This decision I suspect will be made by the entire organizaton from Mr Braley down. The decision affects the bottom line $$$$
I think you're right Don. Braley doesn't normally interfere but Wally had to explain his decision to start Dickenson in last years Grey Cup to Braley. Braley doesn't like to lose and he really wanted the Leos in the Grey Cup at home badly. He's not going to be happy and while he doesn't interfere..he supported this team very well in the tough times, brought in Ackles who hired Wally and got this thing turned around.
A good way to look at this thing....is if the Leos didn't have either quarterback and could get either Dickenson or Printers, who would you want...if it was for three years...or maybe even two years and an option.
If we have the opportunity we have to do what is best for our organization but I really believe Ottawa or Winnipeg would choose Printers over Dickenson. I know, if I was a rebuilding team, he is defintiely who I would go with. Dickenson gave us the experience to get us to a Grey Cup and win it last year and this year. However, its a law of diminishing returns with his age and injuries. His upside is very limited. Printers upside is tremendous.
Printers has had his injuries too. The toe injury last year was a problem easily created by the old Leos artificial turf. He wasn't the only one who suffered from turf toe and other artificial turf injuries like hip pointers on that unforgiving field. However, there was no time to let it heal.. He just kept on playing, getting it frozen and having a special shoe. \Printers shoulder worries me a little more but he's always been able to overcome it.
If we had put Buck Pierce in against Edmonton earlier in the year when Dickenson was suffering back spasms and Printers heal up...he probably would have been able to come back quicker. Instead he was put into that game when his arm wasn't ready and it set his recovery time back. People questioned his caring about the team but I never did...he only played for three minutes against Edmonton on Sunday and was in tears. I also never questioned Dickenson... some of the hits he took this season, including the blind sider from Montford yesterday still make me feel a little ill in the stomach.
The only thing I disagree with is that Dickenson and Printers didn't like each other. I think they respected each other's abilities a lot. However, whenever you're put into a situation where the both of you are constantly being asked over and over again how you feel....while being kept in the dark took its toll.
The dressing room wasn't split about them..outside of perhaps one veteran..some players might have had slight preferances but the offensive players believed they could win with both. The team was mostly frustrated with not knowing who would start, because it helped their preparation in knowing who would start, especially the offensive linemen..and constantly answering questions about the 'controversy'
The Leos would have been in not so good of shape over the last two years without both. There were very few games that both were healthy over the two years. Dave wasn't healthy for most of last season. Casey wasn't for the first half of the season and Dave missed a couple of games during the winning streak and then missed most of the remainder of the season. The Grey Cup game, three to four games last year, and a couple of games this year were the only real times that both were healthy enough to go. So having both quarterbacks helped us a lot more than it hurt us!!
Blitz:
Do you think the new CBA and the potential for a big (46%) increase in the "cap" could influence CP's decision?
For instance, a C$700k per year to lead a CFL team vs US$450k to play #2 in, say, Houston?
Or do you think that a $3.8M cap is just a recognition of what has already happened, and that actual salaries won't really increase?
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Depends on which team you're talking about. There are teams that are under the proposed cap for next year and could either spend more on players salaries or spend it on free agents....if they have the resources to do so.
I don't know for sure....if Printers would have signed the Leos would have been around this figure for sure. I imagine they're close. Edmonton has to be around this cap figure or have exceeded it. I think it recognizes what the hightest revenue franchises are paying. There was no way the commissioner would come in with a cap that would have hurt Hughie or Braley's teams much or at all. But I don't have a definitive answer to the question because I don't know! TV revenue is also up and attendance has been good. Most teams will have more money to spend next year.
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)
