MBT did have is in most games this year. Defense wasn't showing up when needed early on.
With that being said spending what they did on MBT sent a message and then Jones didn't make things any better anytime he talked about MBT or Ford.
Wouldn't be mad at all if Ford eventually asked out, although the guy could be a legend in this City if he can get the team going in the right direction.
What MBT didn't offer was hope. I'm not an Elks fan and having lived in Edmonton for ~5 years at the heart of the Ricky Ray era I hate them about as much as I hate the Riders and the Als (Bomber fan). However I watch every game in CFL that I can, which has been ~3.5 per week this year (House of the Dragon starts at halftime on the Sunday games haha).
You can tell the whole Elks team plays different when Ford is in. On offense he adds such dynamic play from the QB spot that it takes ALOT of pressure off what is still a shaky OL, IMO. But when defenders have to rush as a group, stay in their lanes, it really makes the OLs job so much easier. Then the LB corps has to spy Ford on every play as well. Opens up the run game as we saw last game which keeps the D on the bench. Even the best defenses always do their best when the O wins time of possession. It can also open up the pass game.
Additionally you can just see the passion and heart he brings to the team. You could see it last year as well. That type of emotional leader can be huge. From the Bombers my biggest concern was losing that emotional leadership in Jemarcus Hardrick in the off-season. More than his talent on field that's what I was worried about. To me it's no coincidence that the Bombers played their best game of the year when they finally brought a similar type of character onto the roster in Lucky Whitehead.
Point being MBT has always been just a guy. Even when he led the CFL is passing yards a few years back, no one was thinking he was any kind of great QB. He'll work ok on a good team. He was never a guy that could turn around a team. To me anyways. Tre Ford screams being that guy and he has the talent to back it up. Ford was the 2nd or 3rd guy who reached Tevin Jones in the endzone to celebrate after that 90+ yard TD from the QB position! Guys feel that energy and it builds for a team. Particularly young teams trying to find their way. MBT felt like a same old same old. Tre Ford inspires everyone around him to be better. The optimism around the Elks died when MBT signed and you could see that on the field.