Argos Trade With Bombers for Steven Jyles

News that the Argos have tried to rectify their Cleo Lemon quarterbacking problem by trading their first round pick (fourth overall) in the upcoming 2011 CFL draft to Winnipeg, plus a conditional pick for quarterback Steven Jyles (28, 6'1", 202 pounds). Jyles, who played at the august institution of higher learning, the Universty of Louisiana at Monroe, was 196 for 381 last year passing (61.6). Jyles threw last year for 19 TDs versus 7 picks and a 100.9 passer rating. Jyles also rushed 65 times for 452 yards for a respectable 7.0 yard average.

Winnipeg was still terrible last year with Jyles, which leaves questions for both teams. Is Jyles better than Cleo Lemon? Likely, although he's probably not that much better. Is Toronto smart trading away first round picks for immediate relief? Probably not. Is Winnipeg banking on one of the most fragile players ever to play in the CFL in quarterback Buck Pierce? Apparently so, although the fourth overall pick won't hurt. We'll see how this pans out and if Cleo "the Party" Lemon makes it out of Toronto's training camp.

2011 Grey Cup Odds

Since Tigercatatonia recently looked at the Grey Cup odds for 2011 from Bodog, there's no reason not to give my own odds for who ends up hoisting the silverware in Vancouver. I'll give the odds in percentage terms, just to be clearer:

Montreal 26

Calgary 20

Saskatchewan 17

Hamilton 16

BC 8

Toronto 7

Edmonton 4

Winnipeg 2

Harsh to Edmonton and Winnipeg? Certainly, but both will be hard pressed to make the playoffs. let alone get to the Grey Cup and win it. Toronto's not guaranteed a playoff spot and still start Cleo Lemon. BC isn't great and frankly Wally Buono doesn't provide the advantage over other coaches he used too. That leaves the four frontrunners as the overwhelming favourites. Montreal has a shot to win three titles in a row (the last to do that being Edmonton in the early eighties) provided Anthony Calvillo stays healthy. There's still a lot of time before the start of the regular season, things could change somewhat between then and now.

Ticats Trade for Justin Medlock

I'm a little surprised the Cats trade for import kicker/punter Justin Medlock. Sure the Cats get some defensive back named Carlos Thomas, and a negotiation list player and draft picks are swapped, but mainly the deal must be about Medlock. Obviously the Cats were unhappy with kicker Sandro DeAngelis' play last year, especially in Ivor Wynne, but after a year getting used to Ivor Wynne, Sandro should be better this year.

Annoying news out of Ottawa. The team might not be ready for the 2013 season.

Dig Those Cobbheads Out of The Trash, Alouettes Sign DeAndra' Cobb

I honestly thought that DeAndra' Cobb was done in the CFL after being released by the Ticats. Now the Alouettes have signed him along with former Saskatchewan defensive end Kitwana Jones. Interesting that the Als are interested in Cobb, considering the Cats clearly think former Al Avon Cobourne is an upgrade at running back. Cobb is younger. Maybe the Cats can sell the Als their supply of Cobbheads.

2011 Grey Cup Odds

It is never to early make Grey Cup predictions, especially this time of year when the only news seems to be contract extensions. I found this list of Grey Cup odds for 2011, apparently from Bodog's site. I tried finding the actual list on Bodog, but could only find a cached version. The data seems a little off because only two teams have worse than 8 to 1 odds. Not sure what's up with that, but at least the ranking seems plausible, although Edmonton's odds should probably be higher. They did miss the playoffs in 2010 and I doubt many teams have gone from missing the playoffs one year and then winning the Grey Cup the next. Winnipeg probably will be terrible next year unless Buck Pierce can put together a healthy season, which should probably be a new euphemism for something that will absolutely never happen.

BC Lions 6/1
Calgary Stampeders 5/2
Edmonton Eskimos 7/1
Hamitlon Tiger-Cats 6/1
Montreal Alouettes 11/4
Saskatchewan Roughriders 11/2
Toronto Argonauts 9/1
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 12/1

Here's an editorial from the Guelph Mercury suggesting hosting a Ticat game during the Ivor Wynne rebuilding season. Seems about as likely as Buck Pierce putting together a healthy season, but at least places seem interested in hosting and in Guelph's favour it is a lot closer than Quebec City or Moncton.

Why Restructure CFL Contracts?

Perry Lefko has a good piece on Sportsnet explaining why CFL teams frequently restructure contracts. Tax laws favouring bonus payments, broke players in the spring and potential injuries sums it up. The CFL's salary management system seems to be fairly solid now, so managing and manipulating these contracts are more important than ever. The article mentions Bruce, Porter and Glenn restructuring who are probably the team's top paid players. With the team's better performance the past two years, are things becoming more tight salary-wise?

Ticats 2010 Playoff Game Starters, Where are they now, Defensive Edition

Football is probably the major North American sport with the most change between seasons, although a crap MLB team can alter their pitching roster extensively too. Looking at who started the last game of the season for a team and who's left at this time of year can be instructive. I already looked at the Cats offensive starters here. Now it is time to look at the defensive starters from the playoff game in Toronto. Who's still around, who's been released, who's retired, who's a free agent, who has an off-season DUI? All possibilities in the CFL.

Starting with the defensive line, Justin Hickman and Stevie Baggs, both imports are still around, as is import defensive tackle Demonte Bolden. Defensive tackle and Tigercatatonia favourite Garrett McIntyre? Gone and signed with the NY Jets. Mark my words, the Cats will miss him.

Of the three linebackers, Markeith "You can call me Mark or Keith" Knowlton and Jamall Johnson are still with the Cats, but Otis Floyd was released by the Cats.

Non-import cornerback Ryan Hinds is still with the Cats, but import Geoff Tisdale signed with Calgary. Defensive halfbacks Jerome Dennis and Jason Shivers, both imports are still with the Cats, as is non-import safety Dylan Barker.

So three changes out of twelve. Relatively stable, although the defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall left for a head coaching opportunity. Will the Cats defence be better or worse in 2011? I'll go out on a major limb and say roughly the same.