Janarion Grant and the X Factor

[J5V]

Well, he never played a game for any team but Winnipeg before this year so I find it very difficult to call him a "mercenary" who goes to the highest bidder.

You're right, that language was probably somewhat hyperbolic. You might be able to tell I'm not real happy with the fact that he wouldn't stay here with us and now that he's in Toronto, well, he's the enemy now. Anyway, I removed that particular comment after some consideration.

[theaardvark]

Who says we didn't set money aside for Grant.  Just might not have been enough.

If it was outside the budget Walters had set, for an oft injured Xfactor, so be it.

There is no way Pinball signed him for $85k, unless there was $200k nonSMS money like Rourke got.

[Jesse]

Who says we didn't set money aside for Grant.  Just might not have been enough.

If it was outside the budget Walters had set, for an oft injured Xfactor, so be it.

There is no way Pinball signed him for $85k, unless there was $200k nonSMS money like Rourke got.

The marketing money just shows we didn't need to set aside money, if we wanted him here, we could have made it happen.

[theaardvark]

The marketing money just shows we didn't need to set aside money, if we wanted him here, we could have made it happen.

You have no idea if we have already spent our "marketing money".  It might have been why Schoen/Olivera signed here.

[Pete]

You have no idea if we have already spent our "marketing money".  It might have been why Schoen/Olivera signed here.

that assumes there is a fixed amount you can spend which there does not appear to be.

[theaardvark]

that assumes there is a fixed amount you can spend which there does not appear to be.

We really need some answers about the circumventing $SMS crap.

If you can pay a player an unlimited "promotional fee", then we should sign every player.  We are one of the most liquid, if not the most liquid team, and don't have an owner to pay.  As long as we keep a little in the kitty, there is no reason to not spend every dollar.  And we've had surpluses for years.

Is there a line item in the annual report for "promotional fees"?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Of course those are one side on those conversations. You and I don't know the full story so I take players' comments with a grain or two of salt. For example, a player who is told "This is our final offer" could easily take that as a lack of communication especially if he believes that he is worth more.

In any event none of us know the full story so it leaves gap in trying to determine what actually happened.

The players version is the only side we have as the team never has and never will comment.  If you go back and listen to the interviews of those 3 particular players, you may have a hard time disbelieving them as they all come across as open, sincere and honest.

[ModAdmin]

The players version is the only side we have as the team never has and never will comment.  If you go back and listen to the interviews of those 3 particular players, you may have a hard time disbelieving them as they all come across as open, sincere and honest.

Personally I can't simply accept what the players say without hearing the other side. Suggesting the organization did not communicate with them flies in the face of everything I've heard about the Bombers - that is they care about the players, that they build the team based on that attitude and atmosphere.  At the same time decisions need to made that sometimes let a player go or they are offered a lower salary or a reduced role on the team.  Those decisions are not likely to go over well with some players.  And the organization is not going to get into those specifics.

But again, we don't know the full story. That is all I am saying.