Ricky Ray's Future with Argos A Wait and See Game

[jerrym]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Argos?src=hash">#Argos</a> $$&amp; commitment? 1 yr left on Ricky Ray heavily incentive-based deal. Jim Barker restructed Drew Willy to be incentive-based too <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash">#CFL</a></p>&mdash; Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSNScianitti/status/831317474650025984">February 14, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash">#CFL</a> sources say no discussions between <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Argos?src=hash">#Argos</a> &amp; Ricky Ray about his future. Wait&amp;see approach for team&amp;QB. New GM&amp;HC will determine a lot</p>&mdash; Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSNScianitti/status/831317535396085760">February 14, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


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[Jon Gonzo]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ricky Ray&#39;s agent says he is fully healthy &amp; plans to play in 2017. Still under contract w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Argos?src=hash">#Argos</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash">#CFL</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/FarhanLaljiTSN">@FarhanLaljiTSN</a></p>&mdash; CFL News (@CFL_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFL_News/status/831835451438858240">February 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[mchesher03]

well let's hope he does play then - I'd take an older ricky ray over willy no question. now to figure out RB, WR's, etc. some nice pieces on the defensive end in place in Lemon and Veneble imo

[Neely2005]

Right now he's by far the best QB on our roster.

[argonaut11xx]

Right now he's by far the best QB on our roster.

What?? your not on the Jeff Matthews bandwagon???

(I'm now removing my tongue that was firmly implanted in my cheek)

[AngeloV]

well let's hope he does play then - I'd take an older ricky ray over willy no question. now to figure out RB, WR's, etc. some nice pieces on the defensive end in place in Lemon and Veneble imo

Marshall Ferguson said on air yesterday that Matthew Scianitti was told the Argos plan to go with Coombs at RB. Of course, depending on coach and GM moves, that can change.

[Jon Gonzo]

Marshall Ferguson said on air yesterday that Matthew Scianitti was told the Argos plan to go with Coombs at RB. Of course, depending on coach and GM moves, that can change.

If that's the case, an American to back him up will be called for. Curtis Steele anyone? Trevon Van, Shakir Bell, Anthony Allen, Brandon Rutley? Someone who is good on the return team would be preferable. He hasn't proven he is durable enough. Insurance necessary.

[argonaut11xx]

Marshall Ferguson said on air yesterday that Matthew Scianitti was told the Argos plan to go with Coombs at RB. Of course, depending on coach and GM moves, that can change.

Seems very backwards to load up on players, when you have no idea of the coach or his philosophies. Add that to the fact that Zimmerman is hardly qualified to find these players.

Its going to be a gong show. (Think Tracey Ham's time with the Argo's)

[Jon Gonzo]

Seems very backwards to load up on players, when you have no idea of the coach or his philosophies. Add that to the fact that Zimmerman is hardly qualified to find these players.

Its going to be a gong show. (Think Tracey Ham's time with the Argo's)


The Huardian Dark Ages, he we come. Load up on batteries, and get canned goods and gas for the generator.

[AngeloV]

If that's the case, an American to back him up will be called for. Curtis Steele anyone? Trevon Van, Shakir Bell, Anthony Allen, Brandon Rutley? Someone who is good on the return team would be preferable. He hasn't proven he is durable enough. Insurance necessary.

Not necessarily. Matt Walter is out there, as is Anthony Woodson.


Seems very backwards to load up on players, when you have no idea of the coach or his philosophies. Add that to the fact that Zimmerman is hardly qualified to find these players.

Its going to be a gong show. (Think Tracey Ham's time with the Argo's)

Unless of course Tommy Condell is going to be the coach, and the line about a GM deciding on who the coach will be is just BS. Wouldn't surprise me if they are specifically looking for a GM that will work with Condell.

[Antwon]

Unless of course Tommy Condell is going to be the coach, and the line about a GM deciding on who the coach will be is just BS. Wouldn't surprise me if they are specifically looking for a GM that will work with Condell.

