Argos James Wilder Jr issues statement that he won't be playing in 2018

[OV Argo]

In fact Wilder played a lot of ST in the NFL, and he came up here because he believed he was being typecast as a ST player.

Correct me if I'm wrong - but Wilder never played in the NFL - except for in exhibition games.

He did show flashes of great form last year - big, powerful back with speed who broke some big gainers; and that catch in the East Final helped the Argos get to the Grail. He also had some average to mediocre games, and he had 9 carries for 14 yards (1.4 average) in the GC game.

When he puts in a full season and leads the league in rushing, or maintains that gaudy 7 per/carry type average over a full season - THEN - he can come back and talk all he wants - and after that type of season, after finishing the 2nd year of the contract he signed - he would have been in for a big CFL raise and pay-day. I wouldn't take him back now after that whining in public. Go ahead and play in the NFL there superstar - they wouldn't give you a job & pay-cheque like the Argos did last year.

Veteran player agent Darren Gill has commented there are lots of football players begging to get a shot to play in the CFL. There are other good RBs out there - no, not easy to find and that "dime a dozen" thinking is nonsense IMO; but the Argos could find a very capable RB - maybe one better who plays a full season with great stats, and was not an NFL name via his dad or an over-hyped NCAA all-american hero. See Gill Fenerty or Mike Jenkins. The Argos could also think of drafting Western's CIS all-star RB Alex Taylor - my guess is he would be proud to get a CFL shot and not be whining for a bigger contract or an out to go to the NFL after one year in the CFL.

[Rich]

Correct me if I'm wrong - but Wilder never played in the NFL - except for in exhibition games.

He definitely played on specials with the Bills and was noticed for it, but he never touched the ball when he was there.

[AngeloV]

He definitely played on specials with the Bills and was noticed for it, but he never touched the ball when he was there.

He has never dressed for a regular season NFL game. All his playing time with both Buffalo and Cincy were pre-season.

[gilthethrill]

He has never dressed for a regular season NFL game. All his playing time with both Buffalo and Cincy were pre-season.

Hence why he was eligible to win CFL ROY.

[Rich]

He has never dressed for a regular season NFL game. All his playing time with both Buffalo and Cincy were pre-season.

OK, fair enough, the point I was trying to make was that the NFL people knew Wilder was a good special teams player. From a Bills article from 2016:

“I’ve been impressed by James Wilder” (Bills Head Coach Rex) Ryan said when asked about who has stepped up in the absence of Karlos Williams. “But the other thing is he’s actually a very good special teams player. That’s something that jumped out to our scouts and obviously that was what was told to me, so I’m excited to see him when we really starting scrimmaging and things like that, (see) how he does.”