CFL 2024

[SupremeTeam16]

Money is going to be there for improvements football and non football related, unfortunately a lot of areas you cant just throw money at, it takes time to get the right people in place and build the programs.

Also some of you won’t want to hear this but LT is going to be a pretty involved owner, not Jerry Jones involved but he’s not completely football oblivious and he’s going to have thoughts. Getting Ford back was a priority and don’t be surprised if his brother ends up here as well.

 

[bone]

Money is going to be there for improvements football and non football related, unfortunately a lot of areas you cant just throw money at, it takes time to get the right people in place and build the programs.

Also some of you won’t want to hear this but LT is going to be a pretty involved owner, not Jerry Jones involved but he’s not completely football oblivious and he’s going to have thoughts. Getting Ford back was a priority and don’t be surprised if his brother ends up here as well.

As long as he has the right intentions and that's to restore the fans trust in the team, then I don't care if he's involved provided he doesn't dive into the minutia. Maybe a football owner that provides input could have prevented big mistakes like trading Ricky Ray for a Canadian kicker.

Having opinions is fine, but he's also hired people to make those decisions and should empower them. It sounds like that's how he operated his business which was very successful, so I won't get too concerned until we start seeing the results.

 

[Stoneman89]

Money is going to be there for improvements football and non football related, unfortunately a lot of areas you cant just throw money at, it takes time to get the right people in place and build the programs.

Also some of you won’t want to hear this but LT is going to be a pretty involved owner, not Jerry Jones involved but he’s not completely football oblivious and he’s going to have thoughts. Getting Ford back was a priority and don’t be surprised if his brother ends up here as well.

Not the greatest comparison between Jones and LT. LT is the owner. Jones is the owner AND the GM of his team. You'd obviously expect a ton more involvement in that scenario.

 

[bellagiobob]

What an ass. So glad he's gone.

 

[PositiveCashFlow]

Wow way to bun that bridge. Glad he’s gone. Assuming of course he really did say that

EDIT: just read the article. Here’s what it said:

“When you’re in a losing organization, you often grasp at straws because you’re a little bit desperate,” Bethel-Thompson said. “Obviously, the interest in Ford is out there, whether it’s warranted or not. The people want him out there to see what he can be. Nobody has any idea what kind of player he’s going to be. I understand that as well.”

Best QB when he’s on is a bit of a reach though

 

[Cerebral]

Wow way to bun that bridge. Glad he’s gone. Assuming of course he really did say that

EDIT: just read the article. Here’s what it said:

“When you’re in a losing organization, you often grasp at straws because you’re a little bit desperate,” Bethel-Thompson said. “Obviously, the interest in Ford is out there, whether it’s warranted or not. The people want him out there to see what he can be. Nobody has any idea what kind of player he’s going to be. I understand that as well.”

Best QB when he’s on is a bit of a reach though

What a strangely negative interview. MBT has always come across as pretty calm and level-headed - he must have had some serious issues with Ford to add in the “whether it’s warranted or not” post-script.

 

[bellagiobob]

What a strangely negative interview. MBT has always come across as pretty calm and level-headed - he must have had some serious issues with Ford to add in the “whether it’s warranted or not” post-script.

He flipped out a bunch of times last year, got fined a few times for ill advised statements. I thought he was pretty unhinged last year, not at all focused. Pure jealousy when it comes to Ford. MBT was gifted the starting job when it should have been at the very least a competition, yet he still was horrible in the clutch, and we finally benched him, and once again Ford ignited the team and the fans. Nothing more than sour grapes from a guy who underperformed.

 

[Cloned]

What an ass. So glad he's gone.

Have fun with that Montreal.

 

[Drivesaitl]

MBT would have a lot of reasons to feel the way he does. To him Edmonton, in the end, was a bad place to land and not the first player to say that. Lawler had said the same and for players to avoid it here. The fanbase too, whats left of it were booing MBT as he was passing for consecutive +300yds. He passed for around a thousand his first 3 games here and the boobirds were already out. The team around him was inexperienced, Special teams lousy and D giving up a lot. He wasn't the reason they were losing but he was hearing it anyway. The fanbase had already decided (it seems) at game 1 that they wanted Ford. That was a tough place for a vet QB that was quite competent to be. Unwanted.

People won't want to hear it but I'll say it anyway. Multiple times Ford walked away when a QB would try to talk to him here. Rarely did I see Ford conferring with other QB's as most young QB's would. Take FWIW. But is Ford any more likely to get what he needs from Fajardo? Or does Ford think he has the CFL all figured out on his own?

In anycase MBT did have a lot of good starts here, per game passed for as many yds as anybody and even passed for 485yds one game here. Elks fans. "Don't let the door hit you on the way out scumbag"

The players are starting to be right. Elks aren't a team you should want to land on anymore. Haven't been the entire time. Hopefully it improves.

But lets be clear here. An org desperate for fans gave Ford the inside track going forward because its what the fans selected. None of the incumbent coaches here did so they were roasted and fired as well. Trouble with all that is its an org making reactionary decisions and that seldom ends up good.

