2019-2020 Offseason Signings, Trades, Releases, Extensions and Other Transactions

[OV Argo]

Interesting that Dinwidddie likes O'Connor and MBT, makes no mention of Prukop. Looking more and more like Collaros and MBT, IMO.

https://www.cfl.ca/2020/01/07/argos-...4HAiJTMtpWzGnI

Be interesting to see if the Argos (and other CFL teams) will dress 3 QBs for next season with the roster rule change there ? Interesting to see that recent NFL play-off game where the Eagles starter got knocked out of the game early and then their 40 some year old back-up played and got hit hard a few times and was limping late in the game - WTF would any pro football team with huge rosters dress only 2 QBs ??? - the 2 QBs get knocked out of the game and you are basically done with whoever else on the roster having to go under C? - IMO - inexcusable for any reg season game (they're all important in a season where one game can decide your play-off chances, let alone a big play-off game).


IF the Argos go out and get Collaros as starter - MBT as #2 and then who as #3 (even as PR QB)? Probably little chance another CFL team would try to poach O'Connor off the PR?

[paulwoods13]

O'Connor was never on the practice roster in 2019, when the Argos carried four and sometimes five QBs. Why on earth would he be placed on the PR in 2020 when the team may have only three QBs? Oh yeah, I know why.

[OV Argo]

O'Connor was never on the practice roster in 2019, when the Argos carried four and sometimes five QBs. Why on earth would he be placed on the PR in 2020 when the team may have only three QBs? Oh yeah, I know why.

So, say the Argos go out and get Collaros, and like MBT as #2, then you think O'Connor would be #3, and also that they will dress 3 QBs ?

And if not dressed, O'Connor could be stashed on the IR ? Prukop will just be let go and not valued for playing some STs like last season ?

[Argo57]

So, say the Argos go out and get Collaros, and like MBT as #2, then you think O'Connor would be #3, and also that they will dress 3 QBs ?

And if not dressed, O'Connor could be stashed on the IR ? Prukop will just be let go and not valued for playing some STs like last season ?

Prukop’s versatility should draw interest from a few teams.

[paulwoods13]

So, say the Argos go out and get Collaros, and like MBT as #2, then you think O'Connor would be #3, and also that they will dress 3 QBs ?

And if not dressed, O'Connor could be stashed on the IR ? Prukop will just be let go and not valued for playing some STs like last season ?

Yes, if not dressed, O'Connor will be stashed in the IR -- just as he was this year when he was not on the 46. As I said, he was never on the PR in 2019 even though the Argos had four and at times five QBs. So again, why would he be on PR when they will probably have three QBs? Don't bother answering -- it's a rhetorical question.

[OV Argo]

Yes, if not dressed, O'Connor will be stashed in the IR -- just as he was this year when he was not on the 46. As I said, he was never on the PR in 2019 even though the Argos had four and at times five QBs. So again, why would he be on PR when they will probably have three QBs? Don't bother answering -- it's a rhetorical question.

Is the PR not a possibility for any player who they like to have on the roster, but are not willing or ready to have on the game roster ?

[jerrym]

CFL.ca has a long article on DL Ronald Ollie, who had his moment of fame on in Last Chance U Netflix documentary, who the Argos just signed.

https://www.cfl.ca/2020/01/08/ollie-...otball-player/

[paulwoods13]

More positive comments from RD re MBT.

https://www.tsn.ca/new-toronto-argon...pson-1.1424312

[AngeloV]

More positive comments from RD re MBT.

https://www.tsn.ca/new-toronto-argon...pson-1.1424312

Only a moron can't see that there were way more positives than negatives with MBT last year. He grew as much or more than any QB not named Vernon Adams in 2019, and was a better QB than the highly sought after Mike Reilly too.

[Jon Gonzo]

I would be quite optimistic about a MBT - Collaros/or Arbuckle combination, but I don't see coming in with the same thing as last year is a wise idea either on a football ops level or a marketing level.

However, if you give me the aforementioned combo, then a return to the Playoffs is once again a possibility.

