Prefontaine to the Eskimos!

[Belize City Lion]

If Vanderjagt still has the skills, he could be kicking in TO for at least 3 or 4 more years. Grey bearded kickers are nothing new in the CFL. I'm not sure it's a much of an upgrade for the Argos, but Prefontaine did have a bit of a shaky season in 2007. Even if it is no better than a push, the Argos managed to pick up at least 1 draft pick from the Esks.

[Ravi]

One thing is for sure if MV was still all that primetime, he would have a job in the NFL. That should be the first warning sign. Nobody down there wants him despite the career stats. If he was all that, then someone would have him regardless of price.

That was my thinking, Sir P. Maybe I'm wrong, but 29 other GMs didn't want Mike for whatever reasons.

There are a lot of great players in the CFL who 32 NFL GMs don't want for a variety of reasons.

[Sir Purrcival]

I can't really buy into the pressure suggestion. The guy has played in both leagues for years and years. I'm sure he has more than enough $$$ that if he wanted to get away from that, he could just quit and walk away. I'm pretty confident that if any NFL team had come a calling with the kinds of salary that he would command as a veteran, he would be down there. That he has signed with the Argo's for probably around $100.000 says to me that he didn't walk away from the NFL game, he has been turned away. The other thing that just occurred to me however is that this could be another plank in the "Bring the NFL to Toronto" movement. If say in 5 years, there was some kind move afoot to bring a franchise in, wouldn't it play well for an Ex CFL and NFL star to be part of the Ownership or perhaps President or GM at least?

[Solar Max]

One thing is for sure if MV was still all that primetime, he would have a job in the NFL. That should be the first warning sign. Nobody down there wants him despite the career stats. If he was all that, then someone would have him regardless of price.

That was my thinking, Sir P. Maybe I'm wrong, but 29 other GMs didn't want Mike for whatever reasons.

There are a lot of great players in the CFL who 32 NFL GMs don't want for a variety of reasons.

True. But the point is, they didn't want Vanderjagt, who after all, is the subject of this thread, and not lots of other great players. 8)

[Ravi]

True. But the point is, they didn't want Vanderjagt, who after all, is the subject of this thread, and not lots of other great players. 8)

The Argos obviously think that the guy can still kick so that's all that really matters. We all know that there are a lot of political decisions that are made in the NFL and it is hard to believe that Vanderjagt has gone from the best kicker in the NFL to a has-been practically overnight.

[Ravi]

I can't really buy into the pressure suggestion. The guy has played in both leagues for years and years. I'm sure he has more than enough $$$ that if he wanted to get away from that, he could just quit and walk away. I'm pretty confident that if any NFL team had come a calling with the kinds of salary that he would command as a veteran, he would be down there. That he has signed with the Argo's for probably around $100.000 says to me that he didn't walk away from the NFL game, he has been turned away. The other thing that just occurred to me however is that this could be another plank in the "Bring the NFL to Toronto" movement. If say in 5 years, there was some kind move afoot to bring a franchise in, wouldn't it play well for an Ex CFL and NFL star to be part of the Ownership or perhaps President or GM at least?

That is an interesting conspiracy theory but Paul Godfrey, Larry Tanenbaum and Ted Rogers have nothing to do running the Argos thankfully.

[OV - 54:40]

True. But the point is, they didn't want Vanderjagt, who after all, is the subject of this thread, and not lots of other great players. 8)

The Argos obviously think that the guy can still kick so that's all that really matters. We all know that there are a lot of political decisions that are made in the NFL and it is hard to believe that Vanderjagt has gone from the best kicker in the NFL to a has-been practically overnight.

Yeah exactly Ravi - Vanderjagt signed a big contract with Dallas, got injured some i believe and missed a few FGs - football is the most - what have you done for me lately of all sports IMO - you can be cast off from the NFL in a heartbeat - doesn't matter what your past accomplishments are for the most part - unless maybe you are a super-hyped John Madden cheerleader superstar. Plus he shot his mouth off with Indy and PO'd an NFL super-hero untouchable in Peyton Manning - might be some NFL political baggage he would carry.

And just maybe the guy is glad/proud to come home and play for his former team in the big league in his home country - wouldn't that be nice to hear for a change - I doubt he's getting paid peanuts by the Argos - probably set for life financially from his NFL pay-cheques, but he can still make pretty good bucks playing a game he loves in his home town area - beauty!

[Solar Max]

Must be crowded over at Argofans today. 8)

[OV - 54:40]

Must be crowded over at Argofans today. 8)

Some of us are fans of ALL CFL teams or the game in general.

[Ravi]

The following article might answer some questions as to why Vanderjagt is persona non grata in the NFL: http://www.globesports.com/servlet/stor ... tball/home

[Ravi]

Must be crowded over at Argofans today. 8)

It was busy enough but I like to check out various team boards including this one which is one of the better ones IMO.

[swervyn mervyn]

i can live with mcallum as our kicker although he is getting old. vanderjagt is older and well past his prime, but i can't believe the argos would give up a quality heart and soul guy like prefontaine who has been only recently been snake bitten with injuries. as a lions fan i would rather have prefontaine than mcallum. although i like mcallum i would take noel anyday. imho

[Sir Purrcival]

I'm not sure I would. Noel has had two very average years. He is a character guy no doubt but I think we have enough of those on our team anyway. Paul has done everything asked of him including a purrfect playoff performance in 2006. I don't know what else you could expect from a player. After searching for so long after Lui for a consistent p/k, I have no desire to revisit the situation where we are wondering what we may have going for us in that Dept. There would be if we somehow suddenly we had NP. Edmonton had a big hole to fill with the retirement of Flemming. We did not. If we had, then maybe NP might have filled the bill.

[QB Club 63]

Anybody think we could get maybe a second round pick from the Argos for the rights to Lui as Vanderjagt's backup?