Afterthought, Argos Release Moreno Too

In my last post on the Argos releasing Kerry Joseph and Cody Pickett, I forgot they also released former Cat, middle linebacker Zeke Moreno. Moreno topped the Argos with 95 defensive tackles last year, but you kind of expect that from your middle linebacker. Moreno also had two sacks and two interceptions. Probably a lack of speed and consequent inability to provide any contribution to pass coverage doomed Moreno. Probably also the end of Moreno's career.

Argos Release Pickett and Joseph

So the new Argo regime has released quarterbacks Cody Pickett and Kerry Joseph. Probably the right move going forward, although who ends up being the starter on opening day seems somewhat unclear. Joseph was never really that great a quarterback at the best of times and with age catching up with him, can't depend on his running to get him out of trouble. How many times did Joseph attempt a pass towards the sideline and have it vector off to an empty patch of turf the past two years? Plus salary cap concerns make Joseph even more unattractive. Why pay starter dollars to someone with mediocre skills? Mediocre pay for mediocre skills a team can live with. Pickett never really showed anything. Both had the misfortune of playing behind an Argonaut offensive line that was terrible last year, despite the addition of import tackle Rob Murphy.

Trying to find a new starter internally can be difficult. Consider the Ticats, now going with Kevin Glenn, thus far failing again to develop a starting quarterback from within the organization (although what eventually happens with Porter in the next couple of years could change this).

West Harbour for Pan Am Stadium

Hamilton city council has voted 10 to 5 for the West Harbour site for the new stadium. Apparently there is still some concerns over parking, however if a pedestrian bridge were to be built over the railway tracks to Harbourfront, that would open up a bunch of more spots just a stone's throw from the stadium. Anyways good news, no airport stadium (hopefully).

Argos and Calgary Trade Receivers

Curious trade with the Argos swapping PK Sam for Jermaine Copeland of the Stampeders. Sam had a decent 2008 as I recall, with a lot of his time in 2009 spent on his NFL tryout. Sam was decent at the end of the year with a dreadfully sucky Argo offense so he obviously has some skills. But compared to Copeland? Obviously Sam must make less which is probably the main reason for the deal. The Argos with Braley as owner are not doing too badly, signing former Cat guard Gagne-Marcoux as a free agent to bolster a terrible line, that was outright atriocious at the end of the year because of injuries. The Argos are still a question mark, but will probably be at least three games better than their three and fifteen record last year.

West Harbour Site

The Spec has a couple more articles about the plans for the West Harbour Site for the Pan Am stadium. One issue seems to be just how much the Cats will contribute. Another issue seems to be should the cost of the remediation of the Rheem site be considered as part of the cost of the stadium? Currently the city owns the brownfield, and obviously the site needs to be cleaned at some point. Without the stadium it could easily be more than ten years before anything is done with the site and consequently the surrounding area will remain undeveloped (and with lower property values and thus less tax revenue for the city).

Hopefully the city will see the benefit from getting this site remediated and go after additional federal and provincial funds for brownfields to cover this cost. Looks like Bratina and Merulla might vote against, with the mayor onside. We will know soon.

Cats and Esks Trade

A bit of a surprising trade between the Ticats and the Eskimos, wide receiver Maurice Mann for defensive back Chris Thompson, both imports. Thompson started last year for a reasonable Ticat secondary, while Mann caught 73 passes for 917 yards. I'm probably more surprised Edmonton got rid of Mann, however the Cats now have a bit of a logjam at import receiver with Bruce, McDaniel and Rodriguez. A sign perhaps that Rodriguez who had a poor sophomore season is on his way out?

Bratina Comes Out Against West Harbour Site For Pan Am Stadium

Bob Bratina, Ward 2 councilor for Hamilton has come out in opposition to the west harbour site (the old Rheem plant) for the Pan Am and Ticat stadium. This seems problematic (at least if you are in favour of the Rheem site) although Bratina is only a single vote on council. The other possible site the city has been considering is an airport site (Confederation Park was dumped much earlier) on the Mountain. This has shades of Orchard Park, the current location of the Buffalo Bills stadium, which considering the state of Buffalo's downtown seems to be an example of bad 70's stadium locating.

I'll do another post on this later in the week, however with the province (and to a lesser extent the feds) providing a large amount of the funding and calling the shots, it seems unlikely that the opposition of one single ward councilor will result in the Mountain site prevailing. Stranger things have happened though, so stay tuned.