Bede out; Hajrullahu in

[OV Argo]

Ok, so did Bede retire or has he been released ? And if it's the latter, why on earth would anyone cut a veteran kicker with a booming leg coming off a near perfect FG kicking season ?

[Tobin Rote]

Ok, so did Bede retire or has he been released ? And if it's the latter, why on earth would anyone cut a veteran kicker with a booming leg coming off a near perfect FG kicking season ?

I feel like we're going to find out very soon. This front office doesn't make very many false steps...

[paulwoods13]

Ok, so did Bede retire or has he been released ? And if it's the latter, why on earth would anyone cut a veteran kicker with a booming leg coming off a near perfect FG kicking season ?

No pending free agent gets "released: once the negotiation window opens. He's about to become a free agent, and can already negotiate with all teams. My guess is Bede gave the Argos a number to re-sign him, and they concluded it would cost too much and handcuff them at other positions. Presumably they have a plan in mind to replace him at a much lower salary. Very unlikely they'll find someone as good as Bede, but the salary savings might allow them to fill another essential spot on the roster. There's risk involved here, but there is also a risk of losing someone else important if they overspend on his position.

[OV Argo]

No pending free agent gets "released: once the negotiation window opens. He's about to become a free agent, and can already negotiate with all teams. My guess is Bede gave the Argos a number to re-sign him, and they concluded it would cost too much and handcuff them at other positions. Presumably they have a plan in mind to replace him at a much lower salary. Very unlikely they'll find someone as good as Bede, but the salary savings might allow them to fill another essential spot on the roster. There's risk involved here, but there is also a risk of losing someone else important if they overspend on his position.

So then, the Argos brain-trust might have another really good kicker, cheaper, to replace Bede, in mind?

Or do they feel place-kicking is really not that important compared to some other positions, and it's better to cheap-out and save a few buck$ and go with an un-proven kicker ?

Find it hard to believe that Bede would be asking for exorbitant buck$, but maybe i guess; and most other CFL teams are quite set with good or veteran place-kickers (outside of Hamilton maybe), so not like he would have a lot of suitors for leverage and to get big bucks ?

[paulwoods13]

So then, the Argos brain-trust might have another really good kicker, cheaper, to replace Bede, in mind?

Or do they feel place-kicking is really not that important compared to some other positions, and it's better to cheap-out and save a few buck$ and go with an un-proven kicker ?

Find it hard to believe that Bede would be asking for exorbitant buck$, but maybe i guess; and most other CFL teams are quite set with good or veteran place-kickers (outside of Hamilton maybe), so not like he would have a lot of suitors for leverage and to get big bucks ?

Clearly the org has no plan at all, and was caught completely off guard by this. That'll teach 'em.

If you find it hard to believe a player would try to maximize his earnings, especially at this stage of his career and after a superb season, I have no idea what would convince you. I guess you might also find it hard to believe that an organization that went 16-2 with a bunch of key guys on cheap first contracts might have to make tough decisions all over the roster in order to put together another competitive team and comply with the salary cap.

[OV Argo]

Clearly the org has no plan at all, and was caught completely off guard by this. That'll teach 'em.

If you find it hard to believe a player would try to maximize his earnings, especially at this stage of his career and after a superb season, I have no idea what would convince you. I guess you might also find it hard to believe that an organization that went 16-2 with a bunch of key guys on cheap first contracts might have to make tough decisions all over the roster in order to put together another competitive team and comply with the salary cap.

Ok - I;ll just have to wait to find out. Bede might get signed to a mega buck$ contract by another CFL team in the near future.

No doubt you will provide all the right answers and the truth though. ;o)

[Skilz]

All the best to Bede moving forward.

What his forward did do however, is torpedo his negotiating value even before the negotiation period has ended.

How is another CFL team to know, whether their offer could be matched by the Argos?

By letting the cat out of the bag so early (he could have easily dropped this post on Super Bowl Sunday!) all he did arguably lower his value among the remaining bidders.

The Argos aren't stupid. The gist of his post reveals, that the Argos chose not to make him an offer. Whose going to play that kind of roulette without a backup plan? Do they allocate the funds they saved on Jordan Williams and attribute them to Liram H.? Thats good business.