At this point I hope Condell is the HC. But they needed to declare that a week ago!!!
This season is heading for a Huard/Andrus type year.
I'm sure Copeland will be at practice with a cooler of popcicles for the players!!!

[AngeloV]

i'm sure copeland will be at practice with a cooler of popcicles for the players!!!

LMFAO!! Tell me you didn't just say that!!!

[argotom]

Who needs a coach or GM?
Maybe Ricky will be the playing HC/OC.
With Condell as the remaining staff.
While we are at it in a further cost cutting measure, the team can hold some open practices/workouts at various correctional institutions in North America.
Fill out the team like in the Longest Yard.
Burt Reynolds at nearly 80 years old can be the backup QB.

[R.J]

If the Argos are hedging their bets on Ray, Willy, and Matthews it's going to be a long season IMO.
5 seasons of injuries is a trend, and IMO it's pretty clear that Ray isn't the player he was in the past, but hey let's continue throwing Ray out there and expecting a different outcome.

[jerrym]

Marshall Ferguson said on air yesterday that Matthew Scianitti was told the Argos plan to go with Coombs at RB. Of course, depending on coach and GM moves, that can change.


Not necessarily. Matt Walter is out there, as is Anthony Woodson.



Coomb has shown some ability to catch the ball on short passes but has shown no ability to break tackles or elusiveness. I also wonder, considering his size, whether he can survive the pounding if he is to be used as a RB. Nor have I seen any sign that he could be a blocking back, an important skill in a passing offence.
If they do decide to go with him, they may well go with a National backup RB, such as Walter or Woodson, as some other teams have done. Otherwise you are using up an International in a backup role rather than as one of 17 starters.

[doubleblue]

Coomb has shown some ability to catch the ball on short passes but has shown no ability to break tackles or elusiveness. I also wonder, considering his size, whether he can survive the pounding if he is to be used as a RB.
If they do decide to go with him, they may well go with a National backup RB, such as Walter or Woodson, as some other teams have done. Otherwise you are using up an International in a backup role rather than as one of 17 starters.

I agree about Coombs as a starting RB. The only thing I have seen positive from him is his speed and some receiving ability in open space. He would not stand up to the pounding RB's take and as you point out he goes down at the first contact.
Disappointed Whitaker was not brought back. Unless he was asking for too much I think he still has game and would make a good one two punch with another young RB. Its not like Whitaker is injury prone even though he is getting up there in age.

[Argo57]

Turn around and run like hell Ricky!!
Distinguished Hall of Fame career, stay away from this shit show!!

[Shirley]

well let's hope he does play then - I'd take an older ricky ray over willy no question. now to figure out RB, WR's, etc. some nice pieces on the defensive end in place in Lemon and Veneble imo

I am with you on Ray, I wish we had kept Dan Lef btw. My WR wish list includes Gurley

[Wobbler]

Shirley, you can't be serious. We could use a guy like Gurley, but after he was run out of town on a rail he probably wouldn't be too interested.

Welcome to the site, by the way! :)

[jerrym]

I am with you on Ray, I wish we had kept Dan Lef btw. My WR wish list includes Gurley

Welcome on board the somewhat leaky ship Argo. I'm afraid I have to agree with Wobbler on this.

[Shirley]

Shirley, you can't be serious. We could use a guy like Gurley, but after he was run out of town on a rail he probably wouldn't be too interested.

Welcome to the site, by the way! :)

Ya you are probably right on Gurley. As for the welcome thank you, my name was not taken yet, I figure this means it was meant to be :)

[OV Argo]

Coomb has shown some ability to catch the ball on short passes but has shown no ability to break tackles or elusiveness. I also wonder, considering his size, whether he can survive the pounding if he is to be used as a RB. Nor have I seen any sign that he could be a blocking back, an important skill in a passing offence.
If they do decide to go with him, they may well go with a National backup RB, such as Walter or Woodson, as some other teams have done. Otherwise you are using up an International in a backup role rather than as one of 17 starters.


Kienan Lafrance - who helped lead Ottawa to a GC win - played behind Coombs at RB at Manitoba.

