bluto

you don't think he'll get Harris or Ray?

i respect your opinion (and iso's), but i see that as accepting excuses. i gave 3 examples of where a GM who is a better people-person and salesman (they didn't hang the reputation of Barker the used car salesman for nothing) got a better result. situations and people are always different, but looking back at Khalif Mitchell's 8 minute interview vowing never to report, he wanted a release, he wanted to pursue his NFL opportunities, he wanted to be traded to the team of his choosing... and yet Barker brought him in and it never went to an arbitrator. don't tell me Williams isn't easier to deal with than Mitchell...

right, but here's the thing: having a contract to hold him to is leverage. Austin had some and used it wrong. Barker had very little but played it perfectly. as for Williams not wanting to play there at all, well, that's Austin's job to persuade him to do so, isn't it? Khalif Mitchell didn't want any part of coming to Toronto and was adamant that he wouldn't... but Barker played that right. he called him every day and tried to accommodate his desire to play in Calgary (which didn't happen since Huf hates Toronto) while gently asserting to the press that he expects players to honour their contracts to the Argos... and worked on the situation and now Mitchell is in camp. closers close.

Glad you mentioned that, buddy. Excellent examples of my principle: When the Chads contracts were up, Barker actually was in a weaker bargaining position than Austin is. Both Owens and Kackert had contract offers from the NFL (both Jets iirc) and were free to go. But Barker closed them on inking deals with the Boatmen... and the rest is GC history. Closers close. Everyone else makes excuses why they didn't close.

i wonder if Freddie Harris' yellow goatee at 1:06 was a rookie hazing? edit: and the ball on the hockey stick was pretty righteous.

either Williams closes the Cats: "i'm not reporting. you may as well release me." or the Cats close Williams: "we won't release you this season, so you may as well get a big payday instead of sit, then we'll release you and wish you all the best"

Have offered him more money, more CFL money isnt what he's after, he wants out. Cant play the nice cop when he doesnt want to be here. i don't think "nice cop" was ever put on the table in the first place. but i wasn't in the room or on the conference call so we'll never know. all i know is that closers close. and Austin didn't close his deal.

true... they might claim a gem off waivers... like Bloi Dei Dorzon

yup. the only person he's obligated to look out for is himself. he has one shot in his life to play for hundreds of thousands or maybe even millions. sucks that he likely won't trust them enough to sign a new 1+1 with a "gentleman's agreement" to release him. Hamilton misplayed this situation, imo. the new GM coming in (Austin) could have played "good cop" and offered him Chad Owens type money and promised a release (if he still wanted one) after one season... but instead he circled the wagons and dug in. iron fist is fine... but you should wear a velvet glove over it.

what? like lying about his mods (that he was so grateful to for running the site that he abandoned and let turn into $h!t) being welcome back... when he'd already delete-banned their butts outta there? hopefully this holier-than-thou post isn't an example of what you have to offer... #thetruthshallsetyoufree

behave.

now you're talking!

just Hefney? heck... if you aren't going to make a serious offer fuhgedaboudit... the price for Ray was set at: 1 QB, 1 Kicker and a draft pick.

i see that we've de-valued the word "guru" somewhat...

if Mack could do that, i'd be impressed.

the point is though, if a GM is shopping a veteran, it's unlikely he'll be keeping him. anyway, how certain are we that Hefney is in the doghouse?

if you were an opposing GM and Mack called you (lol, yeah right) to trade Hefney, would you give up an asset, or just wait for his inevitable release?

that's just it though... unless he tries to play somewhere else, he ain't breaking his contract.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/football/edmonton-eskimos/Eskimos+offensive+lineman/8478644/story.html

right... so fine him from money that he isn't trying to collect since he's staying home? catch my drift?

he's only breaching it if he tries to play elsewhere. it's his right to sit.

it's the minimum length of contract under the CBA (AFAIK)

yeah, it isn't ideal for him... but then, consider that speed and shiftyness are his stock and trade. he won't be risking an ACL, concussion or turf toe by sitting out. some teams may like that he won't have any additional mileage. never know. apparently there's more than one team willing to sign him now. i imagine that they'd be willing to bring him to their camps next year i he sat.

love the pop-up view. it was one of the features of another site i frequent that i'd hoped for here.