So Ford has the keys now. Hopefully he's ready for that.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Wow way to bun that bridge. Glad he’s gone. Assuming of course he really did say that

EDIT: just read the article. Here’s what it said:

“When you’re in a losing organization, you often grasp at straws because you’re a little bit desperate,” Bethel-Thompson said. “Obviously, the interest in Ford is out there, whether it’s warranted or not. The people want him out there to see what he can be. Nobody has any idea what kind of player he’s going to be. I understand that as well.”

Best QB when he’s on is a bit of a reach though

Its the CFL. He's not far wrong. On his better days he was reading D and passing ball well. He's been around it in the CFL. Which QB's in the league are actually better the last several years. Saw MBT plenty in Toronto and a lot of solid games. Pretty sure to get MBT here as well the Elks would've made promises to him that they probably ended up reneging on. Its hard as fans to know that we're not a well considered org here. Hervey and company aim to change that and are in agreement that the org has been run into the ground. Lawler and MBT experienced a pretty badly run team first hand. hopefully upcoming seasons are different.

This too: The Elks didn't even let MBT know they were trading him. Was a complete surprise. The Als screwed over Fajardo too, and he will miss out on a 200K bonus due to this trade, and will have to now negotiate whatever he can get from the Elks. Fajardo played the best football of his CFL career in his two short years in Montreal. He didn't want to leave, he wanted to retire there and said so.

https://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/article629439.html

Both of these longstanding Vets were treated like shit, and discarded. For a league that has immense trouble attracting players and even retaining name playes this deal was some unpleasantry regarding both. A worse look from the ALs who dealt Fajardo after him starring for them and getting the GC.

Whatever one thinks of MBT here he is among the best CFL QBs and his stats back that up. He's averaged 243 games passing in his career which when he retires would put him in good company in CFL ranks. He's had a near 5K passing season which is the gold Standard in CFL and hard to hit.

On the whole this trade isn't great for the CFL, and the notion of parking both MBT and Fajardo (name players) behind relatively untried starters is just the kind of half baked thinking one often see's in the CFL. The likelihood is one or the other, or both end up getting the starter spot again at some point. Vets often do and Fajardo and MBT have made careers of proving people wrong. Lots of fight in these guys.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Wow way to bun that bridge. Glad he’s gone. Assuming of course he really did say that

EDIT: just read the article. Here’s what it said:

“When you’re in a losing organization, you often grasp at straws because you’re a little bit desperate,” Bethel-Thompson said. “Obviously, the interest in Ford is out there, whether it’s warranted or not. The people want him out there to see what he can be. Nobody has any idea what kind of player he’s going to be. I understand that as well.”

Best QB when he’s on is a bit of a reach though

When the QB who lost 10 games calls the organization a losing organization? QB need to be reminded that Losing starts with the QB

 

[bellagiobob]

When the QB who lost 10 games calls the organization a losing organization? QB need to be reminded that Losing starts with the QB

Hervey and Morris both mention that they will get rid of players who don't fit the Elkimo culture. No shock who the first guy out the door is.

 

[brentashton]

What an ass. So glad he's gone not a Sask Roughrider.

 

[MoontoScott]

He flipped out a bunch of times last year, got fined a few times for ill advised statements. I thought he was pretty unhinged last year, not at all focused. Pure jealousy when it comes to Ford. MBT was gifted the starting job when it should have been at the very least a competition, yet he still was horrible in the clutch, and we finally benched him, and once again Ford ignited the team and the fans. Nothing more than sour grapes from a guy who underperformed.

He thinks he's the best QB in the league when he's on? Well, its a shame that "on" often looked like the off switch.

Too bad that in those critical waning moments-- when the EE needed the TD he couldn't get it done. He goes on about losing franchises but who was the no.1 QB for most of the season and in particular the disastrous start?

No matter how Ford turns out I'm glad the "best QB in the league" is in the EE's rear view mirror.

 

[Stoneman89]

I'll add to the near unanimous chorus of being glad he's outta town. Arrogant dick who thinks he's the best QB in the league, lol. And now we know why Ford didn't hang with him. It was all about MBT and his attitude that "he's the man", and not willing to mentor anyone in the twilight of his career. And his Grey Cup ring? 100 % courtesy of Chad Kelly, who came in and saved the day for the Argos after MBT went down with a boo boo with the Argos ship sinking.

 

[brentashton]

I'll add to the near unanimous chorus of being glad he's outta town. Arrogant dick who thinks he's the best QB in the league, lol. And now we know why Ford didn't hang with him. It was all about MBT and his attitude that "he's the man", and not willing to mentor anyone in the twilight of his career. And his Grey Cup ring? 100 % courtesy of Chad Kelly, who came in and saved the day for the Argos after MBT went down with a boo boo with the Argos ship sinking.

Yup.

You wonder how a person can be so tone deaf to not understand what their value is to a situation, organization etc..

Self centered doesn’t begin to define him.