Coombs might be capable of playing as the main RB - as far as taking a pounding - he's around the same size as Whitaker and it's not like the Argo offence is about to start pounding a ground game anyways (at least with Condell or some other standard procedure GOB running the offence). A good plan might be to go with a platoon system at RB - Coombs, plus find a good new (and big) import RB - who could even be a DI.

The Argos could also thinking of drafting a NI RB to compete; not a lot of RB talent this coming draft IMO, but Carabins' RB Sean Thomas-Earlington was a good CFL style RB in CIS ball - seemed to be a decent package of running skills, plus good blocker & pass catcher; decent size too at 205 or so. Bet he will be available mid to late rounds ?

[gilthethrill]

Kienan Lafrance - who helped lead Ottawa to a GC win - played behind Coombs at RB at Manitoba.

Coombs might be capable of playing as the main RB - as far as taking a pounding - he's around the same size as Whitaker and it's not like the Argo offence is about to start pounding a ground game anyways (at least with Condell or some other standard procedure GOB running the offence). A good plan might be to go with a platoon system at RB - Coombs, plus find a good new (and big) import RB - who could even be a DI.

The Argos could also thinking of drafting a NI RB to compete; not a lot of RB talent this coming draft IMO, but Carabins' RB Sean Thomas-Earlington was a good CFL style RB in CIS ball - seemed to be a decent package of running skills, plus good blocker & pass catcher; decent size too at 205 or so. Bet he will be available mid to late rounds ?

I am a big fan of Guelph RB Johnny Augustine myself.

[doubleblue]

Right now he's by far the best QB on our roster.

Ricky Ray even with some zip gone on his throws is still the best QB on the roster IMO. Just need to give him the right players to work with.

[OV Argo]

I am a big fan of Guelph RB Johnny Augustine myself.


Yeah - a tough little inside runner - sort of Mike Pringle build and style (wears #27 too).

Not going to get a legit shot to compete for playing time at RB in the CFL right away though - wrong passport there; might be able to make a roster if he can play STs well, and then maybe progress - good back-up RB who could eventually emerge like Lafrance did ?

[R.J]

Ricky Ray even with some zip gone on his throws is still the best QB on the roster IMO.
That's not saying much.

[OV Argo]

That's not saying much.

Yet Trestman with an aging Calvillo got the Als to some success/GCs? - who's the better QB Ray or Calvillo? - if you pick the latter, then no need to carry on this discussion.

[Rich]

Yet Trestman with an aging Calvillo got the Als to some success/GCs? - who's the better QB Ray or Calvillo? - if you pick the latter, then no need to carry on this discussion.


I'll agree that Ricky was a better QB in his prime than Calvillo. But Calvillo was a better, more durable athlete, allowing him to maintain a high level through his late 30s. There were times last year when Ricky looked like Betty White out there. Good O-Line or not, Ricky has zero escapability any more, he's just gonna get more beat up if he plays this year.

[Shatto]

Even though both were outstanding, most would agree that Ray in his prime was the better QB--a future HOFer. Trestman's system stresses a quick release of the ball by the QB. If Ray has regained strength in his throwing arm and he can master Trestman's system, we could be on the way to a far better offense than last year's. Pity the team lost Shaw and Spencer but if some of the receivers can achieve their potential (Jones, Noel, Debose, Fuller, Posey. Wylie, Worthy, Morgan etc,), the team may provide Ray with some good targets. At least there is reason for a little more optimism, than this time last week.

[R.J]

Yet Trestman with an aging Calvillo got the Als to some success/GCs? - who's the better QB Ray or Calvillo? - if you pick the latter, then no need to carry on this discussion.
At their peaks, I'd give Ray the edge, even though he never threw for 6,000, but Calvillo was still playing at a high level into his mid to late 30's, where as Ray is nowhere near the player he was in until 2014.

Ray's no longer an elite QB IMO. Jennings, Reilly, Mitchell, Collaros, and Harris are all QB's I'd take over Ray.

[OV Argo]

At their peaks, I'd give Ray the edge, even though he never threw for 6,000, but Calvillo was still playing at a high level into his mid to late 30's, where as Ray is nowhere near the player he was in until 2014.

