Pinball Named As New GM

[Neely2005]

As per Argonauts Twitter and Facebook.

[Mightygoose]

I don't know what to make of this. He's the face of the franchise but what experience does he have building the football ops?

He will need to surround himself with good football people.

[lazycro]

Pinball is mighty good at surrounding himself with people, he's been around this organization forever

[Will]

John Murphy was named VP of Player Personnel and I suspect will be doing most of the grunt work.

[Foxhound]

Isn't the GM position a demotion for Mike Clemons? He was the President of the Argos in 2001-02, CEO in 2007-08 and the Vice-Chairman from 2008 to the present. Or will he be keeping the Vice-Chairman position as well?

[Antwon]

With all the respect I have for Michael Clemons, I see this as another potential mistake.
Pinball works tirelessly on his foundations and public speaking, and as an ambassador for the Argos. Is he giving all this up to be a full time GM?
He has not been working in football management. What recruitment ties does he have? Salary cap management? Salary negotiations?
Perhaps VP of the team might have been a better position.
This team needs a strong GM with a strong management background.

My guess is bringing in John Murphy is the important part. Perhaps Pinball is more to bring some attention to the team with Murphy taking over GM in a year or two.

[1971GreyCup]

Wow, when Bill Manning asked “Pinball” why he hasn’t been seriously involved with the Argos since 2009, he replied “he wasn’t asked.”
Wow.
It’s not like it’s been smooth sailing for this franchise. A lost decade and so much work to be done.

[Mightygoose]

With all the respect I have for Michael Clemons, I see this as another potential mistake.
Pinball works tirelessly on his foundations and public speaking, and as an ambassador for the Argos. Is he giving all this up to be a full time GM?
He has not been working in football management. What recruitment ties does he have? Salary cap management? Salary negotiations?
Perhaps VP of the team might have been a better position.
This team needs a strong GM with a strong management background.

My guess is bringing in John Murphy is the important part. Perhaps Pinball is more to bring some attention to the team with Murphy taking over GM in a year or two.

After digesting this, this is my line of thinking too.

Having Pinball involved gives instant credibility within this marketplace but having John Murphy along his side gives him experience to lean on and there's credibility within the football circles based on Hufnagel's endorsement to Manning.

Pinball: Face of the front office and by extension the franchise.
Murphy: The nuts and bolts of the front office.

Perhaps having them both in the organization already they can get around the cap and if it works out have them both groomed for other positions down the road. Pinball: Full time president, Murphy: GM

I'm now actually interested in attending on Friday to see how the players (and on some level the coaches) respond.

[Shatto]

Serious error. He should have been made CEO not GM Still leaves us with a part time president.

[gilthethrill]

Serious error. He should have been made CEO not GM Still leaves us with a part time president.

I thought the same thing when he turned from player into HC. He will surround himself with credible people and the team will go in the right direction.

[Fumble1971]

First glimmer of hope this lost season. Onward!

[Neely2005]

John Murphy was named VP of Player Personnel and I suspect will be doing most of the grunt work.

I watched the Press Conference on TSN.ca and Pinball said that John Murphy would be the Player Hawk and would also be doing player contracts.

[Neely2005]

With all the respect I have for Michael Clemons, I see this as another potential mistake.
Pinball works tirelessly on his foundations and public speaking, and as an ambassador for the Argos. Is he giving all this up to be a full time GM?
He has not been working in football management. What recruitment ties does he have? Salary cap management? Salary negotiations?
Perhaps VP of the team might have been a better position.
This team needs a strong GM with a strong management background.

My guess is bringing in John Murphy is the important part. Perhaps Pinball is more to bring some attention to the team with Murphy taking over GM in a year or two.

Who cares about the Luxury Tax. MLSE should just be like the Yankees and pay the penalties. The rest of the country already hates Toronto. May as well go all in!

[argotom]

With all the respect I have for Michael Clemons, I see this as another potential mistake.
Pinball works tirelessly on his foundations and public speaking, and as an ambassador for the Argos. Is he giving all this up to be a full time GM?
He has not been working in football management. What recruitment ties does he have? Salary cap management? Salary negotiations?
Perhaps VP of the team might have been a better position.
This team needs a strong GM with a strong management background.

My guess is bringing in John Murphy is the important part. Perhaps Pinball is more to bring some attention to the team with Murphy taking over GM in a year or two.

I see it somewhat different.
Just saw the press conference.
Pinball will be the face or GM with the final decisions on player personnel with Murphy as the Assistant GM.
Murphy will be responsible for scouting and negotiating player salaries.
No question how Pinball will be active in the FA to include a new QB, as he will be able to sell the team.
How can you not want to play for him.

[argotom]

Who cares about the Luxury Tax. MLSE should just be like the Yankees and pay the penalties. The rest of the country already hates Toronto. May as well go all in!

Agreed 100%.
Who cares about the salary cap, the owners can afford the penalties.
There was even a suggestion by Manning how they are still looking for a new permanent practice facility for the team which as we know is long overdo.

[Jon Gonzo]

Pinner is smart enough to surround himself with good people, who inevitably want to work with him. He motivates them by being a good person and they do their thing fueled with positive vibes.

He's not failed and I am not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, and doubt him.

He'll get a good coach and a good QB and if there is one person, on the face of the earth, to right this ship....it is this man.

Very glad to see him back, full time.

[Topshelf]

Love Pinball.
But this really looks like a desperate PR play.
Done more for media and team visibility, than from an on field perspective.
That said, when Pinball was coach he knew to delegate, perhaps he will build a team of people who can handle all the football stuff, while he is moreso the face of franchise for media and fans.

[R.J]

With all the respect I have for Michael Clemons, I see this as another potential mistake.
Pinball works tirelessly on his foundations and public speaking, and as an ambassador for the Argos. Is he giving all this up to be a full time GM?
He has not been working in football management. What recruitment ties does he have? Salary cap management? Salary negotiations?
Perhaps VP of the team might have been a better position.
This team needs a strong GM with a strong management background.

My guess is bringing in John Murphy is the important part. Perhaps Pinball is more to bring some attention to the team with Murphy taking over GM in a year or two.

This is similar to my thinking as well, but one thing I will say about Pinner is he knows who and what to surround himself with. Time will tell I suppose, but I love that he made it clear that they need a QB... not a journeyman.

Side note: I love how Manning made it clear what his (Manning's) job is, and it's not roster management nor X's and o's.

[gilthethrill]

I wonder if Mike O'Shea could work with Pinball as Argo HC in 2020.

[Will]

I recall similar apprehension to when he was hired as head coach in 2000, and he ended up doing a solid job as head coach. Being a GM, however, does require a different skill-set and, as R.J points out, Pinball did surround himself with a solid support group when he was coach.

I do think some people are reading too much into the title here as his role will clearly not be what we traditionally define a GM's role to be.

The real question people should be asking themselves is whether or not they trust John Murphy.