Head Coach Mike O'Shea end of season availability

[theaardvark]

You're 100% right.

That's why it's all happening at once.  It's just not occurring in the order we're being informed.  The KW deal didn't happen until Buck was 100% for sure gone, even though it's being presented to us in the opposite order.

That also means that the OC is already chosen and in the bag and they know what the $$ will be.  This is all one move, and none can be done without the other(s) in the bag.  The proof will be when our "OC search" won't happen, or won't fly in all the usual suspects for interviews.  Nope, it'll just be announced it'll be Mr. X from within our ranks, or at the worst, a no-name QB or ST coach or whatever sniped from another team.

But there is zero evidence that Walters and Co got a raise.  It might have been a $SMS issue, but we don't know whether it was if we could give them a raise, but whether we could keep paying them want they were paid previously.  Either is as likely.  With no SMS change, assuming anyone got a raise is an odd conjecture.  MOS got his new deal while Walters was under contract, whether he got a raise then or not, we do not know.  And, again, with no landing spots for a GM right now, signing here made sense, even at the same pay or less.  Had ODay been fired, then maybe Walters and Co could ask for a raise or leave.  But SSK decided to stay with ODay. 

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

But there is zero evidence that Walters and Co got a raise.  It might have been a $SMS issue, but we don't know whether it was if we could give them a raise, but whether we could keep paying them want they were paid previously.  Either is as likely.  With no SMS change, assuming anyone got a raise is an odd conjecture.  MOS got his new deal while Walters was under contract, whether he got a raise then or not, we do not know.  And, again, with no landing spots for a GM right now, signing here made sense, even at the same pay or less.  Had ODay been fired, then maybe Walters and Co could ask for a raise or leave.  But SSK decided to stay with ODay. 

One semi-devious way to make Walters life better without increasing his pay is to do a Sam Katz house flip. An influential  Bomber supporter (David Asper???) can rid himself of a cumbersome property in a better Wpg. neighbourhood where he no longer wishes to cut the grass, at an overly generous price.  On the understanding that Walters sells the property back to this enthusiastic Bomber supporter when he also tires of cutting the grass.  Nothing particularly illegal about people not wanting to cut grass!

[TecnoGenius]

But there is zero evidence that Walters and Co got a raise.  It might have been a $SMS issue, but we don't know whether it was if we could give them a raise, but whether we could keep paying them want they were paid previously.  Either is as likely.  With no SMS change, assuming anyone got a raise is an odd conjecture.

Sure, zero evidence (so far).  However, I think it's pretty much guaranteed the sticking point for re-signing KW was a $$raise$$.  What on earth else could it be, especially after all the MOS/KW chatter about money?  I don't think I've ever heard MOS discuss coach/office $$ at pressers before!  But he was doing it a lot the last month.  I'm pretty sure he didn't like talking about it either.

I find it highly unlikely that a 4-time GC-appearing 3-time #1-in-W GM would be asked to take a pay cut.  Especially when every single other team and fan is dying to steal KW away.  So I think we can safely throw away the "we were asking him to take a cut" sceanrio.

Sure, maybe we were asking him to accept the status quo, and he finally caved when he got no other team offers... but then we'd have a pretty unhappy KW... and we'd see it in the next presser in his mood and demeanour.  And then why would he agree to a 2-year term instead of forcing WM into a 1-year?

Here's another theory: what if KW/Ted/Danny (or maybe just 2 of them) got together as a bloc to negotiate with WM.  Imagine WM faced with losing all 3 in one blow?  That would increase their negotiating power by an order of magnitude, and virtually guarantee they got nice raises.

What I really want to know, and probably never will, is what came first: Buck hinting he was going off to be a HC finally, or KW demanding more money than the cap allowed with the current personnel?  In other words, was Buck nudged out, or was him leaving serendipitous allowing KW et al to get their raise?  It could be either.  It could be everyone got what they wanted... except the new OC who will get paid much less than Buck (if my theory is correct).

Hey, as a "community owned team", aren't we usually informed of what the Prez & GM are making?

[theaardvark]

Sure, zero evidence (so far).  However, I think it's pretty much guaranteed the sticking point for re-signing KW was a $$raise$$.  What on earth else could it be, especially after all the MOS/KW chatter about money?  I don't think I've ever heard MOS discuss coach/office $$ at pressers before!  But he was doing it a lot the last month.  I'm pretty sure he didn't like talking about it either.

I find it highly unlikely that a 4-time GC-appearing 3-time #1-in-W GM would be asked to take a pay cut.  Especially when every single other team and fan is dying to steal KW away.  So I think we can safely throw away the "we were asking him to take a cut" sceanrio.

Sure, maybe we were asking him to accept the status quo, and he finally caved when he got no other team offers... but then we'd have a pretty unhappy KW... and we'd see it in the next presser in his mood and demeanour.  And then why would he agree to a 2-year term instead of forcing WM into a 1-year?

Here's another theory: what if KW/Ted/Danny (or maybe just 2 of them) got together as a bloc to negotiate with WM.  Imagine WM faced with losing all 3 in one blow?  That would increase their negotiating power by an order of magnitude, and virtually guarantee they got nice raises.

What I really want to know, and probably never will, is what came first: Buck hinting he was going off to be a HC finally, or KW demanding more money than the cap allowed with the current personnel?  In other words, was Buck nudged out, or was him leaving serendipitous allowing KW et al to get their raise?  It could be either.  It could be everyone got what they wanted... except the new OC who will get paid much less than Buck (if my theory is correct).

Hey, as a "community owned team", aren't we usually informed of what the Prez & GM are making?

What could the "sticking point" be?

Oh. maybe the fact they said they wouldn't start discussions until after the season?

But yeah, they were holding out (for less than two weeks) because of money...

[TecnoGenius]

What could the "sticking point" be?

Oh. maybe the fact they said they wouldn't start discussions until after the season?

But yeah, they were holding out (for less than two weeks) because of money...

The bb,com pressers in the last couple of months and insider reports have had many mentions of WFC trying to pin down KW up to 2 months prior to the GC.  Not 2 weeks.  What was happening, and what we were privy to, are two different things.

Yes, KW may have been just doing the MOS "won't talk about it until after the GC" thing.  Nothing wrong with that.

But then money money money $M$ $M$ $M$ got injected into many pressers.  Again, that is the thing that stands out.  You remember money being mentioned in pressers in the last 10 years of The Mafia rule?  I don't.  It just strikes me as suspicious.  Go watch KW's pre-GC presser again, and some of MOS's, and tell me there wasn't a different feel to this year's negotiation.  I could be completely wrong, but something definitely seemed "off" to me.  All previous years felt like "rubber stamps", but not this year.

But hey, they got the deal done so none of this really matters... except for the big question mark at OC.  And if I'm right we should start hearing what's going on there as soon as byebye-Buck is official.  And maybe pray there's not more fallout, like losing Hall (anyone know his contract status?).  We could also have saved a chunk of $M$ there too, by promoting Younger.  I'm really hoping the only shake-up this time 'round is Buck... losing him will be bad enough.

[Jesse]

Again, I don't even know what you're arguing.

Our club does not like the salary cap. They have been vocal opposers throughout, from Miller on down. They did not get raises, because there is cap, which is why they are upset. If they were able to get raises, there wouldn't be much to ne upset about, would there?

Buck wants to be a HC. He's talked about it for years. It's a promotion. It's what he's been working towards for 10+ years. He doesn't need to be nudged out, that is a weird thing to say.

You openly admit you don't know what coaches make, and then make up some absurdly high number in order to justify that Buck moving on somehow gives money for three people way above him on the totem pole.

It's just a lot of nonsense.