Ray's no longer an elite QB IMO. Jennings, Reilly, Mitchell, Collaros, and Harris are all QB's I'd take over Ray.


You might be right, but though I'm tempted, I'm not 100% down with writing off Ricky as a very good CFL QB still. The health of his passing arm is the big issue IMO - if it's even 85% of what it once was, that's easily good enough; his accuracy & smarts could still do lots in a sharp Trestman passing offence = could be better than what Calvillo did late in his career.

[Scooter McCray]

Having Ray as a backup that wants to transition to coaching is great for the Argos. He can learn under Trestman and having a HOF QB available off the bench is great like Wilkinson on the Eskimos tutoring Moon. Now Popp just needs to find the Argos a Warren Moon. That's not asking too much. Expecting Ray to start 18 games is asking too much of him at this stage or going into a season with that expectation is too risky.

[paulwoods13]

You might be right, but though I'm tempted, I'm not 100% down with writing off Ricky as a very good CFL QB still. The health of his passing arm is the big issue IMO - if it's even 85% of what it once was, that's easily good enough; his accuracy & smarts could still do lots in a sharp Trestman passing offence = could be better than what Calvillo did late in his career.

75% accuracy in 2016, and 15/6 TD/INT ratio. Clearly he can still hit his receivers with catchable passes. Whether he can sling it downfield well enough is TBD, but I think he can probably do it well enough to be effective in a Trestman offence.

[ArgoGabe22]

I'm stoked to hear Ray will be the starter, unless he shows otherwise. Ray is also prepared to be the backup.

[mchesher03]

Given what I’m seeing, appears that ricky ray’s future is no longer a “wait and see” – trestman is a fan, Ricky is the undisputed starter and let’s see where this goes!

[Neely2005]

I'm stoked to hear Ray will be the starter, unless he shows otherwise. Ray is also prepared to be the backup.

It makes sense. A healthy Ray is still one of the best IMO.

[argotom]

For me AC was a much better than Ricky when comparing their respective prime.
Better arm, with greater strength.
Although I have stated as have some here about Ray being done not just last year but a few years ago, I am willing to give the professor a chance to work with Ray.
He did it with AC, made him a quick 3 step drop back passer and this definitely extended his Hall of Fame career.
I am not sure he can do it with either Willy or Ray, but there is currently no other option?

[jerrym]

Don Landry discusses why a Trestman-Ray combo may be highly successful:



“There’s no competition starting out. Ricky Ray’s going to be our quarterback until he shows us he can’t be.”
With those straightforward words, the new head coach of the Toronto Argonauts settled the team’s most important question on day one of his employment (http://www.cfl.ca/2017/02/28/trestman-ray-ricky-quarterback-well-start-way/).
Marc Trestman is just about the perfect coach for Ray at this late stage of the veteran quarterback’s career and there are a number of reasons for that, the most important being that Trestman is first and foremost a coach who painstakingly ensures that his quarterback is comfortable, protected and equipped for the job, both mentally and in how the players around that quarterback are employed.
Ray and Trestman will be speaking the same language right out of the gate, or at least close to it. Trestman and Scott Milanovich developed a way of doing things in Montreal and when Milanovich left the Als to become the head coach of the Argonauts in 2012, he brought much of that blueprint to Toronto, handing off those schemes and processes to Ray.
After at first being uncomfortable with it all, Ray blossomed during the late stages of 2012 and has been reading defences using an off-shoot of the Marc Trestman way ever since. No surprise, then, that Trestman announced that Ray would be his starter, when asked the million dollar question at his first media conference as Argos’ coach. Trestman’s presence should certainly give Ray cause for optimism; Ray’s presence most certainly provides the new coach with something he’s valued in the past and that is a proven veteran working the levers. ...

