Ed Hervey Fired

[ArgoGabe22]

Are the Esks gonna get crapped on like the Argos did? Doesn't seem like it's so sunny over in Edmonton with Rhodes. P.S. Can we get Argos alumni to post here?

http://www.cfl.ca/2017/04/07/eskimos-part-ways-gm-ed-hervey/

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sean Fleming speaks the truth. Screw you Len. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Esks?src=hash">#Esks</a> <a href="https://t.co/iwESIlDPrn">pic.twitter.com/iwESIlDPrn</a></p>&mdash; PJ (@pammyJ79) <a href="https://twitter.com/pammyJ79/status/850420595749552128">April 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> (http://www.cfl.ca/2017/04/07/eskimos-part-ways-gm-ed-hervey/)

[1971GreyCup]

Are the Esks gonna get crapped on like the Argos did? Doesn't seem like it's so sunny over in Edmonton with Rhodes. P.S. Can we get Argos alumni to post here?

http://www.cfl.ca/2017/04/07/eskimos-part-ways-gm-ed-hervey/

(http://www.cfl.ca/2017/04/07/eskimos-part-ways-gm-ed-hervey/)<iframe title="Twitter Tweet" class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" id="twitter-widget-0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="true" style="padding: 0px; border: currentColor; border-image: none; width: 500px; height: 662.29px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; display: block; visibility: visible; position: static; min-width: 220px; max-width: 100%;" allowtransparency="true" data-tweet-id="850420595749552128"></iframe>
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ArgoGabe22 are you suggesting that the Argos situation should be compared to the Eskie's situation. I'm counting 10 missteps on the Argos front and last count, 3,500 STH left. I was at a Commonwealth Stadium Argo game recently and marvelled by all aspects of their CFL product. Do the other CFL teams have missteps, of course. Can you possibly group the recent Argos operations with a non-BC Lion western team? Hardly. We used to be hated out there. Now they just feel sorry for us remaining fans.
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[AngeloV]

Now they just feel sorry for us remaining fans.


That's ok. Over the years, I've felt sorry for Stamps fans (save the stamps telethons in the mid 80's), Riders fans (same) and even Ti-Cats fans (how often were they rumoured to die before Bob Young?). Ottawa lost their team twice. Things happen.

[ArgoGabe22]

ArgoGabe22 are you suggesting that the Argos situation should be compared to the Eskie's situation. I'm counting 10 missteps on the Argos front and last count, 3,500 STH left. I was at a Commonwealth Stadium Argo game recently and marvelled by all aspects of their CFL product. Do the other CFL teams have missteps, of course. Can you possibly group the recent Argos operations with a non-BC Lion western team? Hardly. We used to be hated out there. Now they just feel sorry for us remaining fans.
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I was more referring to firing your GM at a strange time and how Copeland got criticized harshly for. Deservedly so but will CFL fans criticize Rhodes for doing the same?

[ArgoRavi]

I was more referring to firing your GM at a strange time and how Copeland got criticized harshly for. Deservedly so but will CFL fans criticize Rhodes for doing the same?

I think that Rhodes made a good move here. I think that a major reason why attendance has been stagnant, at best, in Edmonton is because Hervey restricted access to players to the media and, ultimately, the fans. The biggest problem with this move though is the timing which is far worse than what happened with the Argos.

[AngeloV]

I think that Rhodes made a good move here. I think that a major reason why attendance has been stagnant, at best, in Edmonton is because Hervey restricted access to players to the media and, ultimately, the fans. The biggest problem with this move though is the timing which is far worse than what happened with the Argos.

Interesting to read some comments today that none of Hervey's draft picks over 4 years at the helm are starters. Yet they were still able to win a Grey Cup. Very interesting.

[1971GreyCup]

I don't think the Eskies timing on this move was anywhere near as bad as Argos dismissal of JB. It looks like the Eskies got all the FAs they were going after. It appeared to be a stable management to FAs who signed.

Eskies probably have their draft selections prioritized. In fact, timing was probably exactly when Rhodes wanted to pull the trigger. Under Rhodes, you can't complain about Eskies results.

""However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results." - Winston Churchill

[1971GreyCup]

Len Rhodes' press conference was very impressive.

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/hamilton-1150/iwanyk-media-access-is-not-a-reason-to-fire-a-gm-this-close-to-the-season-1.718474

The Eskies are a close second to the Oilers in the Edmonton market. They're very concerned with a drop off 3% in attendance coming off the 2015 Grey Cup win. They attributed this to a restrictive access policy under GM Hersey. Large media turnout. Len even handled a couple of questions in the French language. The Eskies are regarded as a well run community owned CFL team. Hats off for the progressive move and the unwillingness to except less than their high standards.

