I still have concerns with our offensive line.

[AngeloV]

Blowing up the salary cap is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. A team that goes over the salary cap one year has that much less to play with the following. Furthermore, all contracts need to get certified by the league before a team can actually use a player. This will not happen. But that's ok 71. Keep on ragging on the team.

[1971GreyCup]

Marcus Ball was an example folks. Writing a big cheque to Doug Flutie or Rocket Ismail didn't hurt the Argos. I'd rather that, than spending my time doing research trying to find tidbits on the Argos. Their media coverage has gone to pretty near zero. Saving money on salaries isn't very newsworthy.

TFC is spending $10 million a year on Giovonni. Putting in seats doesn't seem to be a problem in the City of Toronto for that marginal sports franchise..

[argolio]

Marcus Ball was an example folks. Writing a big cheque to Doug Flutie or Rocket Ismail didn't hurt the Argos. I'd rather that, than spending my time doing research trying to find tidbits on the Argos. Their media coverage has gone to pretty near zero. Saving money on salaries isn't very newsworthy.

TFC is spending $10 million a year on Giovonni. Putting in seats doesn't seem to be a problem in the City of Toronto for that marginal sports franchise..

As I understand it, CFL teams aren't allowed to have "marquee players" anymore. Every player must fit under the cap. Even if it was allowed, I can't imagine a team doing it for someone other than a skill-position player.

Frankly, I don't see how the MLS can sustain their policy of three marquee players per team. Their TV contract is minimal and their ratings are poor. Unless the league has a really rich guy(s) funding it all, it sounds like a Ponzi scheme.

[ArgoGabe22]

As I understand it, CFL teams aren't allowed to have "marquee players" anymore. Every player must fit under the cap. Even if it was allowed, I can't imagine a team doing it for someone other than a skill-position player.

Frankly, I don't see how the MLS can sustain their policy of three marquee players per team. Their TV contract is minimal and their ratings are poor. Unless the league has a really rich guy(s) funding it all, it sounds like a Ponzi scheme.

Last I read, TFC isn't even making any money. But they do have rich owners.

Toronto FC is still losing $9 million a year, according to Forbes’ operating income estimates for 2015.

President Manning wouldn’t speak to that number specifically, but did acknowledge the club made some large investments in players — strikers Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore and midfielder Michael Bradley are three of the highest paid athletes in the league — and BMO Field recently.

“I believe that all those investments are actually going to pay off as our business and revenues are growing,” he said. “That’s how the organization is looking at it.”

[1971GreyCup]

Last I read, TFC isn't making any money.

Neither is Amazon for that matter.

[Wobbler]

Haven't we already acquired a high profile player this year? I suspect that more people have heard of SJ Green than Marcus Ball. And if bringing back a previous hero is worth anything to marketing, we already did that too, with Cleyon Laing.

[argolio]

Neither is Amazon for that matter.

Amazon just turned a profit for the eighth straight quarter
https://www.recode.net/2017/4/27/154...ash-flow-chart