Personally, I think Ricky Ray – at the age of 37 – has plenty left to offer and that is not entirely based on just his career-long reputation, but on what I saw from him when he returned to action in the late stages of a disastrous Argonauts’ 2016 season.
Ray, who’d been beaten up and battered something fierce over the course of three seasons, came back after major shoulder surgery only to suffer an early season knee strain and then a mid-season broken rib. However, he was looking as good as could be expected in a game against the powerhouse Calgary Stampeders last October.
The Argos lost that game by a score of 31-13, which was expected, all things considered. Ray, however had a good night, personally, when he wasn’t on his duff, throwing for 311 yards and a touchdown, although he tossed a couple of picks and didn’t finish with your usual Ray-like completion percentage, going 28-for-42. When he was afforded time in the pocket, he looked fine. When the Stampeders decided to tinker with that pocket – with extreme prejudice – Ray faltered. What I thought, on that night, was; How good would Ricky Ray look if he were taking snaps behind that Calgary offensive line right now?
Very good, was my conclusion. Therein lies the key for Trestman, new General Manager Jim Popp and for Ray as the Argonauts try to make up for lost off-season time and attempt to be as competitive as possible right away; Give Ricky Ray time.


http://www.argonauts.ca/2017/03/01/landry-working-trestman-will-prove-ray-left/

[hugoagogo]

Having Ray as a backup that wants to transition to coaching is great for the Argos. He can learn under Trestman and having a HOF QB available off the bench is great like Wilkinson on the Eskimos tutoring Moon. Now Popp just needs to find the Argos a Warren Moon. That's not asking too much. Expecting Ray to start 18 games is asking too much of him at this stage or going into a season with that expectation is too risky.

I will go on record as saying I believe James Franklin will be the next great quarterback in the CFL. I think Ed Hervey would rather see him wind up in Toronto versus Saskatchewan. If he's going to leave Edmonton, I hope you guys get him.

[argotom]

I will go on record as saying I believe James Franklin will be the next great quarterback in the CFL. I think Ed Hervey would rather see him wind up in Toronto versus Saskatchewan. If he's going to leave Edmonton, I hope you guys get him.

I agree with you completely.
I said before how the Argos and especially now with this new combo make a full court press to trade for him.
Offer a package, couple of 1st round picks for the next two years and a starter.
This kid is worth it and like you say going east is his destination as Hervey has to trade him before he turns FA at the end of the year.

[paulwoods13]

Franklin looks like a good prospect, but there is no proof he will achieve his potential. Would we really want to surrender two first-rounders and a starter for a guy whose best games (by far) have come against our sorry defence? And therefore have no first-rounders until 2020? I wouldn't.

[Neely2005]

I agree with you completely.
I said before how the Argos and especially now with this new combo make a full court press to trade for him.
Offer a package, couple of 1st round picks for the next two years and a starter.
This kid is worth it and like you say going east is his destination as Hervey has to trade him before he turns FA at the end of the year.

Why does Hervey have to trade him? If Edmonton is competing for the Grey Cup they may decide that it's better to keep him on the roster as insurance and let him become a UFA.

[AngeloV]

Why does Hervey have to trade him? If Edmonton is competing for the Grey Cup they may decide that it's better to keep him on the roster as insurance and let him become a UFA.

Wouldn't surprise me if when push comes to shove, the Esks decide to keep him over Reilly.

[R.J]

Why does Hervey have to trade him? If Edmonton is competing for the Grey Cup they may decide that it's better to keep him on the roster as insurance and let him become a UFA.
Would be a bad move by Hervey IMO. At least two teams, maybe even 3-4 would be very interested in acquiring a talent like Franklin. Sask could trade Glenn and a couple of picks for him, thus ensuring that Glenn has played for every Canadian team in the CFL lol.

[argotom]

He cannot keep both QB's.
There is no chance he trades a warrior like Reilly who despite being what 32, is still on top of his game.
Either he trades the one(Franklin) or, one for sure will walk at the end of the year for 1st string money offered by drooling teams bidding for his services.

[hugoagogo]

If I'm Hervey, I keep the security of Franklin at #2 for the entire season. He has shown he can win when Reilly goes down. You aren't going to get a better quarterback on a first year contract.
I think Hervey will trade Franklin in the off season for minor assets and that team will lock Franklin up before he becomes a FA (much like Edmonton did with Reilly and BC a few years back).

