Oh Boy! Brandon Banks signs with Argos!

[Argo57]

OMG. Hamilton would riot if Simoni signed with you guys.

We would not want him, you can have him.

[AngeloV]

Time will tell Angelo, maybe a change of scenery will do him good.

Maybe, and as I said, I hope I am wrong. I just don't like this signing.

[TheHammer]

This is kind of like Chad Owens going to the Ticats!

I agree and I think it will play out the same way. Banks will play with a chip on his shoulder, have a bit of a bounce back, but hardly be the game changer he was in the past. He'll retire in a year or two, and his time with the Argos will largely be ignored and forgotten by both clubs and he'll be revered as a Ticat legend.

[Argo57]

Maybe, and as I said, I hope I am wrong. I just don't like this signing.

Fast forward to the 2022 Eastern Final:
MBT hits Banks for a 45 yard TD with no time left as the Argos beat Hamilton to go to the Grey Cup.😛

[TheHammer]

Fast forward to the 2022 Eastern Final:
MBT hits Banks for a 45 yard TD with no time left as the Argos beat Hamilton to go to the Grey Cup.😛

You're being generous by thinking the Ticats are making it to the East Final!

[Argo57]

You're being generous by thinking the Ticats are making it to the East Final!

TBH the East will be a dogfight this season, any of the 4 teams could make it to the Grey Cup (even Hamilton).

[TheHammer]

TBH the East will be a dogfight this season, any of the 4 teams could make it to the Grey Cup (even Hamilton).

Might we see one of those rare seasons where East is better than West?

And I kinda secretly don't want the Ticats to make it to the Grey Cup next year. I don't want them to be known as the team to lose 3 Grey Cups in a row. Not sure that's ever been done before.

[Will]

Might we see one of those rare seasons where East is better than West?

And I kinda secretly don't want the Ticats to make it to the Grey Cup next year. I don't want them to be known as the team to lose 3 Grey Cups in a row. Not sure that's ever been done before.

The Alouettes lost 3 straight to Edmonton in the 50's. I don't think it has happened since then.

[paulwoods13]

With the weapons we have, we don't need Banks to be elite. If he earns us one win with one big play at some point (which seems at least possible), the signing will have been worth it IMO. And he is going to need to earn his spot in the lineup and on the field -- we are hardly hurting at receiver, but as we saw last season, guys can get hurt and miss a pile of games. Depth is never a bad thing, and depth with speed and experience is even better.

[Argo57]

With the weapons we have, we don't need Banks to be elite. If he earns us one win with one big play at some point (which seems at least possible), the signing will have been worth it IMO. And he is going to need to earn his spot in the lineup and on the field -- we are hardly hurting at receiver, but as we saw last season, guys can get hurt and miss a pile of games. Depth is never a bad thing, and depth with speed and experience is even better.

Agree, the Argos are strong at receiver Paul, I wonder if Banks will be interested in simply being a depth player at this point of his career if that is how it plays out?

[paulwoods13]

Agree, the Argos are strong at receiver Paul, I wonder if Banks will be interested in simply being a depth player at this point of his career if that is how it plays out?

If he wants to play and get paid, he will need to accept whatever role he earns. If he doesn't want to be a depth guy, and that's the only role he earns, we can cut him. We have lots of other guys on the roster who can fill depth roles, or better. I'm particularly interested in seeing what Dres Anderson can do with half a season under his belt. He's a guy who might be able to learn a few things from Banks, if Banks is prepared to take on a mentoring role.

[Argo57]

If he wants to play and get paid, he will need to accept whatever role he earns. If he doesn't want to be a depth guy, and that's the only role he earns, we can cut him. We have lots of other guys on the roster who can fill depth roles, or better. I'm particularly interested in seeing what Dres Anderson can do with half a season under his belt. He's a guy who might be able to learn a few things from Banks, if Banks is prepared to take on a mentoring role.

Not disagreeing with you, but he will have to earn his spot on this roster which TBH is no sure thing.
Personally I cannot see him hanging around as depth player at this point of his career which is fine, he has the choice to move on if it becomes an issue for him.
I suspect his decision will not come down to $$ as he has made some decent cash in the NFL and with Hamilton but will depend more on playing time and where he fits in overall with the Argos.

[argolio]

I'm not convinced he'll make the team. We'll see.

[argotom]

Like with the Harris signing, this is also curious and may be after the player's best before date.
I noticed last year especially how B was no longer the force on returns.
The only possible up side is if Speedy makes the team and then because we play the Cats 4 times, revenge may be his tonic leverage to garner outstanding performances.

[Stevoman]

I agree and I think it will play out the same way. Banks will play with a chip on his shoulder, have a bit of a bounce back, but hardly be the game changer he was in the past. He'll retire in a year or two, and his time with the Argos will largely be ignored and forgotten by both clubs and he'll be revered as a Ticat legend.

Sounds about right.

[jerrym]

Difference being, Harris was very productive on the field. He averaged 90 yards per game in the regular season (a 1600 yard pace over a full 18 game season) and over 100 yards per game in the post season. Though he missed games with injuries, there was no decline in production when he was on the field. The same can't be said for Banks. He's a shell of his former self, and I believe at his size, age plays more of a factor than it does for a bigger player. Tougher to take the punishment at 150lbs going into your mid 30's. He might have a big game here or there, but I think his days of being elite talent are done.

I agree. Banks seemed to have slowed a lot and without that speed he is no longer special.