Isn't is sideways move unless Fajardo comes in a lot cheaper at a clear back up salary (and why would he do that)?
MBT is a far better passer than Fajardo, good running offense, reading plays. Only thing FAjardo does better, and not particularly well is scramble.
In anycase the mode here in the thread seems to be that any change is better than what we had. But I don't how accurate that is.
If anybody thinks MBT was boring Fajardo in Sask played whole months as if he's expecting the D to get the pts and sometimes they would. I don't love Fajardo.
I'd agree this is likely a sideways move other than the fact that stylistically Fajardo and Ford are a closer match if you don't want to have two completely separate playbooks, but I've never really been a fan of Fajardo the player.
I also suspect MBT is more likely in the head space of saying "I'm already in my late 30s and so if I'm not coming as the starter, I can just go and live the high life in Florida living off my wife's Marvel money", whereas Fajardo is a bit younger still and may have the desire to compete for a couple more years in hopes of one more starters chance.
This in turn makes it more likely he's willing to entertain a few less bucks for the right situation, and there's no doubt to me that should he decide to play hardball, Edmonton will just release him and it would be doubtful Fajardo would get any more cash from someone else with every starter's spot filled in the league and Edmonton having the smallest amount of SMS committed to QBs at the moment.
I also don't think MBT was going to re-sign here no matter what as I doubt he's the type that was cool with the fans riding him the way we did.
Granted, this is just me spitballing, and maybe it's all wrong.
--
On a separate note, interesting that this is the 2nd year in a row Edmonton acquired a QB 1 year removed from being the starter for the Grey Cup winning team. This time it was even the Grey Cup MVP. Is Arbuckle coming next year...
--
Another separate note, Fajardo for all his warts, has won more playoff games than MBT has started, and both have 2 Grey Cups, but each of them earned their first by riding the bench to Ricky Ray's 2017 Grey Cup.