New CB in RG

The RIDERS signed CB Airabin Justin today to help fill some of the losses at the position. He was with Hamilton last year but was a minor contributor. As I mentioned in the previous entry there needs to be an equal amount of talent and character to win. Tillman calls Justin a character player let's hope he is and that there are many more of them coming into the system.

Invasion of the real world

Monday saw the closing (pending some final legal wrangling) of one of the most embarrassing chapters of the RIDERS and the CFL. Trevis Smith was sentenced to 5 ½ years plus an additional 6 months for violations of various related to his promiscuities with women without disclosing that he was positive for HIV.

This story begs to be debated further in the overall context of professional football. There are two stories from ESPN, one by Jemele Hill “The Pacman Jones Rule is overdue” and one by Bomani Jones “Can't the NFL police itself?” debating the merits of sanctions or policing of the NFLPA.

Jemele’s angle is the embarrassment of certain acts perpetrated by certain individuals like Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson. These acts have finally pushed the league to the point where both the players and the league want to seek a solution. This line from here story shows you just how far it has gone:

"They care … that we're all painted with the same brush," Gene Upshaw, head of the NFL players' union, told the Los Angeles Times. "Ninety percent is doing the right thing, and we've got 10 percent that's not."

I realize that the NFL and NFLPA have one of the healthiest relationships in professional sports as they both realize the immediate impact in dollar value that this public relations fiasco can have. However it is amazing that they are willing to admit that there is a problem and that potentially they need to have a policy in place that could remove players from their membership, which for most unions is strictly a no-no.

Bomani Jones takes the angle, why is the NFL looking to police blotters to decide when and if a player should be reprimanded. He argues, with a slap of hypocrisy to the NFL, that every team in the NFL has more information on the individual then any potential employer would of any new employee. Jones points to the Rams when they drafted Lawrence Phillips and did not commit a large signing bonus just in case. Although not a great situation as the Rams were still willing to employee an individual with strong criminal leanings even it might backfire. However putting the onus on the individual and the individual is the only person who can make the change.

This brings us back to Smith and the RIDERS. Smith was part of the overwhelming amount of pure talent that was brought in by Shivers, however there was one key ingredient that was missing in all the talent and that was character. That missing ingredient will kill the winning that a talented team could achieve and it most often goes beyond the boundaries of the field.

Thierry Henry stated last summer after the Zidane incident, you can take the boy off the streets of Nice but you can’t take the streets out of the boy. Now there are many, many cases of athletes and individuals rising above there surroundings, but there are usually indicators that point to potential outcomes. Each of the individuals in the stories Chris Henry, Tank Johnson and Pacman Jones had histories that only pointed to problems.

Now I’ll admit that the juggernaut that is the NFL has more access to information then the CFL but a player that comes from the US to play in Canada will have been scouted and there is most likely enough information available without having to spend more money. So the question that we should be asking is, why were players like Smith and Keith brought to the RIDERS? To win! There is the feeling that the gamble is worth the risk, but the ends do not justify the means and that is the downfall of the Shivers and Barrett regime. They did great but forgot that in their attempt to win perhaps, and I say perhaps, they let their personal agenda’s come first rather then focusing purely on their jobs.

Unfortunately Tillman and Austin have already put the question of character on the agenda with the signing of Hakim Hill. I do believe that individuals deserve a second chance; however contracts for professional athletes need to include social responsibility clauses that are similar to any in contracts that are in private business. There are elements that are special about being a professional athlete but athletes, agents, gm’s and front office personnel need to realize that they still operate in the real world and they depend on that real world to get paid. So lets hope Hakim Hill does not disappoint and that I am not here in a few months writing a follow-up article.