 

[Stoneman89]

Its the CFL. He's not far wrong. On his better days he was reading D and passing ball well. He's been around it in the CFL. Which QB's in the league are actually better the last several years. Saw MBT plenty in Toronto and a lot of solid games. Pretty sure to get MBT here as well the Elks would've made promises to him that they probably ended up reneging on. Its hard as fans to know that we're not a well considered org here. Hervey and company aim to change that and are in agreement that the org has been run into the ground. Lawler and MBT experienced a pretty badly run team first hand. hopefully upcoming seasons are different.

This too: The Elks didn't even let MBT know they were trading him. Was a complete surprise. The Als screwed over Fajardo too, and he will miss out on a 200K bonus due to this trade, and will have to now negotiate whatever he can get from the Elks. Fajardo played the best football of his CFL career in his two short years in Montreal. He didn't want to leave, he wanted to retire there and said so.

https://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/article629439.html

Both of these longstanding Vets were treated like shit, and discarded. For a league that has immense trouble attracting players and even retaining name playes this deal was some unpleasantry regarding both. A worse look from the ALs who dealt Fajardo after him starring for them and getting the GC.

Whatever one thinks of MBT here he is among the best CFL QBs and his stats back that up. He's averaged 243 games passing in his career which when he retires would put him in good company in CFL ranks. He's had a near 5K passing season which is the gold Standard in CFL and hard to hit.

On the whole this trade isn't great for the CFL, and the notion of parking both MBT and Fajardo (name players) behind relatively untried starters is just the kind of half baked thinking one often see's in the CFL. The likelihood is one or the other, or both end up getting the starter spot again at some point. Vets often do and Fajardo and MBT have made careers of proving people wrong. Lots of fight in these guys.

And in other news, Taylor Cornholious, the generational quarterback discarded by the Elkimos after a legendary career, is stocking toilet paper at his local Target store.

 

[Arty Spooners Bsmnt]

What an ass. So glad he's gone.

MBT started the season off wrong when he fumbled the ball on what was about to be a game clinching drive against Saskatchewan. Not clutch.

MBT would have a lot of reasons to feel the way he does. To him Edmonton, in the end, was a bad place to land and not the first player to say that. Lawler had said the same and for players to avoid it here. The fanbase too, whats left of it were booing MBT as he was passing for consecutive +300yds. He passed for around a thousand his first 3 games here and the boobirds were already out. The team around him was inexperienced, Special teams lousy and D giving up a lot. He wasn't the reason they were losing but he was hearing it anyway. The fanbase had already decided (it seems) at game 1 that they wanted Ford. That was a tough place for a vet QB that was quite competent to be. Unwanted.

People won't want to hear it but I'll say it anyway. Multiple times Ford walked away when a QB would try to talk to him here. Rarely did I see Ford conferring with other QB's as most young QB's would. Take FWIW. But is Ford any more likely to get what he needs from Fajardo? Or does Ford think he has the CFL all figured out on his own?

In anycase MBT did have a lot of good starts here, per game passed for as many yds as anybody and even passed for 485yds one game here. Elks fans. "Don't let the door hit you on the way out scumbag"

The players are starting to be right. Elks aren't a team you should want to land on anymore. Haven't been the entire time. Hopefully it improves.

But lets be clear here. An org desperate for fans gave Ford the inside track going forward because its what the fans selected. None of the incumbent coaches here did so they were roasted and fired as well. Trouble with all that is its an org making reactionary decisions and that seldom ends up good.

So Ford has the keys now. Hopefully he's ready for that.

I know I was booing him at several points when he was choking away the season.

 

[Drivesaitl]

MBT started the season off wrong when he fumbled the ball on what was about to be a game clinching drive against Saskatchewan. Not clutch.


I know I was booing him at several points when he was choking away the season.

Booing players on your team, it doesn't help. Bad look for fans, jmo, and I said the same on the Oilers thread today where the home crowd was booing Bouchard, Pickard, and the whole Oilers team at one point. That said I can certainly see the experience with the Elks would be much more frustrating, and can get that, but booing the Oilers like home fans did today, its just silly.

I'm plenty critical of some players online but never boo in person. different strokes.

Some of the early games though if Bede could just kick anything through the uprights we win those games. Everybody QB fumbles occasionally It isn't even a common thing with MBT.

 

[Arty Spooners Bsmnt]

I think it did help. I'm not sure they would have puled him against Hamilton if the Boo birds weren't out.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I think it did help. I'm not sure they would have puled him against Hamilton if the Boo birds weren't out.

Fair point I guess. Seemed like it was the goal of the home fans all along. That said no horse in the race. Give people what they want, and at this stage the org has to.

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[timekeep]

Seriously, is this a surprise to him?

 

[bellagiobob]

Seriously, is this a surprise to him?

Not surprised. But glad that’s he’s disgusted by it and promises things will be different next year.

 

[MoontoScott]

Seriously, is this a surprise to him?

Many organizations are not introspective. It takes a serious decline in fortunes and serious outside criticism before reality strikes.