Their last published financials show display a team running on all cylinders: http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/05/2015-Eskimos-Report-to-Shareholders.pdf

[1971GreyCup]

If GM Barker were hired as an interim GM, the Argos might have found a savings from the commitment on his salary.

[AngeloV]

Glad to see the negativity towards the Argos is continuing even in a non Argos thread. We get that some don't like Copeland and that anything less than Pinball is unacceptable. Personally, I'd love to see the negativity if not gone completely, at the very least given a rest.

[1971GreyCup]

How about I stay positive about the progress of the Eskies, the preferred destination of Argos FAs. They continue to excel and have stretch goals, and not settling for anything less than progress? The Argos are not to be held accountable? The 5th Estate no longer cares about the team in Toronto. If the fans aren't critical of their mistakes, then who holds the accountable? This is hardly airing dirty laundry in public.

Should we all just grasp our hands together and all sing Kumbaya??

Where I come from, the customer is always right. This is an Argofans forum isn't it, or I am at risk to get banned for mentioning Argo's shortcomings on a CFL thread?

[Will]

How about I stay positive about the progress of the Eskies, the preferred destination of Argos FAs. They continue to excel and have stretch goals, and not settling for anything less than progress? The Argos are not to be held accountable? The 5th Estate no longer cares about the team in Toronto. If the fans aren't critical of their mistakes, then who holds the accountable?

Should we all just grasp our hands together and all sing
Kumbaya??

Where I come from, the customer is always right. This is an Argofans forum isn't it? Am I at risk to get banned mentioning Argos on a CFL thread?

Angelo's post was a suggestion, not a command.

[1971GreyCup]

I know lots of goodwill was created by an exclusive invite to 46 Argofans.com, but what is different for 2017? We're well into April and I watch the fan engagement events across the league during season ticket sales. Have I missed something locally?

[jerrym]

Len Rhodes' press conference was very impressive.

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/hamilton-1150/iwanyk-media-access-is-not-a-reason-to-fire-a-gm-this-close-to-the-season-1.718474

The Eskies are a close second to the Oilers in the Edmonton market. They're very concerned with a drop off 3% in attendance coming off the 2015 Grey Cup win. They attributed this to a restrictive access policy under GM Hersey. Large media turnout. Len even handled a couple of questions in the French language. The Eskies are regarded as a well run community owned CFL team. Hats off for the progressive move and the unwillingness to except less than their high standards.

Their last published financials show display a team running on all cylinders: http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/05/2015-Eskimos-Report-to-Shareholders.pdf

I was surprised by Hervey's firing, but, as in most jobs, most firings have to do more with other things than competence. Terry Jones argues that the ego fight between Hervey, Rhodes and others was central to the termination.



Ed Hervey was an exceptional head of football operations and an equally excellent general manager of the Edmonton Eskimos. So why in the world was he fired Friday?
Hervey thought he was all nine members of the board of governors, the president, the CEO, the director of marketing, public relations and media relations and apparently wanted to be compensated as such. As good as he was as vice-president of football ops and GM, Hervey was equally inept at all the other jobs, especially the one involving media relations.
Hervey found out there was a line to how far he could go bullying his bosses Friday. ...
“Two major reasons drove this decision,” said Rhodes. “First, both parties could not agree to contact extension terms. Secondly, there are differences in philosophy over the way we do business. During the course of recent negotiations for a possible contract extension, it became clear that we would be unable to meet Ed’s expectations.”
The problem with Hervey has been the problem with much of the league these last four years or so. Football ops has been running the show. Ed Hervey was running Len Rhodes’ show and even the show of board chairman John Moquin and the other eight governors.
If the Eskimos do their homework in hiring Hervey’s successor, thanks to the job Hervey did, his replacement will be way ahead of the game. The next general manager after U.S. scout Paul Jones takes the team through the draft and tryout camps as interim GM, will move into an excellent situation if he’s smart enough to not reinvent the wheel.
And the next GM has a very good map of where not to go and what not to do.
Hervey, who almost entirely refused to do media availabilities other than at the mid-season mark of the schedule, was a complete contrast to the likes of Norm Kimball and Hugh Campbell, who were always available. Kimball went so far as to tell your correspondent to call him at 4 a.m. if a breaking story needed team reaction.


http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-eskimos/terry-jones-hervey-bullied-his-way-right-out-the-eskimos-door

[ArgoGabe22]

A lot of fans aren't happy with Rhodes in Edmonton. I personally think he made Hervey the scapegoat.

[1971GreyCup]

Like most big decisions, those making it better be right, or they wear it. Hats off to Edmonton for excellence. If you haven't been out to Commonwealth Stadium and interacted with their fans and the opportunity arises, take it. It's a lot of fun.