The challenge is to have both players open to a 1A/ 1B scenario, and bottom line that means open to....less money.

Dinwiddie and Pinball have both made it clear that the QB position is of optimum importance. Expect the Argos to chase this issue down hard, and that includes insuring that there are contingencies covered.

[paulwoods13]

I would be quite optimistic about a MBT - Collaros/or Arbuckle combination, but I don't see coming in with the same thing as last year is a wise idea either on a football ops level or a marketing level.

However, if you give me the aforementioned combo, then a return to the Playoffs is once again a possibility.

The challenge is to have both players open to a 1A/ 1B scenario, and bottom line that means open to....less money.

Dinwiddie and Pinball have both made it clear that the QB position is of optimum importance. Expect the Argos to chase this issue down hard, and that includes insuring that there are contingencies covered.

I agree they will push hard on this. I see no way we go into this year with the same thing as last year because that would mean Franklin. He has to be finished here.

I've been calling for months to have MBT and Collaros as 1 and 2, altho Collaros might have made it hard to pay him like a (well-paid) 2 with his play down the stretch. I believe both guys can be fit under the salary structure and there will obviously be room for MOC as well. I'm inclined to think we won't see Prukop back, despite his tantalizing brief glimpse at the end of the season, given that RD did not mention him yesterday. I would think we'll have a fourth QB -- an up-and-comer who can be stashed on PR (IR if absolutely necessary) to go along with two experienced guys and with MOC waiting his turn for another year, now up a notch at No. 3.

[Rich]

I've been calling for months to have MBT and Collaros as 1 and 2, altho Collaros might have made it hard to pay him like a (well-paid) 2 with his play down the stretch.

In what bizarro universe would MBT be ranked ahead of Collaros on any team's 2020 depth chart?

Collaros is a 10-year vet who has played in two Cups and who last season played very effectively in four high-pressure elimination games, even though he had only played a series or two of football in the previous 12 months. Collaros does everything better than MBT. He is much more mobile in the pocket and can better avoid sacks. He throws a much better and more accurate ball than MBT, both short and long. And he is full of the savvy and intangibles that MBT sadly lacks. Why on earth would anyone rank MBT ahead of him?

[gilthethrill]

I would be quite optimistic about a MBT - Collaros/or Arbuckle combination, but I don't see coming in with the same thing as last year is a wise idea either on a football ops level or a marketing level.

However, if you give me the aforementioned combo, then a return to the Playoffs is once again a possibility.

The challenge is to have both players open to a 1A/ 1B scenario, and bottom line that means open to....less money.

Dinwiddie and Pinball have both made it clear that the QB position is of optimum importance. Expect the Argos to chase this issue down hard, and that includes insuring that there are contingencies covered.

Argo Neg List QB'S in the XFL include Conner Cook and Luis Perez. They could join the team after their season concludes.

[AngeloV]

Argo Neg List QB'S in the XFL include Conner Cook and Luis Perez. They could join the team after their season concludes.

So by March?

[paulwoods13]

Hey, I like Collaros too, and I hope we get him. But MBT has a better overall body of work over the past two years, and has stayed healthy despite taking a ton of heavy hits. Zach (an eight-year vet, by the way) was fantastic in 2013-15, ran into injury problems, was terrible in 2017, was mediocre in 2018 and caught lightning in a bottle for four weeks after another season of injury in 2019. I'm not prepared to anoint him as deserving to be the highest-paid QB on the team based on what amounts to four good weeks in the past three seasons. And as I said, I like and want him. I hope he comes in and competes for the starting position, may the best man win. But he'd have to earn his position on the depth chart if it were up to me and I had MBT to compete with him.

[Argo57]

Hey, I like Collaros too, and I hope we get him. But MBT has a better overall body of work over the past two years, and has stayed healthy despite taking a ton of heavy hits. Zach (an eight-year vet, by the way) was fantastic in 2013-15, ran into injury problems, was terrible in 2017, was mediocre in 2018 and caught lightning in a bottle for four weeks after another season of injury in 2019. I'm not prepared to anoint him as deserving to be the highest-paid QB on the team based on what amounts to four good weeks in the past three seasons. And as I said, I like and want him. I hope he comes in and competes for the starting position, may the best man win. But he'd have to earn his position on the depth chart if it were up to me and I had MBT to compete with him.

