Argos Tweeted that they Grant James Wilder Jr Request for Release

[1971GreyCup]

We have granted James Wilder Jr.’s request for release and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

Thank you for your contributions both on and off the field, JWJ.

#PullTogether

[Mightygoose]

He was scheduled be a free agent anyways. Can't see him latching to an NFL team now.

Heading to the XFL perhaps?

[Argo57]

A key contributor in 2017 who’s performance for various reasons tailed off from there.
Always a good community ambassador for the Argos!
Time to move on.

[paulwoods13]

It's a shame we will never find out whether what we saw in second half of 2017 was a fluke or the real Wilder. He looked like he could have become an MOP type player but ended up doing little after that. How much of that was the scheme, the oline, JW's attitude, I guess we can only speculate. But he sure was fun to watch in September, October and November in 2017.

[Argo57]

It's a shame we will never find out whether what we saw in second half of 2017 was a fluke or the real Wilder. He looked like he could have become an MOP type player but ended up doing little after that. How much of that was the scheme, the oline, JW's attitude, I guess we can only speculate. But he sure was fun to watch in September, October and November in 2017.

I suspect all of the above when explaining Wilder’s decline.

[doubleblue]

We have granted James Wilder Jr.’s request for release and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

Thank you for your contributions both on and off the field, JWJ.

#PullTogether

So this obviously lets Wilder sign in the XFL right away as the February CFL FA date is after the XFL start their season. So we will probably see others given the same treatment. If they don't want to play here then see you as far as I'm concerned.

Any rumours of anybody else asking for their early release? You know guys like James Franklin and McLeod Bethel-Thompson.

[ArgoZ]

So this obviously lets Wilder sign in the XFL right away as the February CFL FA date is after the XFL start their season. So we will probably see others given the same treatment. If they don't want to play here then see you as far as I'm concerned.

Any rumours of anybody else asking for their early release? You know guys like James Franklin and McLeod Bethel-Thompson.

With the news that XFL salaries are not what was originally reported, the CFL will still offer the greater number and better salaries in the skilled positions. Wilder will try to play for his hometown Tampa, as expected. Once the XFL folds, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him come back to the CFL for 2 more years, pending on the WWE career.

[AngeloV]

I think XFL makes sense. If he is any good at wrestling, Vince McMahon is probably drooling over the cross promotion possibilities here.

[Stevoman]

I especially loved his enthusiasm and off the field promotion. He was also great in 2017 but his departure is also not a surprise.

[gilthethrill]

I think his days as a CFL RB are done, but would like to see him converted to SB. Great hands and is fun to watch steamroll defenders. Hope he does well in his future endeavours.

[Stevoman]

Wilder Jr. says he didn't like playing for Chamblin or Chapdalaine and that he and other players were not on the same page as the coach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5eeo43XNr0

[Argo57]

Wilder Jr. says he didn't like playing for Chamblin or Chapdalaine and that he and other players were not on the same page as the coach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5eeo43XNr0

Pretty telling comments by Wilder in regards to the HC and his staff, don’t see the Argos being a preferred destination for a lot of players with Chamblin in charge.

[paulwoods13]

I said at the time and I will say again -- Wilder's refusal to play special teams showed a me-first attitude that no player should ever have. He was great in 2017 and he was good on the marketing side, but he was more interested in promoting himself than being a good teammate IMO.

[Will]

I thought that I saw somewhere (maybe in the insider column) that it was believed that Chamblin hadn't necessarily lost the room so who knows...

[Argo57]

I said at the time and I will say again -- Wilder's refusal to play special teams showed a me-first attitude that no player should ever have. He was great in 2017 and he was good on the marketing side, but he was more interested in promoting himself than being a good teammate IMO.

Wilder talks a bigger game than he produces at this point, addition by subtraction applies here.

[R.J]

So, did Wilder do enough to reach All-Time Argo status, and/or have his jersey number retired by the team ?

Asking for a friend...

[jerrym]

IMO, Wilder needs a strong OL in order to be successful. He is slow to accelerate, which allows defensive players to bring him down early in the play relatively easily, but is much tougher to stop once he gets moving. He might be successful with a team that gives him an initial hole to hit.

[argolio]

Who here said that Wilder had done enough to be an all-time Argo/have his number retired?

Asking for me.

[AngeloV]

So, did Wilder do enough to reach All-Time Argo status, and/or have his jersey number retired by the team ?

Asking for a friend...

As Roddy Piper once said to Hulk Hogan....You have a friend?

[OV Argo]

I said at the time and I will say again -- Wilder's refusal to play special teams showed a me-first attitude that no player should ever have. He was great in 2017 and he was good on the marketing side, but he was more interested in promoting himself than being a good teammate IMO.

What type of coach or HC allows a player to stay on his roster who refuses to play special teams, or any other job that is asked of him by the TEAM ???

Wilder had a few very good games as an Argo; that's about it; and his cry-baby act at the end of that one season should have had him punted out of town, IMO. Argos can do wayyyyy better at RB.