[Will]

Franklin looks like a good prospect, but there is no proof he will achieve his potential. Would we really want to surrender two first-rounders and a starter for a guy whose best games (by far) have come against our sorry defence? And therefore have no first-rounders until 2020? I wouldn't.

Good points. He's not someone I'd object to bringing in, but not at that price. Just because Barker unwisely paid the price he did for Willy doesn't mean it'd be right to overpay for Franklin.

[jerrym]

Ricky discusses playing for Trestman in this video:

http://www.cfl.ca/2017/03/02/ray-on-trestman-im-excited-to-learn-from-him/

[jerrym]

In thiis Waggle podcast, Ricky says he still has plenty of football left in himself, although he admits he thought about calling it a career last year after missing time from injuries once again. Hopefully, he's right.
The full interview can be found at the url below.



He was wondering if, after 14 seasons in the Canadian Football League, it was time to call it a career.
The league’s second-oldest quarterback now with the retirement of Henry Burris (Kevin Glenn is the oldest by four months), Ray joined CFL.ca’s Davis Sanchez in a one-on-one interview for The Waggle to talk about retirement, reclaiming the starting job and the upcoming season.
“I wasn’t playing and it was just kind of ‘hey, you know, gotta just think about some things’,” said Ray.
“I got into the off-season and I never once had the feeling I didn’t want to play anymore. Everything was ‘I want to play, I want to play’ — so it ended up being an easy decision for me.” ...

The 37-year-old added that despite the physical toll caused by injuries the last few years, he’s still got plenty of football left in him. The only uncertainty came following the departure of Scott Milanovich.
What would happen next for the future Hall of Famer?
“It was kind of the first time in a while in my career when I wasn’t sure — I was like ‘man, am I going to be playing in Toronto or am I going to be looking for a job somewhere else?'”
Things changed quickly. The Argos hired the duo of Jim Popp as GM and Marc Trestman as head coach, while Trestman immediately named Ray the starter. ...

The Argos’ quarterback huddle is crowded, with names such as Drew Willy, Jeff Mathews and Logan Kilgore all in the mix. With that said, Ray knows he’ll still have to go out in camp, compete and earn the job. ...
On the other hand, Ray finds the prospect of having to prove himself rejuvenating.

“As a player, it’s nice not to have that uncertainty,” said Ray. “It’s nice to know that you’re going to be given the full opportunity to prove yourself.”
Trestman watching will only be more motivation.
“I think just re-proving yourself to new coaches and trying to earn their respect gives you a little bit of that edge that you’re looking for,” said Ray. “That’s sometimes what change brings — it gets you excited about proving yourself again.”




http://www.cfl.ca/2017/03/31/waggle-extra-rejuvenated-ricky-ray/

[Harpastum]

The terrible reality of being a football quarterback is - you achieve your greatest ability to read the opposing defence & have the timing it takes to make difficult plays - right around the time the brutality of playing has just about tapped you out.

[jerrym]

Ricky Ray talks about the end of his career in typical Ricky Ray fashion.



How long will this go? How is this going to end?
As Ricky Ray begins the 16th season of his surefire hall of fame career, fans across the Canadian Football League might be asking the same questions.
Now 37, a three-time Grey Cup champion and fourth in CFL all-time passing yards (54,883), Ray’s resume is almost completely filled out, his story almost completely told. Entering the final year of his contract and playing on a roster that’s full of questions after a tough off-season, Ray isn’t trying to deny that he’s in the final chapter or chapters of his career. He hears the clock ticking, the same way that Henry Burris did and the same way that Peyton Manning did. But he’s not consumed with getting the storybook ending that those two QBs got. ...