Collaros and MBT would be fine by me at this point.
Let’s keep in mind other teams will be aggressively looking for QB’s in free agency with Toronto and Winnipeg actually needing to sign a couple of them so nothing is guaranteed at this point.

[Rich]

I'm not prepared to anoint him as deserving to be the highest-paid QB on the team based on what amounts to four good weeks in the past three seasons.

Four good weeks in a row! How many times has MBT done that in the past three seasons?

But it wasn't just any four weeks. It was the four biggest games of his team's season. When he was a bit rusty and not in game-speed shape. When he had all of two weeks to learn the team's offence. The guy comes in and delivers four savvy, efficient performances to win em all. I don't know about you but I was surprised as hell to see it.

When we picked up Collaros from Sask the big question was: could he ever again even come close to his top form? I think he answered that question emphatically. If he was able to play so well under such difficult circumstances, imagine how he'll look after a full camp running an offence designed for him by our QB guru head coach.

And honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if his best days were still ahead of him. Surprised yes, but you never know. I think spending last year on the sidelines did him a lot of good. He's in great physical shape, and I even think he throws a little harder and better than he did before. He's in the prime of career and he's got something to prove. I say anoint.

[paulwoods13]

Four good weeks in a row! How many times has MBT done that in the past three seasons?

But it wasn't just any four weeks. It was the four biggest games of his team's season. When he was a bit rusty and not in game-speed shape. When he had all of two weeks to learn the team's offence. The guy comes in and delivers four savvy, efficient performances to win em all. I don't know about you but I was surprised as hell to see it.

When we picked up Collaros from Sask the big question was: could he ever again even come close to his top form? I think he answered that question emphatically. If he was able to play so well under such difficult circumstances, imagine how he'll look after a full camp running an offence designed for him by our QB guru head coach.

And honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if his best days were still ahead of him. Surprised yes, but you never know. I think spending last year on the sidelines did him a lot of good. He's in great physical shape, and I even think he throws a little harder and better than he did before. He's in the prime of career and he's got something to prove. I say anoint.

Without looking back at the season just past, I seem to recall that MBT had a stretch of four or five good to excellent games in a row around mid-season, FWIW. It's also worth noting that Collaros's play down the stretch was helped a lot by having an excellent running game and a backup QB who could go in and pound defences for a while.

Hats off to Collaros for how well he did -- I was not at all surprised because he just seems like one of those guys who has an "it" quality about him, and obviously he was well rested. And I agree he might actually have his best days ahead of him. I hope he does. But betting on that -- if it means giving him big dollars and letting the only proven QB we have on the current roster walk -- would be a far bigger gamble than I'd be prepared to make if I were the GM.

[Jon Gonzo]

For those of you who haven't watched "Last Chance U" on Netflix, I am here to tell you that we'll be getting quite the character in Toronto with Ronald Ollie for the D.Line.

The Argos gave him a 3 year deal, which tells me they have high hopes for this kid.

Like many of the kids who come out of American Community College Football programs, Ollie had a tough upbringing. He grew up in a trailer park in the pine belt of Mississippi and lost both his parents to a murder-suicide that happened when he was 5.

The show is a few years old now, so hopefully he's matured a little since then. He wasn't a good student but certainly is a very likable lad. I am envisioning he and Donald Destoyer doing some entertaining YouTube in TC.

He has typical CFL DT size and is always around the ball. He makes plays. Hopefully he shows up in good shape and brings some dawg to this D.Line in T.O. We need some Belli.

[OV Argo]

Arbuckle ended up starting for the Stumps in just his 2nd season there, after only a bit of playing time in his rookie season. Guess he didn't need years to "develop" and thus become a highly sought after CFL FA ?