5% beer north of the border

It seems my title for the last entry “Law firm of Hill, Hill and Greene” was a little prophetic. Apparently Hakim Hill was sent home by the Argos in 2005 because of the numerous alcohol related charges against Hill. He says he has not had a drink since September ’05, I hope that is true. The article from the Leader-Post reminds the readers that Tillman / Austin were going to run a clean organization, to which Tillman responds that after speaking to individuals who know him and his circumstances all say he is a good kid. So this will be a bit of a gamble for Tillman, I think more on the public relations side then the football side. Unfortunately there are many issues that come from being a professional athlete and many young men are not equipped to deal with them properly, hopefully Hill is now equipped and he can move on in football or in life.

The Law Firm of Hill, Hill and Greene

The RIDERS just signed Khalil's little brother Hakim, a running back out of Arizona State and played four games in '05 with the Argos. Austin recommended him as soon as there was a possibility of Keith not returning. In the four games Hakim played with the Argos he had 17 rushes and 14 catches which seems to bode well for his development as a CFL RB. At 5-11 and 212lbs he has good size to be a full time player.

In other news Andrew Greene is reportedly on the brink of signing with the Blue Bombers.

Life / fan balance

I was working out yesterday at a local gym and as I was walking in Paul McCallum was walking out, had to do a double-take because without a uniform on I didn’t immediately place the face. I said to one of my co-workers (big RIDERS fan), did you see McCallum? You know what his first response was … what a bum, now its my turn to rant.

I realize that there is a passion that a true fan has and it is important as an organization to foster that passion, that’s how you make money. But I have always been baffled by those who take things personal and make their attacks personal. My brother-in-law is not a McCallum fan but he has a hate on for Henry Burris that is ridiculous.

I have for a long time reconciled that players come and go and have a job to do and have a short period of time to make as much money as they possibly can. Therefore if they use one organization against the other to drive up the price well that’s the nature of the beast. If the player insults the fans or the city then that’s another story and quite often there is some basis for the comment. But there are times when players just burn bridges, for example I remember when Bryn Smith (an Expos pitcher) signed with the Cardinals. I like him he was a good guy and I loved the palm ball, but he said one the reasons he left was cultural differences, for example he said he couldn’t get a bag of Doritos in Montreal, which total bullshit. I have live in many places around the world and when I lived in Hong Kong it was up to me how “local” I wanted to go. I had friends who barely interacted with any of the locals so it’s up to the player

So my message to RIDERS fans is let go your hate and put that energy into cheering for your team and the players that are currently on the roster.

Can’t we all just get along.

Pass interference

The Riders lost two DB these past few days, Davin Bush and Omar Morgan. Bush is now in Winnipeg and Morgan in Edmonton.

This is a bit of a blow but as far as Bush goes the thing I remember most about his playing career for the RIDERS was the pronunciation change of his from Davin to Dayvin.

As far as Morgan goes apparently he signed a five-year deal worth $725,000, according to the Edmonton Sun. Which is incredible since this is a guy who has already played 6 years in the league. I just got off the phone with my brother-in-law who is a huge fan and we discussed where Morgan rates in terms of all the CB’s in the league and we both agreed that he is probably top 5. However I honestly think this is one of the first steps in the Danny Maciocia regime that will lead to a prolonged downward spiral for the franchise. However I don’t the organization would let it go beyond two years of not making the playoffs. If they don’t make it this year then Maciocia will be on a short leash next year. Morgan has 2 perhaps 3 years of good play in front of him and that is with the benefit of playing half his games on grass. If he last 4-5 years then … I guess the professionals are smarter then me.

The story in the Leader-Post also quotes Tillman as saying that we have a young group of players Sean Lucas, Lance Frazier, Rontarius Robinson and James Johnson who were in the system last year and are ready for development. I remember Robinson but I thought he was more of a linebacker, the rest I don’t remember. If you look at this in another way, this is a real endorsement by the franchise in Hall’s ability to develop a new backfield. Besides there are also economic factors that are coming into play and hopefully the league is serious about making sure that everyone follows the cap.

