2023-24 off-season transactions

[AngeloV]

My reaction to Ouellette saying that Mace was the biggest reason he signed with the Riders was: this seems a bit odd. I also wondered if this was an indictment against Dinwiddie. He also cited the football culture/fan interest as another reason why he left. I will assume then, that any monetary difference in the offers he received was negligible. If this was in fact the case, it makes his departure even more disappointing. ArgoGabe 22, you stated that the last you heard AJ and Dinwiddie butted heads. Could you please elaborate about that.

I call BS on his statement. Anyone that has played competitive football knows that defensive coaches spend zero time with offensive players. Just be honest and admit you went to the highest bidder.

[Argo57]

I call BS on his statement. Anyone that has played competitive football knows that defensive coaches spend zero time with offensive players. Just be honest and admit you went to the highest bidder.

You see this type of rhetoric from players when they sign with a new team, over the top pandering to their new coaching staff and fan base.
If the Argos had decided to pay him the most he’d still be playing in Toronto, it’s all about the $$$.
Roll on Ka’Deem Carey!!!!

[gilthethrill]

You see this type of rhetoric from players when they sign with a new team, over the top pandering to their new coaching staff and fan base.
If the Argos had decided to pay him the most he’d still be playing in Toronto, it’s all about the $$$.
Roll on Ka’Deem Carey!!!!

I like 3 Down Nation but it seems like they are really hyping him up only since he joined the Riders. Same RB but now with a Shiny new Nickname,

[paulwoods13]

I call BS on his statement. Anyone that has played competitive football knows that defensive coaches spend zero time with offensive players. Just be honest and admit you went to the highest bidder.

While offences and defences meet separately, players see how coaches handle "the other side" in practice and the locker room. Ouellette also spent a lot of early mornings in the gym with players from the Argo defence. Players talk. And Ouellette presumably got a direct pitch from Mace when he was weighing offers. IMO there is zero doubt Mace's coaching style had a significant influence on his decision. But IMO the biggest factor -- bigger than Mace, bigger than salary -- was the possibility of building a brand outside of football. He will be a huge celebrity in Sask, where folks are eager to spend to support their heroes. He is gonna sell a lot of merchandise to the Riders' rabid fanbase. He has already started that brand-building process, without even having to do much yet.

[Argo57]

While offences and defences meet separately, players see how coaches handle "the other side" in practice and the locker room. Ouellette also spent a lot of early mornings in the gym with players from the Argo defence. Players talk. And Ouellette presumably got a direct pitch from Mace when he was weighing offers. IMO there is zero doubt Mace's coaching style had a significant influence on his decision. But IMO the biggest factor -- bigger than Mace, bigger than salary -- was the possibility of building a brand outside of football. He will be a huge celebrity in Sask, where folks are eager to spend to support their heroes. He is gonna sell a lot of merchandise to the Riders' rabid fanbase. He has already started that brand-building process, without even having to do much yet.

Apparently Coach Mace’s coaching style had little influence on the Argo defensive free agents who played under him last season as none of them followed him out west despite rampant speculation that they would be tripping over themselves to do so.

[paulwoods13]

Apparently Coach Mace’s coaching style had little influence on the Argo defensive free agents who played under him last season as none of them followed him out west despite rampant speculation that they would be tripping over themselves to do so.

Which IMO illustrates how many factors there are in why guys sign where they do. Money, coaching style, coaching philosophy, location, the role being offered, etc.

[Argo57]

Which IMO illustrates how many factors there are in why guys sign where they do. Money, coaching style, coaching philosophy, location, the role being offered, etc.

That’s my point in post#562, sure there are maybe a few factors involved but IMO $$ trumps all.

[Rich]

Reading his interviews it looks to me like Ouellette didn’t like the city of Toronto very much. Being a small town, red state kinda guy, I think it was important for him to go to a place where the prevailing attitudes were closer to his own.

[paulwoods13]

That’s my point in post#562, sure there are maybe a few factors involved but IMO $$ trumps all.

It undoubtedly does for some guys, but not all. It didn't for Bo in 2019, and it seems evident it didn't for Brady in 2024, to give two examples of guys who are reported to have left money on the table.

[AngeloV]

While offences and defences meet separately, players see how coaches handle "the other side" in practice and the locker room. Ouellette also spent a lot of early mornings in the gym with players from the Argo defence. Players talk. And Ouellette presumably got a direct pitch from Mace when he was weighing offers. IMO there is zero doubt Mace's coaching style had a significant influence on his decision. But IMO the biggest factor -- bigger than Mace, bigger than salary -- was the possibility of building a brand outside of football. He will be a huge celebrity in Sask, where folks are eager to spend to support their heroes. He is gonna sell a lot of merchandise to the Riders' rabid fanbase. He has already started that brand-building process, without even having to do much yet.

So you agree, it was all about the money than because the brand building will bring him more money.

[OV Argo]

I wouldn't discount the factor of getting to play in a Canadian football hot-bed, vs. staying/ playing in place where Canadian football and the historic home team gets so little respect, and is over-run by NFL fan-boys, in AJO's decision. And if the playing in such a place brings some marketing extra ca$h or future job prospects, then that's a bonus.

[paulwoods13]

So you agree, it was all about the money than because the brand building will bring him more money.