[1971GreyCup]

I was surprised by Hervey's firing, but, as in most jobs, most firings have to do more with other things than competence. Terry Jones argues that the ego fight between Hervey, Rhodes and others was central to the termination.


http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-eskimos/terry-jones-hervey-bullied-his-way-right-out-the-eskimos-door

Thanks for this JerryM.

[AngeloV]

How about I stay positive about the progress of the Eskies, the preferred destination of Argos FAs. They continue to excel and have stretch goals, and not settling for anything less than progress? The Argos are not to be held accountable? The 5th Estate no longer cares about the team in Toronto. If the fans aren't critical of their mistakes, then who holds the accountable? This is hardly airing dirty laundry in public.

Should we all just grasp our hands together and all sing Kumbaya??

Where I come from, the customer is always right. This is an Argofans forum isn't it, or I am at risk to get banned for mentioning Argo's shortcomings on a CFL thread?

Personally, I think you're full of it. Last year was last year. It's been over for a while. Get over it.
You have an issue with Copeland, so you have nothing good to say about anything concerning the team. If Pinball was in charge, and made the exact same decisions that Copeland has, you would be 100% behind it. No idea what Copeland has personally done to you, but it must have been a doozy for you to go on and on and on about it.

[1971GreyCup]

Let's be very clear,
1. I know very "Pinball" remains unavailable to work for the new Argos. If he was hired, he wouldn't get a pass from me either.
2. Copeland has done nothing to me. I am pretty sure he is a pretty nice fella.
3. Your continuing ability to give the Argos a free pass is admirable.
4. No comments made here are about last year..
5. I will limit my comments to positive CFL and other team moves on this link.
6. I don't care what you think of me personally, but I do think those thoughts don't belong here.
7. I have yet to see any resembling progress from broad fan engagement from the Argos. The Argo Fans' Day Town Hall meeting that was discussed here was to be on the first week of March to fill the vacuum that Dec - Feb became. It will now be held very late, on May 15th. The broad fan base has been disengaged since early November.
8. I am happy you met with management and shared with them what a swell job they were doing. Too bad they didn't ax Mike and the radio show before the meeting. I guess the place for cost cutting was on fan engagement and not the 100% additional HQ overhead.
9. I will remain furious about the state of the Argos as long as STH number below 5,000, games are empty and the franchises like Ottawa, Hamilton in the east fill their stadiums and have exceptional game day experiences. And that goes for anyone in charge.
10. Finally, it doesn't matter what you or I think, at the end of this season they will have excuted on their business plan and tangible progress will be made, or this discussion will have ended because a new management team will replace them.
End of story.

[ArgoGabe22]

FWIW Pinball got hired by the Argos in an advisory role.

[ArgoGabe22]

Why Len Rhodes was wrong to fire Hervey.

http://3downnation.com/2017/04/09/len-rhodes-wrong-fire-ed-hervey/

[1971GreyCup]

Len Rhodes interview was quite telling. Contract impasse and Hervey's resistance to accept CFL events like live mikes and media and fan acces were reasons given. Rhodes thinks the competitive advantage of the CFL in Edmonton was the accessibility of the players. It is so important that the players stories are told. Apparently Harvey restricted media and fan access to players. When he didn't back down, he was relieved of duties. Right or wrong will be determined in time. If Rhodes is wrong, he knows he'll have to go.

[1971GreyCup]

According to Len's bio, it just looks like he walks the talk.

Len Rhodes has a clear vision for the Edmonton Eskimo Football Club and that is to create a sports and entertainment experience worthy of champions. He maintains the highest standards for on-field success, the stadium fan experience and is dedicated to enhancing the Eskimos presence in the community.

Since he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer on Dec. 1, 2011, Rhodes has taken a football first approach, committing club resources to Football Operations and hiring General Manager Ed Hervey to lead the Eskimos Football Operations.

In 2015, Rhodes won his first Grey Cup championship as President and CEO.

Rhodes believes that an Eskimos game day experience should be all about the fans. He led a partnership with the Disney Institute to improve the guest experience. Together, with his on-field and off-field staff, his objective is to create legendary memories for guests at the stadium. Rhodes has overseen many upgrades at Commonwealth Stadium to significantly improve the game day experience.

He is also committed to significantly increasing funding for amateur football in Northern Alberta through the 50/50 program. After automating the system, the program raised and distributed $610,000 for amateur football in 2015 alone.

Rhodes is a consumer champion who has a solid reputation for “making things happen.” He brings senior executive experience from the sporting goods and consumer goods sectors where he held leading management roles with iconic brands and organizations, including Reebok-CCM Hockey, Molson Coors Brewing Company and Heinz. He is known for his ability to lead organizational turnarounds.