One new signing one old

Just watching TSN and apparently the RIDERS have signed WR Curtis Jackson. HMMM that can be the Curtis Jackson who played for New England? Who is like 34 now. Well after checking the Riders site it is the same guy. Tillman had him in Ottawa and he had 47 catches, he also had 5 catches for 95 yards in 1999 for Hamilton.

The other signing is Joshua Tinch another wide receiver who spent time with St. Louis last year after a breakout year of 67 catches at Louisville.

Now this is getting to be an awfully crowded receiver position but with all these weapons maybe Joseph will really become quarterback the Riders and Austin would love to see. Lets just hope they just don't Fantuz.

He could go all the way….

The competition committee of the CFL meet this week and one of the big items on the menu was the kick-off return rules. The CFL has long been about offence and the kick-off return was one of its most exciting tools. Prior to the start of last season the league started enforcing a blocking from behind rule, in the attempt to protect the players. The result: there were only two kick-off returns as opposed to 14 the year before.

Maciocia (who sits on the committee) is quoted as saying there is a fine balance between protecting the players (who are admittedly in a very physical profession) and keeping the game exciting for the fans. Buono who voted against the rule change last year would prefer to see more protection for quarterbacks, given that the CFL is a QB driven league.

Well I am going to comment on these from a fan perspective and say bring back as much as possible of the old kick-off rules and bring in a couple more rules to protect the QB. I grew up being amazed by Gizmo and his electrifying returns and later on The Rocket and then (Better then) Ezra Landry, it is a key ingredient to our game.

Now as far as QB’s are concerned Buono is right that we need to protect the QB however he is a little self-serving considering the fragility of Dickenson.

Riders sign a pair and the schedule is now official

The Riders signed a pair yesterday. WR Khalil Hill and LB Josh Buhl. What's interesting about this (other then the fact that we have another WR) is the quote from Tillman:


“Josh is a heck of a football player,” stated Tillman. “At Kansas State, he was a flat out tackling machine. In truth, if he was a little bigger, Josh would be one of those guys who would have had a very successful career in the National Football League.”

I guess we will have to wait and see if he is all that and a bag of chips.

Tillman front and centre

An interesting article from Rob Vanstone re: Joseph and his contract today entitled “JOSEPH CAN EXPECT SOME COMPETITION”. It essentially boils down what the most fans would have thought and that is Joseph didn’t really have much choice with the re-structuring. The market is limited and $225 K is better then starting out at a new job. The only question I have is the article title; it only talks about competition on the very last paragraph. Frankly unless Joseph gets hurt or absolutely cannot grasp Austin’s offensive system there will no competition and hopefully that is the way it shakes out. The last thing Austin needs in his first year is a QB controversy.

Another article from the Vancouver Province entitled “TILLMAN WOULD LIKE CLERMONT IN RIDER GREEN” talks about the GM meetings in Montreal and how the Clermont to the RIDERS story won’t die.

If any of you heard Clermont on the 104.9 the WOLF last month it was pretty clear that he was bidding his time before a return to Regina

….I am getting married in Regina…

….my future wife is in Regina…

….I just completed my realtor’s course and I am working for a local realty….

It’s pretty obvious that he will be here next year as a free agent so it does not give much leverage to Buono. Tillman is also good to play it cool and not get sucked into the PR game. The previous regime passed on Clermont and WR is not an immediate need for the RIDERS. Rumours of Buono chasing Wayne Smith or wanting unsigned non-import OL Chris Best should stay that way. Non-import talent is the key to winning in this league. With Fantuz establishing himself as a legitimate WR and Smith widely regarded as a Canadian OL combined with the potential of Best you would have a very strong core of skilled Canadians something you can have enough off.

Riders seeing green

Well the Riders finally made news this off-season, unfortunately it took somebody more inept than us to make any progress. Thank you Lonie! Unfortunately the Green we are seeing now is how the hell do we get rid of Nealon Greene now that we have to spend a whack of cash for Kerry Joseph.

