2020-2021 offseason transaction thread

[Tobin Rote]

Very happy to hear that the Argos have re-signed QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson. With this one move, I'd say that this season's prospective roster has been significantly improved.

[j-ski]

Very happy to hear that the Argos have re-signed QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson. With this one move, I'd say that this season's prospective roster has been significantly improved.

Great move!

[Stevoman]

I'm happy as well. He will be a great mentor and support for Arbuckle and can put the Argos in position to win some games when needed.

[paulwoods13]

Re-signing MBT is my favourite move of a very exciting (double) off-season. I can't wait to see this team back on the field. I'm sure Arbuckle will get every opportunity to succeed, and i truly hope he does succeed, but it is extremely difficult to win it all without two good QBs, and I fully expect MBT to contribute to a successful 2021 season.

[Will]

I am pleased with the decision to bring Bethel-Thompson back. I am not fully sold on Pipkin as the #2. I know some blame him directly for last year's 4-14 record, but it is not an opinion that I completely share. He earned the chance in my opinion to show what he can do with an improved team around him.

[Argo57]

Love it!
Excellent 1-2 combination at QB for the Argonauts!

[Argo57]

Re-signing MBT is my favourite move of a very exciting (double) off-season. I can't wait to see this team back on the field. I'm sure Arbuckle will get every opportunity to succeed, and i truly hope he does succeed, but it is extremely difficult to win it all without two good QBs, and I fully expect MBT to contribute to a successful 2021 season.

Argos have had a very good off season, can’t wait to see the fruits of their (Pinball and Murphy’s) labour this season!

[Shatto]

Recent experiences in our league, have shown a team requires 2 good quarterbacks to win games over a whole season. QB's seldom go through a season without getting injured and without a reliable 2nd QB, the season is basically lost. MBT is a solid reliable QB who brings strong leadership to the team and given a good team around him, when called upon, is more than capable of being a winning QB

Arbuckle is an exciting player and potentially a future franchise QB. However, he is reasonably inexperienced and if he does falter it is a very wise move to have a QB of MBT's quality ready to step in and lead the team. Glad to see him back.

[AngeloV]

I love the re-signing of MBT. I always thought he would return, and just happy it happened. I'm all in on Arbuckle, but nice to have another option that has proven he can out points on the board.

[doubleblue]

Sounds like somebody should start planning The Parade, seeing the Stanley one has been cancelled.

[Wobbler]

I suspect that waiting a few months before signing MBT was a good move, financially.

Fingers crossed that today's signing of Chris Edwards, a presumptive starter at SAM, was more important.

[jerrym]

Although I'm not a MBT superfan, it's good to see the Argos have a very experienced QB in camp.

[Tobin Rote]

Having 3 quarterbacks who have started in the league on the roster is the right number, I believe. Hopefully, one of either Bryant or Tiano will show some promise and be kept around as a developmental player as well.

[Mocha]

Having 3 quarterbacks who have started in the league on the roster is the right number, I believe. Hopefully, one of either Bryant or Tiano will show some promise and be kept around as a developmental player as well.

I just wonder if the salaries of three experienced QBs will work under the cap. The Argos signed a lot of quality players over the past couple of years, so I think it's going to give the coach and GM a lot of difficulty in figuring out who to keep and who to release in order to stay under the cap.

I imagine Pipkin would be more affordable backup than MBT.

On the postive side, Arbuckle is not the most expensive starter, at a reported $325,000.


https://3downnation.com/2021/02/01/o...20last%20year.

[AngeloV]

I just wonder if the salaries of three experienced QBs will work under the cap. The Argos signed a lot of quality players over the past couple of years, so I think it's going to give the coach and GM a lot of difficulty in figuring out who to keep and who to release in order to stay under the cap.

I imagine Pipkin would be more affordable backup than MBT.

On the postive side, Arbuckle is not the most expensive starter, at a reported $325,000.


https://3downnation.com/2021/02/01/o...20last%20year.

I can almost guarantee Pipken will not make it out of camp. To me, he got worse every time he stepped on the field. He's pretty good at the QB sneak, but so is Arbuckle. I am so happy MBT re-signed.

[Mocha]

I can almost guarantee Pipken will not make it out of camp. To me, he got worse every time he stepped on the field. He's pretty good at the QB sneak, but so is Arbuckle. I am so happy MBT re-signed.

Before the start of the 2019 season, I predicted that the Als would be much better than most were predicting (which ended up being true) because Pipkin was going to have a breakout season (which ended up definitely not being true).

Lol, the upshot is that I agree he's likely to be cut after camp.

[Argo57]

I can almost guarantee Pipken will not make it out of camp. To me, he got worse every time he stepped on the field. He's pretty good at the QB sneak, but so is Arbuckle. I am so happy MBT re-signed.

I agree, I wasn’t comfortable with Pipkin as the backup QB.

[Rich]

I agree that Bethel-Thompson is a big upgrade over Pipkin, so I don't think they should keep Pipkin around, and should instead let a big talent like Kelly Bryant develop a little faster under the top two guys.

MBT is everything you want in a backup QB. He's experienced, he's a team-first guy, and he's very durable. I think he's kinda like the Ryan Fitzpatrick of the CFL -- a valuable backup who can put up some big numbers, but in the final analysis is not and will never be a championship-calibre QB. Take a look at a list of Grey Cup champion QBs if you don't agree.

The ultimate goal for this team is to put a string of successful seasons together, something they've never done before in their history. To do that you need to build and grow with a young QB, not a 33-year-old-good-but-will-never-be-great QB.

[Rich]

The Argos have signed their 2021 first round (#7 overall ) draft pick, OL Peter Nicastro.

https://www.argonauts.ca/2021/05/18/...eter-nicastro/

I like the idea of Nicastro backing up Speller at C. With his size and relentless motor Nicastro reminds me a little of Chad Folk, in my book one of the all-time great Argos, a shorter guy who took on all the big dogs and usually won, for more than 10 years.

[paulwoods13]

The ultimate goal for this team is to put a string of successful seasons together, something they've never done before in their history.

I won't rehash my contention that MBT is better than you think, as we've argued that to death. But I would quibble with this statement. Even leaving aside 1940s and earlier, you don't see 1982 to 1988 as a period sustained success? Five first-place finishes, three GC appearances and the two best records in team history (to that point) in seven seasons seems like a string of success to me. Obie and Sazio eventually wore out their welcome, but I think we'd all be thrilled to match the record of 1982-88 over the next seven years.