CFL 2015 Off-Season Thread

[MissTeeks]

Promotion for Huff. Now President of the Stamps as well as being GM:

http://www.stampeders.com/2016/01/27...mps-president/

The Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation announced today the appointment of John Hufnagel to the position of president and general manager of the Calgary Stampeders.

Hufnagel has been with the Stampeders since 2008 and has served eight years as head coach and general manager before ceding coaching duties to Dave Dickenson at the conclusion of the 2015 season. Hufnagel takes over as president from Gordon Norrie, who moves to Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation as vice-president of sports properties, sales and marketing. Norrie succeeds Jim Bagshaw who will be retiring following 15 years of service to the organization. In addition, a new position of Stampeders Director of Business Operations has been created to assist Hufnagel with his business duties.

“I look forward to this new challenge and thank the ownership group for the opportunity,” said Hufnagel. “We have an excellent organization from top to bottom and, with the support and efforts of all of these qualified and dedicated people, I am confident this will be a positive move and I look forward to working more closely with the business side of the organization. It’s also reassuring to know that I will be able to rely on the entire CSEC infrastructure for support.”

[Otto-matic]

Hope they are trying to resign Messam, don't feel too comfortable with Walter running the backfield.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

The first catchable ball that Mo Price drops at Mosaic Stadium should garner quite the reaction from the Rider faithful.

Particularly when it gets cold. That's his issue - his performance is strinkingly worse in cold weather.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Hope they are trying to resign Messam, don't feel too comfortable with Walter running the backfield.

Yeah, either Messam or Andrew Harris, although Harris is likely leaning towards his hometown Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Hope they are trying to resign Messam, don't feel too comfortable with Walter running the backfield.

Amen.

Messam seems like a perfect fit for a team trying to replace one of the most dynamic RB's in league history. JM can do a lot of the things that Cornish did just not quite as well, particularly picking up the blitz. The biggest factor though is his passport as having that every down RB who is a non-import is a huge advantage.

Walter is a decent fill in but only for a limited amount of snaps but again being Canadian increases his value immensely.

I would not be surprised to see the Stamps get aggressive at the CFL draft and take Mercer Timmis...which would give them another option at the Import RB spot and allow one of those ^^^two to move on.

Have to trust Huf though.....he is good at his job

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Amen.

Messam seems like a perfect fit for a team trying to replace one of the most dynamic RB's in league history. JM can do a lot of the things that Cornish did just not quite as well, particularly picking up the blitz. The biggest factor though is his passport as having that every down RB who is a non-import is a huge advantage.

Walter is a decent fill in but only for a limited amount of snaps but again being Canadian increases his value immensely.

I would not be surprised to see the Stamps get aggressive at the CFL draft and take Mercer Timmis...which would give them another option at the Import RB spot and allow one of those ^^^two to move on.

Have to trust Huf though.....he is good at his job

Agreed on all points, I really liked what Messam brought to the table.

Isn't Messam Canadian though?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Agreed on all points, I really liked what Messam brought to the table.

Isn't Messam Canadian though?

Yup...that's why he is such a valuable guy possibly.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yup...that's why he is such a valuable guy possibly.

Ah gotcha, misread that as Walter being the more valuable

Haven't heard anything about Raymond either, hopefully they'll lock him up too.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Particularly when it gets cold. That's his issue - his performance is strinkingly worse in cold weather.

Wasn't some of Mo Prices' best games in the snow? I remember them talking about one in nauseum that this kid from Florida ripped it up in the snow in his first ever game in that type of weather.

[Drake]

Andrew Harris won't be offered a contract from the Lions.... off to Winnipeg.

Shea Emry has retired.

Erik Harris has signed with the New Orleans Saints.

[Otto-matic]

Calgary Stampeders general manager John Hufnagel announces that the team has released international defensive lineman Freddie Bishop III in order to allow him to sign a contract with a National Football League club.

http://www.stampeders.com/2016/02/05...ie-bishop-iii/

[Mango]

The Stampeders are also releasing Randy Chevrier:

https://twitter.com/randychevrier/st...54530277863424

He says he's not retiring though.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Ah gotcha, misread that as Walter being the more valuable

Haven't heard anything about Raymond either, hopefully they'll lock him up too.

Raymond is set to become a free agent but I would be shocked if he went anywhere. He's so involved in the community in Calgary, particularly working with youth, and he and his family just love it here. He's turned down larger contracts elsewhere to remain here before. That said, if he does hit free agency he'll have 8 teams knocking on the door to sign him. He's the best Sam backer in the league and honestly one of the biggest "big play" guys in the league as well, regardless of position. I think he is Calgary's best player

[Otto-matic]

Saw this little tidbit in the Chevy article.

Losing Rogers and Fuller is a tough pill to swallow.

Hufnagel is cautiously optimistic he’ll get a deal done with RB Jerome Messam, one of seven pending free agents who remain unsigned heading into CFL free agency Tuesday at 10 a.m. … WR Jeff Fuller will test the market and isn’t likely to be back next season, according to Hufnagel … National LB Karl McCartney, national SB Jabari Arthur, international DL DeQuin Evans will also be set free, as will fan favourite Keon Raymond.

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/foot...ext-cfl-season

[dash_pinched]

I like Jeff Fuller, but the guy has trouble staying healthy. As for Keon Raymond, yeah that's a tough one, but he's not exactly a young guy anymore and I'm confident Huf will find someone to replace Keon (likely cheaper as well). That all said, Keon Raymond should be a shoo-in for the Stamps Wall of Fame, he's had a great career.

[dash_pinched]

Also, I won't miss Jabari Arthur and look forward to watching him drop passes for another CFL team.

[MissTeeks]

gary lawless ‏@garylawless

Jerome Messam has @calstampeders offer, weighing his options. If he waits and goes to #cflfa market, @BCLions, @Wpg_BlueBombers interested

[Da_Chief]

I would be ok letting Messam go and going after Chambers for WR help tmrw.

We just don't have a capable Canadian backup for Messam, so if he goes down we'll struggle. Walters is not the answer.

At least spending money on a Canadian receiver would allow Parker/Durant/SCC all to rotate in.

Bring in few rookies and try to find the next Kelvin Anderson/Joffery Reynolds.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

gary lawless ‏@garylawless
Can confirm Jerome Messam has re-signed with Calgary Stampeders

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

gary lawless ‏@garylawless
Can confirm Jerome Messam has re-signed with Calgary Stampeders

Yep TSN just mentioned he is staying for 2 more years.

Stamps will be a different team next season. Gone are their defensive leader Juwan Simpson and potentially one of my favorite Stamps Keon Raymond. That's 2 starting LB. Special team leader Randy Chevrier is also gone and of course the biggest lost is Jon Cornish and Eric Rogers. Huf is also gone as a head coach. I hope Huf still gets some good replacements to those good players we are losing.