HMMMM this reminds me of another quarterback we were after and we said we did not want to spend the money. I still remember a local radio celebrity joking that the Riders and Stamps were both finished except the Riders had spent 250K or so less money. You know what, that freaking drives me nuts! Regina is such a small-thinking town, and can’t seem make the connection that in order to make money you actually have to spend money. The town would buy two cheap things and get frustrated rather than doing it right the first time. Yes, yes I know a real Reginan would buy the two cheap things at the same time so they wouldn’t have to go back. Huh huh huh smart eh! Whatever.R

Green is also the colour of money

Tillman completed the re-structuring of the Riders biggest cap issue this Friday. Kerry Joseph's bloated Gleiberman legacy ($350 and $375 for the next two years) is now $225 per year. A substantial reduction in the salary, but still it is a big contract for a quarterback who does not have a winning. I still think he is the only real solution for the QB position but the salary is about
$40-60 K per season too much, which is a special teams player or a Canadian roster development spot.

All in all still a good job, especially on the PR front as there has been no negative feedback. This is good as it shows that Joseph is a good leader and is ready to accept the new direction and reality.

The new roster continues.

Riders scedule

Not official but the RIDERS schedule looks something like this:

Friday June 15 Riders @ BC 8:30 PRE
Friday June 22 Cgy @ Riders 7:00 PRE
Friday June 29 Riders @ Montreal 5:30 TSN
Sunday July 8 Cgy @ Riders 5:00 TSN
Friday July 13 BC @ Riders 8:00 TSN
Friday July 20 Riders @ Edm 7:00 TSN
Sat July 28 Edm @ Riders 1:30 TSN
Thursday Aug 2 Riders @ BC 8:30 TSN
Friday Aug 10 Riders @ TO 5:30 TSN
Saturday Aug 18 Edm @ Riders 8:00 CBC
Sunday Sept 2 Wpg @ Riders 2:00 TSN
Sunday Sept 9 Riders @ Wpg 2:00 TSN
Sunday Sept 16 Riders @ Cgy 2:00 TSN
Sat Sept 22 BC @ Riders 5:00 CBC
Sunday Sept 30 Mtl @ Riders 1:00 TSN
Monday Oct 8 Riders @ Cgy 2:00 CBC
Sunday Oct 14 Riders @ Ham 11:00 TSN
Sunday Oct 21 Ham @ Riders 1:00 TSN
Friday Oct 26 Riders @ Edm 7:30 TSN
Saturday Nov 3 TO @ Riders 2:00 CBC

A lot better then last year with a few interesting points, there are three hoam@home stands:

1) Against Edmonton July 20/28

2) The Labour day, of course Sept 2/9

3) Against Ham Oct 14/21

The Hamilton back to back at the end of the season could be a real bonus (assuming we are in the hunt and that Hamilton is still re-building) in terms of playoff positioning

In another note the RIDERS signed non-imports IImokhai Atogwe and Mike Mahoney today. Both guys provide Canadian depth and have been here before so good to have them back.

Flick of the Smith

RIDERS:

This past week has seen a lot of change for the Riders this is about some additions rather then subtractions. Tillman acquired WR DJ Flick and non-import OL Wayne Smith from the Ti-cats. The verdict is ….drum roll…. we have a winner! I like this deal a lot. Flick will give the team three legitimate receivers Dominguez, Armstead and Flick which should really go a long way to making this an exciting vertical team.

The other player, Wayne Smith, is a highly regarded Canadian OL who had a bit if a rough year last with injuries. He is slated to move into Andrew Greene’s spot. This is great anytime you can add starting Canadian talent it’s a good move. It’s another step that Tillman has taken to re-shape this team and to put his stamp on it.

I am sure there will be more moves this week so stay tuned.

BTW: For those of who don’t get it, it’s a play on some lyrics “flick of the switch”