Thanks, Cope

Sorry for the silence - but I have a decent excuse.  I was in Hawaii.  So, yeah. 

Talk about horrible CFL news to come home to, though.  I'll get to Sandro later, but first let me talk about Jeremaine Copeland being traded to the Toronto Argonauts. 

Jeremaine Copeland saved the Stampeders.  There, I said it. 

Look at the record.  Cope came to Calgary for the 2005 season.  The previous two years, the Stamps had gone 5-13, and 4-14, respectively.  That's nine wins in two seasons.  Nine wins in one season is enough for a .500 record, and maybe a road ticket to a semifinal playoff game. 

I was a season ticket holder then, so I can tell you: the stench of death was on this team.  It wasn't a young team just trying to gel, a once-proud team decimated by injuries, or even all that competitive.  The defence was respectable, but the offence simply could not move the ball.  In an 18 game season, the Stamps were competitive in perhaps 8 of those games.  That's far worse than the 2009 Argos. 

Fans can tell.  True fans are patient.  They can rationalize spending money and supporting a bad team if they feel it's at least heading in the right direction.  "Rebuilding" is not a dirty word. 

But when a team is just incompetent, fans start to drift away - and you can't blame them. 

What happened?  Cope happened. 

Jeremaine Copeland signed with the Stamps as a free agent after the 2004 season.  I remember my giddy disbelief - he's coming HERE?  Why?  I mean, thank God - but why? 

Today's Jeremaine Copeland plays the role of savvy veteran, but back then, he was the human highlight reel.  He proudly told the Calgary media he was working on 20 new (!) and distinct (!!) touchdown dances (!!!) for all the touchdowns he was going to score in Calgary. 

And like that, there was hope. 

Over his time in Calgary, he evolved from no#1 threat to secondary option, but that's fine.  He understood he had to make way for Nik Lewis and Ken-Yon Rambo, and was fine with that.  He was a professional.  And yet...when the team needed him, he was there. 

This season in particular, the offence seemed to gum up.  Fall out of rhythym, trip itself up, whatever - but you could see the frustration, especially in Henry Burris' very expressive face.  When that happened, Cope would find ways to get open and carry the team. 

Now, he's off to Toronto to help Jim Barker save another team.  Good luck, Cope.  You won't be forgotten here.

Bombers hire LaPolice

They finally have their man in Winnipeg.  Sort of. 

After the head coaching job was turned down by Montreal offfensive coordinator Scott Milanovich, the Bombers were down to second (and maybe third) pickings.  With that in mind, they did fairly well. 

LaPolice has been around the CFL for a while now, including a stint in Winnipeg in 2002 and 2003.  He's been at the reins of Saskatchewan's potent offence for two seasons, and receivers coach in 2007. 

Winnipeg DESPERATELY needs someone to inject some life in their moribund offence.  That's right, moribund.  (Shoutout to Hugh Grant there.)  The first order of business should be finding a quarterback.  After the Stefan LeFors fiasco, Michael Bishop actually served as a decent stopgap, but he's not a long or even medium-term answer. 

Unfortunately for the Bombers, the pickings are slim. Montreal backup Adrian MacPherson wants a shot at starting somewhere, and he might be the best prospect available.  Hamilton's Adam Tafralis may also be worth a look, as he won't be playing ahead of Kevin Glenn or Quinton Porter anytime soon. 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/blue-bombers-hire-lapolice-as-head-coach/article1457648/

Rams to Toronto?

The Globe and Mail's David Naylor reports one of the three groups bidding for the St. Louis Rams wants to move them to Toronto. 

Poppycock.

Sorry for the strong words, but that's insane. 

First, the Rogers Centre seats about 15,000 less for football than the Rams' current home, the Edward James Dome.  NFL-to-Toronto backers never take into account the simple inadequacy of the stadium. 

Second, the NFL has tacitly conceded Toronto as Buffalo Bills territory, and would probably block the move.  The Bills have a contract to play some games there over the next few years, and that won't be easily discarded. 

Third, the Rams just moved to St. Louis (from Los Angeles) in 1994.  They would be the second NFL team to leave St. Louis; the Cardinals left for Phoenix in 1988.  That's two NFL moves from the same city in 22 years.  If Roger Goodell is smart - and he hasn't produced much evidence either way - he'll quietly forbid this. 

But by all means, Toronto, grasp onto this latest rumour as proof the NFL is just around the corner.