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

[Stevoman]

The other thing that sucks about this is the constant turnover on a CFL roster. Hard to get excited about any player if they are only around for a year or two.

[AngeloV]

If he chooses not to play, I wish him all the best. He is a good person and has the right to do what's best for him and his family.

[Antwon]

I'm not totally surprised by this. After his huge breakout I found it hard to believe he'd come back for the league minimum. This is tough on both sides. His NFL opportunities were all dried up when he signed with the Argos. He obviously benefitted greatly from the coaches and players.
So he should live up to the contract as he'd still be out of football without the Argos.
That being said, the league minimum is just too low. So I understand his point.
From the Argos side, they may have offered more money for this year. But it may have required an extension, or maybe not. More money from the Argos would still be nothing compared to NFL, so Wilder may have already decided he wasn't coming back.

Turnover is bad enough and I don't want to go back to the Barker way of signing players with the handshake they'll be released after one year if NFL opportunities arise.

Not sure how this turns out but I also have faith in Popp and everyone to find another gem of a running back.

[jerrym]

I understand both sides but if the Argos did give in to a public ultimatum and released him or paid him more, they would be more likely to face the same threat from others in the future. Too bad it could not have been settled in some manner behind the scenes.

[Rich]

I understand both sides but if the Argos did give in to a public ultimatum and released him or paid him more, they would be more likely to face the same threat from others in the future.

This is an exceptional case. They could make it clear the only time they will renegotiate an entry-level contract is if the player wins an individual league award.

I hope we give Wilder whatever he wants to come back and play in 2018. Even if it's only for one season, this guy is a thrill to watch and cheer for. But surely he realizes that another big CFL season will lead to a much better NFL offer in 2019 than he would get if he sits out 2018.

[gilthethrill]

Seems like only a couple weeks ago JWJ was proclaiming at 1,000 1,000 season for 2018. I feel this will work out well in the end for both the Argos and Wilder.

[argolio]

It's January. I'm not worried.

[ArgoRavi]

It's January. I'm not worried.

Agreed. The two sides will ultimately agree to split this down the middle meaning that Wilder will get a sizable raise for 2018 but be a free agent following the season.

[paulwoods13]

Agreed. The two sides will ultimately agree to split this down the middle meaning that Wilder will get a sizable raise for 2018 but be a free agent following the season.

Why do that? If you're providing a big raise when you don't have to, shouldn't you get something back, like a commitment not to leave as soon as possible? I grant that Wilder brings value on the field, but it's not as if he's irreplaceable. I think Popp's stance should be -- we'll give you a big raise, IF you commit for two years, not one.

[Jon Gonzo]

Agreed. The two sides will ultimately agree to split this down the middle meaning that Wilder will get a sizable raise for 2018 but be a free agent following the season.

This is my gut feeling also.

I don't see this as a black and white/as it's written kind of issue.

There are exceptional considerations, and exceptionally considerate and thoughtful people like Jim Popp usually make them; because they make sense.

I see compromise as the first good chance to get JWJ back with a shot at 1,000+1,000 next season. Then he can go on and make - at least - $400,000 for a couple of years in the NFL, and possibly a lot more. Both are positives in my book.

Compromise, in certain circumstances, doesn't have to mean the flood gates crumble.

[AngeloV]

Agreed. The two sides will ultimately agree to split this down the middle meaning that Wilder will get a sizable raise for 2018 but be a free agent following the season.

Perhaps an extension, with a signing bonus for this year, and an out to shop his services to the NFL for '19. That sounds like a great compromise.

[Wobbler]

- Wilder is underpaid and I sympathize with his reluctance to injure his brain (etc.) without appropriate compensation
- The team needs to underpay players when it can, so it can afford to overpay players who have bargaining power
- A high profile holdout brings press attention, which helps the team
- The idea that we can easily replace Wilder is... unrealistic (note that I didn't say laughable)

[rdavies]

- Wilder is underpaid and I sympathize with his reluctance to injure his brain (etc.) without appropriate compensation
- The idea that we can easily replace Wilder is... unrealistic

It's his career choice, same as the similar low rookie salaries at TFC. And replacing him is totally realistic, if not likely, especially with a talent birddog like Popp. The American football factories put out tons of good players and for a myriad of reasons some fall through the cracks.

[paulwoods13]

If you give in to Wilder, why wouldn't you be expected to give in to every other player making $56k, or whatever? Teams have to play within the cap, and should not be handing out money at the point of a gun. If Wilder wants to sit, he can sit. If he really expects to sit out this year and still end up with an NFL deal in 2019, he might be in for some disappointment.

As for the NFL, are we to infer that the agreement between the leagues to honour one another's contracts does not also prohibit tampering with players under contract?

[rdavies]

Paul, I think you are reading this correctly. This guy want to negotiate at the point of a gun, Argos have to walk away from him. Same with Johnny Football, he wants everything before he's proven anything. At least JWJ had half a year, but still not enough in my books. Maybe he thinks his name value will get him somewhere except that didn't work before.

[ArgoGabe22]

Just release him and let him try the NFL. If he makes it, good for him. If exhausts his NFL opportunities, he should come back fully committed to the CFL. He said he wanted to use the CFL to get back to the NFL, which every player wants at the start but if he changes that mindset after no real NFL shot, he can become a star in the CFL.

[R.J]

By the sound of it, it seems as though Wilder is far more concerned about taking another NFL shot, than he is about getting more money from the Argonauts. So, the team should move on and let him go, RB's are a dime a dozen, and I highly doubt Wilder's running style will work long term in the NFL or CFL.

[Antwon]

By the sound of it, it seems as though Wilder is far more concerned about taking another NFL shot, than he is about getting more money from the Argonauts. So, the team should move on and let him go, RB's are a dime a dozen, and I highly doubt Wilder's running style will work long term in the NFL or CFL.

100% agree. It doesn't sound like Wilder even reached out to the Argos about more money. I think he's set on the NFL no matter what the Argos offer.

[Antwon]

And another thing! Zicarelli pointed this out but I also took note of it during the last few games of the season. As Wilder gained success the me first attitude started coming out. Anyone else note at the Grey Cup celebration he made a point of being right there beside the podium! Have to think some long time Argos/CFL players took note of that as well.

[jerrym]

What Popp saw in Wilder originally was, in addition to being possibly a top-notch first string RB, his potential to be a very good ST player, something the NFL teams had never checked out. So, even if he didn't make it as a RB in the NFL which I think is unlikely at least as a backup, NFL teams will now be looking at him as a ST player. Being right sometimes brings about other problems.