Argofans

paulwoods13 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 6:01 pm When Barker made those comments, he was not working for the Argos. He was a media personality of sorts, and would have had no good reason to undermine his own credibility with spin.

OV Argo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 5:49 pm

ArgoRavi wrote: ↑Thu Jan 08, 2026 8:47 pm The Argos have signed LB Jalen Rayam through 2028. He was a 5th round draft pick in 2025 out of UTEP and will attend his first CFL training camp in 2026.

Here's what Jim Barker said to the Calgary Herald prior to the 2025 draft about Rayam:

Barker on Rayam: “I think Jalen Rayam’s the best there, but he hasn’t played in two years due to injury,” Barker said. “Based on his 2022 year alone at Middle Tennessee State, he’s the best linebacker. But now you’ve got two years that happened — one, he blows his ACL in training camp, and the next year, he gets hurt the first game of the season at UTEP.”

https://calgaryherald.com/sports/who-wi ... -cfl-draft

I'd suggest you look up Rayam's actual stats and playing time in that 2022 season at Middle Tennessee, rather than buying Barker's bluster Ravi. Quite expected to hear a team executive talk up his players though.

OV Argo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 6:55 pm

paulwoods13 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 6:01 pm When Barker made those comments, he was not working for the Argos. He was a media personality of sorts, and would have had no good reason to undermine his own credibility with spin.

As has been mentioned, Rayam's father played a number of years in the CFL , including with the Stamps. And if people want to buy "experts" ' assessment of young players leading up to a CFL draft, that's cool. People can also do their own research or might have seen or followed some of these players - you know, to form your own individual opinion. I happen to be a big fan / have keen interest of the CFL draft and prospects leading up to the draft. Might be quite in the minority amongst CFL fans there, but there are a few of us (like Shatto on this site and another guy who liked to post about Canadian talent but seems to be chased away now (?) )

I also mentioned Barker's draft assessment of Jesse Lumsden back in the day - saying he should be looked at as a fullback in the CFL.

As I also said, I hope Mr. Barker has learned lots of football lessons in his long time involvement with the CFL, and will put them to wise use in this new run with the Argos.

paulwoods13 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:34 pm

OV Argo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 6:55 pm

paulwoods13 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 6:01 pm When Barker made those comments, he was not working for the Argos. He was a media personality of sorts, and would have had no good reason to undermine his own credibility with spin.

As has been mentioned, Rayam's father played a number of years in the CFL , including with the Stamps. And if people want to buy "experts" ' assessment of young players leading up to a CFL draft, that's cool. People can also do their own research or might have seen or followed some of these players - you know, to form your own individual opinion. I happen to be a big fan / have keen interest of the CFL draft and prospects leading up to the draft. Might be quite in the minority amongst CFL fans there, but there are a few of us (like Shatto on this site and another guy who liked to post about Canadian talent but seems to be chased away now (?) )

I also mentioned Barker's draft assessment of Jesse Lumsden back in the day - saying he should be looked at as a fullback in the CFL.

As I also said, I hope Mr. Barker has learned lots of football lessons in his long time involvement with the CFL, and will put them to wise use in this new run with the Argos.

Total deflection, not surprisingly. If Barker's comments had been made by Duane Forde, who was in the exact same position as Barker when he made them (i.e. a media commentator), I'm sure you would have bought that "expert" assessment of a young player leading up to the CFL draft. That's cool.

OV Argo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 9:02 pm Umm, if Duane Ford lauded a guy who was not even a full-time starter, with middling stats, playing on a lower level US college ball team, as the best LB in the draft class, I think i might be tempted to question that view. But maybe Duane is really my hero and I consider him an inscrutable expert on everything to do with the CFL draft ? And if you have pretty well zero knowledge of a CFL draft class before Combine time when some experts make comments, and then take that as Bible, that's cool too.

ArgoRavi wrote: ↑Mon Jan 12, 2026 5:16 pm The Argos have signed American DL Charlie Looes, who spent time with DL coach Demetrious Maxie in Edmonton last season.

Also, Canadian DL Tyson Hergott has retired.

https://www.argonauts.ca/2026/01/12/boa ... lie-looes/

argolio wrote: ↑Mon Jan 12, 2026 4:50 pm Who knew a 5th round pick could be so controversial?