“There’s urgency to win every year,” he said this week after a practice at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. “That’s the feeling you (always) have. It’s not because I know my time is limited. Thats just the feeling you get when you have such high hopes of winning (every year). So you feel the urgency to do the best you can to help your team and put them in that position.”
Maybe in part because of the spotlight that comes with the position, quarterbacks seem to hear Father Time doing his work more loudly than their teammates. Each season that ends without a championship, each obstacle that pops up along the way: a team’s bad season or the serious injuries like the ones that have found Ray over the last few years, tick tock through the game for everyone to hear. Another imperfect chapter coming to an abrupt close.
Recently we’ve watched Burris, Anthony Calvillo and Kerry Joseph stay behind centre past 40. Kevin Glenn will go into Roughriders training camp as the No. 1 QB and he’ll be 38 by the time the season starts.
The common storyline with these guys is usually that they’re a Grey Cup away from retiring. Ray says he’s not driven by that.
“When you watch guys like Peyton Manning, Henry Burris, you think that’s kind of a cool way to do it but it’s not something that I really think about too much,” he said. “Obviously it would be great for anyone to go out with a positive note in anything that they do but it’s nothing that I’ve said, ‘Hey that’s going to make or break what I want to do.’ I mean, that would just be icing on the cake to do something like that.”
It’s classic Ricky Ray. Whereas Burris seemed consumed by proving he was still a starter, still great, still a winner in this league, Ray has gone about putting together one of the best careers in CFL history while being church-mouse quiet.
He knows that the end is somewhere down the road and that this year’s journey is a unique one, with a brand-new GM, head coach and coaching staff. There are lots of new faces on the roster that got together on the field for the first time this week at the mini-camp. Playing under Jim Popp and Marc Trestman — the Montreal GM-coach duo that he played against in three Grey Cup games — is a storybook twist unto itself.


http://www.cfl.ca/2017/04/28/oleary-ricky-rays-story-not-finished-yet/

[jerrym]

GM Jim Popp is high on Ricky Ray and all three other QBs, but you would expect him to say that.



The Toronto Argonauts are feeling pretty good about their quarterback depth heading into the 2017 season.
Veteran Ricky Ray will be leading the charge for the Boatmen with three pivots sitting behind him that are ready to learn and ready to step in whenever necessary.
Drew Willy, who was acquired by the Argos last season, Cody Fajardo and recently inked Jeff Mathews have all impressed both Argos head coach Marc Trestman and general manager Jim Popp.
“I know Drew Willy has performed extremely high in this league,” Popp said during season preview call with the media on Tuesday. “I know Jeff Mathews has those abilities to do it and I’ve seen him step in while he was in Hamilton. Fajardo is an up-and-coming athlete that can be used in roles and is only going to get better.
“When they’re all sitting behind Ricky Ray, or you have Marc Trestman to learn from, which I watched in Montreal him get the best out of all the guys, and have a veteran coordinator and quarterback coach in Marcus Brady. We’ve got a great chance.”


https://www.cfl.ca/2017/05/16/ricky-ray-great-group-quarterbacks-year/

[jerrym]

Evidence that Ricky Ray is still a top QB. However the question remains whether he can stay healthy.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ricky Ray of the <a href="https://twitter.com/TorontoArgos">@TorontoArgos</a> was the only QB without an INT from numbers to the boundary on both sides. 138.6 is ridiculous!<br>Details <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash">#CFL</a> <a href="https://t.co/6iKpk3CCv2">pic.twitter.com/6iKpk3CCv2</a></p>&mdash; Derek Taylor 🇨🇦🏈 (@DTonSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/DTonSC/status/867134341222150145">May 23, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[ArgoGabe22]

Evidence that Ricky Ray is still a top QB. However the question remains whether he can stay healthy.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ricky Ray of the <a href="https://twitter.com/TorontoArgos">@TorontoArgos</a> was the only QB without an INT from numbers to the boundary on both sides. 138.6 is ridiculous!<br>Details <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash">#CFL</a> <a href="https://t.co/6iKpk3CCv2">pic.twitter.com/6iKpk3CCv2</a></p>&mdash; Derek Taylor 🇨🇦🏈 (@DTonSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/DTonSC/status/867134341222150145">May 23, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Can't throw INTs if he only does 2 yard check downs...