Prior to joining the Green and Gold, Rhodes oversaw the global operations of Reebok-CCM Hockey. As Senior Vice-President & General Manager, he led the worldwide launch of Reebok Hockey and made it a recognized global leader. Rhodes was also on the negotiating team that formed the exclusive long-term alliance between the National Hockey League and Reebok-CCM Hockey.

As an extremely active community member, Rhodes serves on the board of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and he has made approximately 100 community appearances on behalf of the Edmonton Eskimos in each of the last four years. He was subsequently named a CEASE Man of Honour for his efforts in assisting WIN House and women who are survivors of domestic violence. Rhodes is also an alternate on the CFL Board of Governors. In 2015, Rhodes was named to Edmonton’s Power 30 Group by the Edmonton Journal and in 2016, he was also named to Alberta Venture Magazine’s list of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People.

A native of Schefferville, Quebec, Rhodes was raised in Montreal where he graduated from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Major in Marketing, earned with distinction. He is fluent in English and French, and his personal interests revolve around sports, business, his love of dogs and travel.

He has a daughter, Melissa, whom he loves dearly. She works and resides in Montreal.

[jerrym]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">One knock on ex#Esks GM Eric Tillman was he was too cozy with media. Now Hervey fired because he wasn&#39;t. Rhodes responsible for both. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash">#CFL</a></p>&mdash; Drew Edwards (@scratchingpost) <a href="https://twitter.com/scratchingpost/status/850404937972432896">April 7, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[jerrym]

The Eskimos are restricted in who they can now hire as GM by CFL rules.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">5. (key one right now for <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonEsks">@EdmontonEsks</a>) (c) the contact above shall only be permitted during the two-month time period of<br>Dec 1 to Jan. 31;</p>&mdash; gary lawless (@garylawless) <a href="https://twitter.com/garylawless/status/850786621452627969">April 8, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


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[hugoagogo]

Interesting to read some comments today that none of Hervey's draft picks over 4 years at the helm are starters. Yet they were still able to win a Grey Cup. Very interesting.

That is true - most of his Canadian starters have been acquired via trade or were older vets.
It should be noted though - all five players Hervey drafted in 2015 are on their current roster - I don't think there is another CFL club that can say that - plus both OL Danny Groulx and David Beard are very close to being starters after two years of backing up.

[OV Argo]

That is true - most of his Canadian starters have been acquired via trade or were older vets.
It should be noted though - all five players Hervey drafted in 2015 are on their current roster - I don't think there is another CFL club that can say that - plus both OL Danny Groulx and David Beard are very close to being starters after two years of backing up.


Mr. Ed took a big gamble with his 1st & 2nd round picks in last year's draft - receiver Tevaun Smith & DB Arjen Colquhon - who were both on NFL radar and continue to hang around down there for this season (far as I know?); then, he had traded away both his 3rd & 4th round picks = so - the end result was zip/nadda NI additions to the Esks' roster last year via the 1st 4 rounds of the draft = not good at all. Might be OK if you have plenty of NI talent - both quality and depth quantity - to begin with, but that was probably not the case - IMO.

At least they signed a top notch Canadian talent in Greenwood this off-season, but they let go their 2 former starter NI DTs (Steele & Don O) and starting receiver Nate Coehoorn just retired (they did sign Shawmad Chambers again after he did little with the Riders).

A new GM might do a much better job of addressing needs with draft picks who are going to show-up and be a fit. They might also get lucky if Smith & Colquhon get released from the NFL and decide to come north.

[hugoagogo]

Mr. Ed took a big gamble with his 1st & 2nd round picks in last year's draft - receiver Tevaun Smith & DB Arjen Colquhon - who were both on NFL radar and continue to hang around down there for this season (far as I know?); then, he had traded away both his 3rd & 4th round picks = so - the end result was zip/nadda NI additions to the Esks' roster last year via the 1st 4 rounds of the draft = not good at all. Might be OK if you have plenty of NI talent - both quality and depth quantity - to begin with, but that was probably not the case - IMO.

At least they signed a top notch Canadian talent in Greenwood this off-season, but they let go their 2 former starter NI DTs (Steele & Don O) and starting receiver Nate Coehoorn just retired (they did sign Shawmad Chambers again after he did little with the Riders).

A new GM might do a much better job of addressing needs with draft picks who are going to show-up and be a fit. They might also get lucky if Smith & Colquhon get released from the NFL and decide to come north.

I hear what you are saying, but I think Ed's record speaks volumes - a Grey Cup and two division finals in the past three years. Sometimes your Canadian talent doesn't come through who YOU draft, but who you acquire by other means. Ed was a good GM and he was not fired because of his inability to run football ops. He did what the fans wanted.
...and yes, hopefully the new guy (whoever he is) can pick up the pieces and hit the ground running. It was a poor time of year to let go of the GM.