QBs, so ...

["Issues"Mcgee]

With MBT's departure the Argos have reached a critical time. The team is fresh off a Cup win and attendance looks like it is slowly trending upward again. So we have success both on and off the field.

The team has all the tools they need to keep playing at a high level, the biggest question now is at QB. Is Chad Kelly a contender or a pretender? Will he bring fans to the game as has been previously implied? Can the team bring in a competent backup?

Immediate success this coming season will be crucial. There could be a lot of opportunity this year and the team needs to seize it.

[Scooter McCray]

With MBT's departure the Argos have reached a critical time. The team is fresh off a Cup win and attendance looks like it is slowly trending upward again. So we have success both on and off the field.

The team has all the tools they need to keep playing at a high level, the biggest question now is at QB. Is Chad Kelly a contender or a pretender? Will he bring fans to the game as has been previously implied? Can the team bring in a competent backup?

Immediate success this coming season will be crucial. There could be a lot of opportunity this year and the team needs to seize it.

I have faith in Pinball, Magri, and Barker to fill the role of QB. The track record of MLSE managing the business side of this team is abysmal. They have a part time President, who cares about the soccer team more.

[paulwoods13]

Could the Pussycats play real nasty with Evans, and, CFL teams who might want him, by placing him on the 6 game IR to start the season? Maybe not if he does not participate in Ticat TC ?

They could try that, but the risk of it blowing up in their faces is real. Evans reports to camp and says publicly, "I'm being held hostage by an organization that loved me a year ago and now hates me." Wouldn't that look good on Bob Young and Scott Mitchell? Also, if he reports to camp he gets a big bonus, which as far as I know would not be able to be saved under the SMS, in contrast to six game cheques that fall outside it when a player is on IR.

I believe they will wait as long as they can, possibly to the eve of camp, before releasing him. Unless Argos get panicky about having only Holmes as a fallback to Kelly. I imagine Toronto will try to sign one of Prukop or Pipkin or O'Connor in the meantime, just in case Evans doesn't shake loose for some reason.

[bluto]

I just doubt that any of todays news about MBT comes as a surprise to our GM-By-Committee, Evans or the TiCats.

The Ticats knew that they weren't keeping him and having $1M of salary in 2 QBs. There's likely already a deal or an understanding in place and they were just waiting on MBT's official announcement (which was after the Henoc announcement) before the final "big" news.

[SkalbaniasGhost]

Mike O'Connor should be signed regardless of the situation with Evans.The guy deserves a chance to play in this league.

[OV Argo]

Mike O'Connor should be signed regardless of the situation with Evans.The guy deserves a chance to play in this league.

Why wouldn't that signing have happened by now ?

NO CFL teams are interested in a Canadian trained / U Sports QB (unless the guy is an "athlete" who runs a 4.4 forty like Tre Ford); the GOBs would rather roll with every/any US QB they can drag up here. Mac QB Andreas Dueck is coming off 3 seasons as a starter with very good passing stats and all-star recognition, and has pro QB size. He will be ignored or shunned like Vanier winning QB Adam Sinagra of the Dinos was by the GOB club. What possible excuse do any of the CFL teams who have need for TC QB competition (all of them pretty well) have for not signing O'Connor now (or Sinagra or Dueck) for a TC look ?

[paulwoods13]

Why wouldn't that signing have happened by now ?

Because he wants too much money? Because he isn't sure he's playing in 2023? Because he has signed but it hasn't been announced? The point is, there are many possible reasons why O'Connor is apparently not under contract anywhere, and not all of them are GOB conspiracies.

[OV Argo]

Because he wants too much money? Because he isn't sure he's playing in 2023? Because he has signed but it hasn't been announced? The point is, there are many possible reasons why O'Connor is apparently not under contract anywhere, and not all of them are GOB conspiracies.

Ahhh; the good ole "what conspiracy" card. Well played Mauer.

[Skilz]

O'Connor obviously coudn't compete with Rourke in BC. - he also had his shots in Calgary. Cream rises to the top. If he was worthy, he would have flashed by now.

Getting back to the realistic possibilities, if and when Evans is cut, the Argos would be best to sign him to a 2 year deal - knowing that Kelly will be a FA after this season. Having both Qb's on a 1 year deal would be a recipe for disaster.

