Winnipeg Blue Bombers issue statement regarding Zach Collaros ruling

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Hoping that now the team the player is under contract to is notified as well, so that they can make teh effort to confirm the player abides by the rules.

Sucks to lose him for the opener, but that's a sell out anyway.

Means we will see a live fire QB tryout game 1.  Not the worst thing, really.

Apparently Darren Cameron left a message on his phone the same day trying to inform him, but he didn't review his messages until a week later.

[blue_gold_84]

Off-season drug testing requests should be sent by registered mail, IMO.

This is all pretty bush league if you ask me.

[Pigskin]

Off-season drug testing requests should be sent by registered mail, IMO.

This is all pretty bush league if you ask me.

Or they could contact the team or his agent.

[TBURGESS]

Sounds like Collaros is doing the right thing. Take responsibility for not answering the phone, text, email, and voice recording. Take the one game and move on.

[TecnoGenius]

Or they could contact the team or his agent.

If you want to reach me, you contact my wife.  If this was me, I'd also miss every single comms method for weeks and weeks, especially if I was on "vacation".

Should have contacted his wife! 

* Actually, there's one other way to reach me quickly: post on this forum!

[TecnoGenius]

How is it a two game suspension to not respond within 24 hours during the off season?

This seems so ridiculous.

If he received the comms, say, 48 hours after, he should have immediately gone in and done a voluntary PED test, even if he has to contract a private lab.  So it seems like it was a week later, he still should have done this to show he's "clean".

Ridersfans are gonna have a field day with this one.  First "Juice Harris", now it's gonna be Zach.  Ugh.  We don't need this kind of rep, especially since we're always winning.  Best to nip these things in the bud.

Did the league force him to take the test as soon as he responded?  Or is it like "oh you missed it, no test and 1-2 game suspension".  We don't want to give any actual PED abuser an out by "missing" their test.

[TecnoGenius]

Yes it's apart of the job.

Guess it's a good thing they never randomly picked Janarion Grant for off-season PED testing.  No one can get a hold of him for *months*, apparently.

[TecnoGenius]

Don't know if this should have its own thread, but this makes the backup QB issue front and center going into week 1.
* made a new thread, put "what QB" talk in the new thread

I think if Strev is 90%+ it'll be Strev.  If not then surely Wilson.

I don't think Patterson will be anywhere near up to speed on the book by then.

Depending on how much Dolegala learned last season, it may be really sucking about now that we just released him like a few days ago.  He may have been the best bet if Strev is not good to go.

In any event, this majorly sucks our 1st game is at home.  Many attendees will be like "where's Zach?" and feel ripped off, especially if BC creams us, which seems highly likely with no Zach.

Every year lately is something or other.  Passports.  Legal fiascos.  Suspensions.  We don't want to turn into the Argos!  I thought we had moved past that by letting Kenny walk.

[Blueforlife]

Don't know if this should have its own thread, but this makes the backup QB issue front and center going into week 1.

I think if Strev is 90%+ it'll be Strev.  If not then surely Wilson.

I don't think Patterson will be anywhere near up to speed on the book by then.

Depending on how much Dolegala learned last season, it may be really sucking about now that we just released him like a few days ago.  He may have been the best bet if Strev is not good to go.

In any event, this majorly sucks our 1st game is at home.  Many attendees will be like "where's Zach?" and feel ripped off, especially if BC creams us, which seems highly likely with no Zach.

Every year lately is something or other.  Passports.  Legal fiascos.  Suspensions.  We don't want to turn into the Argos!  I thought we had moved past that by letting Kenny walk.

I would like a thread to discuss how this impacts our approach to evaluating and utilizing our QBs.  A hot topic to be sure!

Does this mean Zach can or can't play in the PS?  We don't want another season preceded by a starters-don't-get-any-reps PS.  That killed us last season.

See below

[TecnoGenius]

See below

Thanks, I read the TC part but missed the PS part on first read.

Good that he'll get PS reps!  However, that may feel a bit "weird" knowing he'll be out for game 1.

He may get some bad boos if he takes the field in the PS2 @SSK game.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Don't know if this should have its own thread, but this makes the backup QB issue front and center going into week 1.

I think if Strev is 90%+ it'll be Strev.  If not then surely Wilson.

I don't think Patterson will be anywhere near up to speed on the book by then.

Depending on how much Dolegala learned last season, it may be really sucking about now that we just released him like a few days ago.  He may have been the best bet if Strev is not good to go.

In any event, this majorly sucks our 1st game is at home.  Many attendees will be like "where's Zach?" and feel ripped off, especially if BC creams us, which seems highly likely with no Zach.

Every year lately is something or other.  Passports.  Legal fiascos.  Suspensions.  We don't want to turn into the Argos!  I thought we had moved past that by letting Kenny walk.

Why not let the incoming QB's compete for the start in TC and the pre-season games, imagine real competition, the QB who performs the best gets the start.

[TecnoGenius]

I made a new thread for the week 1 starter question.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Or they could contact the team or his agent.

They obviously did if Cameron was trying to reach him the same day, question is how hard did he try to get hold of Zach?  If he left 10 messages on his phone maybe something would have clicked that he should tune back in and respond.

[J5V]

I'm not even sure I agree with these athletes getting tested in the off-season. Once the season starts, sure, but in the off-season? I see the NFL does this as well. I had no idea. Seems ridiculous to me.

[Jesse]

I'm not sure why you're immediately suspended either. For a multiple offender, sure. But a 14 year vet on his first misstep gets a suspension without any leeway? There's no fine or opportunity to makeup for your mistake?