Matt Nichols Signs for 3 Years

[paulwoods13]

Brescacin would be interesting, I just assumed he would re-sign with Calgary.

I think there's a very good chance Brescacin signs with either Toronto or Hamilton.

[paulwoods13]

Lalji says Nichols signed for $350k in hard money with incentives that could take it to $560k. That's pretty rich, IMO. $350k base is not too far out of line but I thought we could have got him for closer to $300. There were not gonna be any other suitors at his pay grade so we had some leverage. But he had some, too -- our desire for a second experienced QB.

If both guys negotiated the same games-played incentive ($5k per game/$90k total available), and if the reported numbers are accurate, we would be in for a minimum payout of $657k (MBT $217k, MN $350k, GP $90k). If MN negotiated a higher GP incentive, obviously that could push our total QB spend up; at the same time, it would be an incentive for mgmt. to play MBT instead of MN.

I hope MN's GP incentive maxes at $90k and his other incentives (potentially $120k) relate to team success: first-place finish, GC appearance, GC win. If he plays the most and we have a great year, I'd be thrilled to have him exceed $500k in earnings. But I still like MBT's chances of winning the starting job, if it truly is the open competition we've been told it will be.

[argos1873]

The best signing we could ask for given the circumstances. Just curious but what is better than this, given whats available?

[OV Argo]

I don't see any of these guys ready to step in and play in the CFL. The Argos have a foundation of Canadian Offensive linemen on the roster already. Jamal Campbell, Shane Richards, Maurice Simba and have re-signed Eric Starczala. Campbell took three years of grooming before they could start him. Number one pick Richards from the NCAA wasn't ready, but I did like what I saw of Simba late in the season. Starczala will be starting his apprentice phase this year if they keep him around. Probably another guy will be picked somewhere in the draft. I think a lot people under estimate the calibre of player it takes to play in the CFL. Big jump from the college ranks unless you are an elite athlete.
Leo Cahill use to say you had to get a player from the first 4 rounds (NCAA) good enough to start in the CFL right out of college. With more teams now that is probably the first 3 rounds and some of them don't pan out. Those guys aren't available for the CFL anymore, so they have to look for players that need a few years on practice squads and backups that can develop into starters material. Kids coming out of USports get plugged in because the ratio but they need a few years to develop. So IMO if you can now find a couple of Import Linemen who have been good enough to start in the CFL and can now be a National it is like found money. Matt Nichols and MBT don't need to play behind rookie O Linemen learning how to pass block the veteran defensive linemen in this league. But we all have our opinions.

As i tried to point out: the Bummers just won the GC with a rookie 1st round draft pick and an undrafted FA starting on their O-line; and the Ticats have been a top team lately with young Canadian O-linemen (Revenberg, Ciraco) out of the draft starting sooner than later; i think a lot of people under estimate the calibre of young Canadian talent that smart CFL teams can reap and get production out of - and at a lot of positions. Lefebvre is a milti-year Q all-star at C (his "real" position - i.e. not a new position for him) and he learned under a Laval coaching staff that has produced a number of very good CFL hogs - he might be a quite able replacement for a departed McEwen, and he should be available still at # 11 or 20 or maybe even 28.

As far as NIs able to play for the Argos on D: Laing (would be a real tough loss if he leaves); Lokombo at OLB (or maybe safety but he's more of an OLB IMO); Woodson at D-half or corner; maybe Robbie Smith at DE (backed by a good draft pick) - but this is unlikely if Jefferson is signed + one of the new import DE signings shows lots; not sure if Gabriel is a write-off at safety, but i like his vet smarts plus he can also move up to OLB some, and they could also think of drafting a good safety prospect who could play right away or platoon perhaps; and if Bear Woods is listed as one of the new "Nationals", them Kwemo IMO has the talent to spell or back-him up quite capably.