[paulwoods13]

Ahhh; the good ole "what conspiracy" card. Well played Mauer.

You're welcome. I know you would never deign to pull out an old trope, of course.

[Shatto]

Evans will get $170,000 at the beginning of training camp. Hamilton will not pay him that money so they must release him but could wait right up to training camp. Unless there is a complete surprise the Argos know Kelly will be their starting QB regardless of what is said about QBs competing for the position in training camp. So Evans or whoever else is signed will be the backup. Not that backups are unimportant, as we all know injuries can radically change the situation but I don't see the Argos trading for Evans unless it is something like a 7th round draft choice.

Hopefully the Argos hold their nerve and wait till Evans is released or they sign another QB who has some potential.

[OV Argo]

O'Connor obviously coudn't compete with Rourke in BC. - he also had his shots in Calgary. Cream rises to the top. If he was worthy, he would have flashed by now.

Getting back to the realistic possibilities, if and when Evans is cut, the Argos would be best to sign him to a 2 year deal - knowing that Kelly will be a FA after this season. Having both Qb's on a 1 year deal would be a recipe for disaster.

O'Connor had zero playing time as far as his "shot" in Calgary; he was listed as #2 behind Mitchell but when push came to shove, it was #3 Maier who got the call to replace Bo (and maybe the best call since Maier played very well). There will be no rising to "the top" without significant playing time and reps - for any player. Maybe Chad Kelly does next season for the Argos.

[Antwon]

Getting back to the realistic possibilities, if and when Evans is cut, the Argos would be best to sign him to a 2 year deal - knowing that Kelly will be a FA after this season. Having both Qb's on a 1 year deal would be a recipe for disaster.

Does anyone think the Argos try and get Kelly to sign an extension with a bonus for doing so? He would still have the NFL window if any teams were interested.

[Rich]

O'Connor obviously coudn't compete with Rourke in BC. - he also had his shots in Calgary. Cream rises to the top. If he was worthy, he would have flashed by now.

You gotta be careful about giving up too early on a guy. MBT played the best football of his life at 34. I agree O’Connor deserves another shot, and if for some reason we can’t land Evans, I would be willing to roll the dice with O’Connor at #2, so long as we have a top-level prospect at #3.

[ArgoRavi]

Does anyone think the Argos try and get Kelly to sign an extension with a bonus for doing so? He would still have the NFL window if any teams were interested.

I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility but I wonder how much money is available right now after most of the free agents have been signed.

[Mocha]

Mike O'Connor should be signed regardless of the situation with Evans.The guy deserves a chance to play in this league.

I'd certainly bring O"Connor in to compete at TC. It's not as though the Argos have any established CFL QBs now that MBT is gone. And bringing in Evans would be a positive, but he was very unreliable last season, so I don't think the club should be just handing him a position if he doesn't earn it at camp.

[bluto]

If it works out to be:
-Evans, playing to entrench himself as a legit CFL #1 on a team who's roster is set up for a run to be Eastern Champions again... which is why Hamilton would likely rather wait till 11:59pm the day before training camp opens to release him than get a late round draft pick from us to do it now.
-Kelly, playing in his contract year as a #2, wanting his shot at being a #1 next season or to attract a big contract down south. He'd also be behind a guy who may stumble, so it's attractive as #2 spots go.
-O'Connor, a 26 year old with CFL back up experience who may yet get his shot

Then I'd take that.

Can't really see anything available, or on our Neg list, that would be an upgrade on that platoon. QBs get hurt and I'd say that a QB starting 18 games is the exception not the rule.

[AngeloV]

I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility but I wonder how much money is available right now after most of the free agents have been signed.

It doesn't matter Ravi. The yahoo's from rest of the country believe that the Argos would get no penalty for breaking the cap as mandated by the Toronto Sports Network.

[Will]

It doesn't matter Ravi. The yahoo's from rest of the country believe that the Argos would get no penalty for breaking the cap as mandated by the Toronto Sports Network.

I noticed the other day that 3Down writer Ryan Ballantine discussed Hamilton and the salary cap, but the language was much more neutral and discussed the cap as a luxury tax.

[bluto]

So Evans goes to the Leos...

Chad Kelly is our de facto starter.
I don't know how to feel about this.