Need some Argo news! Now!!

[1argoholic]

After all the excitement just after Grey Cup Argo news has dried up. Was hoping to hear about some free agent signings or something by now. Perhaps a few more receivers to bring into camp.

[R.J]

Less than a week until FA opens, but from what I have read lately, Barker is not planning on big FA signings, plus he actually seems quite happy/content with the current receiving core and feels that with Ray in the fold the offense should be fine. http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...828/story.html

Should also point out that the Argos are one of the likely destinations for Anwar Stewart, along with Hamilton and Saskatchewan. Greg Carr looks to heading to free agency according to his agent.

[ArgoRavi]

Barker's comments sound reasonable to me. At the end of the day, signing other teams' free agents might help you to fill a hole here or there but a team's success will be determined mostly by their off-season recruiting and drafting.

[eiben35]

Jim Barker is an idiot if he thinks our receivers are going to be fine. Him and Mike Hagen sat on their collective asses last off-season and did nothing to improve the team and it clearly showed. David Braley should have shown him the door after the disastrous 2011 season. Spencer Watt took a step backwards last season, Andre Durie has to get open down the field more and Chad Owens has to learn to catch and not fumble once a game.

[Will]

Less than a week until FA opens, but from what I have read lately, Barker is not planning on big FA signings, plus he actually seems quite happy/content with the current receiving core and feels that with Ray in the fold the offense should be fine. http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...828/story.html

Should also point out that the Argos are one of the likely destinations for Anwar Stewart, along with Hamilton and Saskatchewan. Greg Carr looks to heading to free agency according to his agent.

While I (like others) would like to see what Mann, Boldin, Tranks and Ballard have to offer, I'm not exactly pleased that Barker seems satisfied with the current receiver corps. While I agree that the QB situation partially contributed to the problem, the receiving corps is not something I'd like to just sit on and say that the new QB will change everything.

[1argoholic]

Unreal! I can't believe he's going to operate the same way as last year. You need more than Ricky Ray to be a quality team. If he thinks we don't need receiver help than he's a moron!!!

[ArgoRavi]

Let's not panic. It isn't like Barker is saying that he won't be bringing other receivers into camp. Obviously, Milanovich has his own idea about whether the current crop of receivers is good enough or not as well.

[gilthethrill]

Rest assured, there will be new blood in the receiving core coming from a FA camp down south, expect signings soon. I am however concerned about the lack of news regarding a new OC. What is the "Contingency Plan" anyway?

[Will]

Rest assured, there will be new blood in the receiving core coming from a FA camp down south, expect signings soon. I am however concerned about the lack of news regarding a new OC. What is the "Contingency Plan" anyway?

To address your two points:

[1] There may be new blood in the receiving corps from FA camps, but who says any of them will amount to anything?

[2] Maybe there isn't a rush to get a new offensive co-ordinator precisely because Milanovich knows he'll be handling a lot of the offensive duties?

[argolio]

This should be renamed the panic thread.

[ArgoRavi]

[1] There may be new blood in the receiving corps from FA camps, but who says any of them will amount to anything?

The Argos could sign Andy Fantuz and Greg Carr and they could both be busts as well. We will only know once we get into the season whose off-season recruits have panned out or not. I have confidence that with Chris Jones, who has a good reputation for evaluating personnel and not only on defence, and ten free agent camps so far having been run in the U.S. that the Argos will find some excellent competition for the receiving spots for training camp. We still have a good bit of the off-season left, including a mini-camp in April, so there is still lots of time to find those diamonds in the rough and it certainly sounds like they are looking for them.

[RoRoYoBoat]

No GM is going to tip his hand as to what his plans are for free agency. He hasn't released half his starters for nothing. Just follow the money...

[1argoholic]

He says that he isn't into signing other teams free agents. We have had zero transactions since the cutting of Lin J Shell almost a month ago. Why not panic? We were CRAP last year.

[KCargosfan]

He says that he isn't into signing other teams free agents. We have had zero transactions since the cutting of Lin J Shell almost a month ago. Why not panic? We were CRAP last year.

If you were planning to make some moves why would you tell the media? Speak softly and carry a big stick.

This should be renamed the panic thread.

True. As should the one that gets started in June when one of our stars doesn't have an incredible performance in a meaningless preseason game and people on here start wondering whether he should be cut.

[bluto]

This should be renamed the panic thread.

you say that in jest, fair enough... but with 3 days until the FA deadline and i have no clue (due to our lazy local sports departments who don't get stories for us) what is happening with our team and its players... i have to admit i'm beginning to feel some anxiety about our roster.

[AngeloV]

you say that in jest, fair enough... but with 3 days until the FA deadline and i have no clue (due to our lazy local sports departments who don't get stories for us) what is happening with our team and its players... i have to admit i'm beginning to feel some anxiety about our roster.

I really feel no anxiety at all. With the complete overhaul of the coaching staff, and especially philosophical differences on defence, I expected to see a huge roster turnover from last season. I believe you may see the Argos go heavy after Fantuz next week, and as such, will need to go with a lot of cheaper, hungrier and younger players (as far as inports go) to fill a lot of the roster. May mean some growing pains to start the season, but as long as the offence can put up some points, it should work out well.

[ArgoRavi]

I really feel no anxiety at all. With the complete overhaul of the coaching staff, and especially philosophical differences on defence, I expected to see a huge roster turnover from last season. I believe you may see the Argos go heavy after Fantuz next week, and as such, will need to go with a lot of cheaper, hungrier and younger players (as far as inports go) to fill a lot of the roster. May mean some growing pains to start the season, but as long as the offence can put up some points, it should work out well.

I feel exactly the same as you, Angelo. After going 6-12 last year, we had to expect a significant number of changes and we will get it. It is unfortunate that some fan favourites won't be re-signed but that is the nature of the business. As I have said before, the success or lack thereof over the course of a season will be determined by off-season recruiting as much as anything. There will likely be several players on the Argo roster to start the season that few of us will be familiar with but eventually they will become household names as happened with the departing veterans.

[bluto]

fair enough. and i expect changes too, but not having a guy like Picard or Pottinger signed doesn't make you wonder how/where we could get like replacements?

[ArgoRavi]

fair enough. and i expect changes too, but not having a guy like Picard or Pottinger signed doesn't make you wonder how/where we could get like replacements?

Gagne-Marcoux's natural position is centre and Jonathan St-Pierre is a centre as well so either of them could replace Picard. As far as Pottinger's spot goes, does he fit into the new system being implemented? There are also ratio considerations with his spot. Coming off major knee surgery, I can't see a strong market for Pottinger so if the Argos want him back, I am optimistic that it can be done.

[Nob]

The only problem that I foresee doesn't deal with the talent that is unsigned and heading into free-agency, but the fact that we are looking at saying goodbye to some non-import starters (Pottinger, Eiben, Robertson, and Picard). The Canadian content is a little weak.

If Barker is able to sign Fantuz then all could be forgiven, but I don't see that happening.

Another year of Watt starting will be maddening for me.