Sure it will. But your statement read: "Just be honest and admit you went to the highest bidder." If you meant to say, "you went where you expect to make the most money outside of football," I would agree with that.

[Shatto]

Personally, I'm sorry A.J.O. has left but we have to remember a couple of years ago the team released him during the season, only to immediately recall him because of injury to another player. As much as we like to think of loyalty from a player, it does cut both ways. I believe he earned something like $115,000 last year and the offer from the Roughriders is somewhere around $160,000 per season for two seasons. Add to that, the extra money possible in endorsement etc. and it appears to be an easy decision for A J

[OV Argo]

3 more new American players signed by the Argos - 2 DBs & a RB - all with impressive resumes.

Tons of these type signings this CFL off-season = the CFL seems to be having little problem attracting new talent, even though I thought I had read otherwise from some prophets (no, not Mel).

[kellynjk]

So it seems no-one has signed Tim White yet, although according to 3 Down Nation, he is still negotiating with Hamilton. Jim Barker says that White is determined to get $300,000 a season, but Barker doesn’t think he’ll get that an suggests Hamilton may offer $270,000.

Apparently Schoen was also seeking $300,000 but didn’t receive any offers that high, so he chose to return to the Bombers for $230,000.

I like Tim White, he’s a good receiver, but if Schoen isn’t worth $300,000 a season, I don’t see White getting that much.

[gilthethrill]

3 more new American players signed by the Argos - 2 DBs & a RB - all with impressive resumes.

Tons of these type signings this CFL off-season = the CFL seems to be having little problem attracting new talent, even though I thought I had read otherwise from some prophets (no, not Mel).

The RB that you are referring to (Laborn), he was included in the Ceresna/Gittens trade. I expect 2…maybe 3 openings in the secondary so all the DB signings are understandable. UFL TC starts this week with cutdowns in late March, so approximately 400 more players could be available for CFL teams as well.

[paulwoods13]

3 more new American players signed by the Argos - 2 DBs & a RB - all with impressive resumes.

Tons of these type signings this CFL off-season = the CFL seems to be having little problem attracting new talent, even though I thought I had read otherwise from some prophets (no, not Mel).

It stands to reason that with only eight spring teams instead of last year's 16, a seemingly diminished commitment by Dwayne Johnson, and another year of $51k salaries, more guys will be giving active consideration to the CFL. I'd also be interested in seeing stats for how many of last year's XFL/USFL players got NFL shots and how many stuck there. My uninformed impression is that it might have been a smaller number than last year. Hey, gilthethrill, do you know?

[Waffle]

It stands to reason that with only eight spring teams instead of last year's 16, a seemingly diminished commitment by Dwayne Johnson, and another year of $51k salaries, more guys will be giving active consideration to the CFL. I'd also be interested in seeing stats for how many of last year's XFL/USFL players got NFL shots and how many stuck there. My uninformed impression is that it might have been a smaller number than last year. Hey, gilthethrill, do you know?

There is a recent article that touches on this question:


Newly-Merged UFL Provides Last Hope For Long-Term Viability
https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/new...ility-xfl-usfl


“In 2023, nearly 120 players from the XFL and USFL signed NFL contracts after their seasons ended — nearly 70 of them on the XFL side. A handful of players have signed with multiple NFL teams this season.
There are currently 23 XFL 2023 players on NFL rosters heading into the final week of the regular season. The USFL has 16 players also currently on NFL rosters. The XFL in 2020, a league that played three years ago, also has 16 players still on NFL teams. Many of them are going on their fourth straight season of collecting paychecks in the NFL.
Even the Alliance of American Football from 2019 has several of its standouts as continuous active NFL players, such as Pro Bowl kicker Younghoe Koo, among others.”


There was also an article touching on this by Mike Mitchell in March, 2022:


Former XFL Players Currently On NFL, CFL, And USFL Rosters
https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/form...-usfl-rosters/

[gilthethrill]

It stands to reason that with only eight spring teams instead of last year's 16, a seemingly diminished commitment by Dwayne Johnson, and another year of $51k salaries, more guys will be giving active consideration to the CFL. I'd also be interested in seeing stats for how many of last year's XFL/USFL players got NFL shots and how many stuck there. My uninformed impression is that it might have been a smaller number than last year. Hey, gilthethrill, do you know?

The information that Waffle provided is what I was looking at as well. However many XFL and USFL players were let go and a few were signed as the NFL season progressed.

I think its worth mentioning too, that any XFL/USFL player that wanted to be drafted by the newly formed UFL had to sign a “Letter of Intent” if they wished to be included in the “Merger Draft”. A lot of the players didn’t want to do that and either retired or signed with a CFL team.

[OV Argo]

Not really many players are going from the XFL or USFL to make an NFL roster; however, those 2 leagues being around might have helped protect some CFL teams from having their rosters raided by NFL teams, and even a bit helps. NFL teams with more contacts within the coaches & scouts of the minor US pro leagues and easier to attend games there (though access to film should be even / no problem), likely means it's easier for them to look there for extra bodies or long-range prospects. Less teams with just the one league might change that a bit now ?

Seems to me, NFL interest in top CFL football talent is basically at an all-time low. And that's a very good thing for CFL teams and CFL fans. Keep up the good work NFL super-experts.