Esks Coaching Staff Up In The Air

[Swivel Hips]

This from today's Edmonton Journal:

Coaching Staff Up In The Air

Esks head coach looks for right mix out of large pool of coaches, including incumbents and those abroad

The Edmonton Eskimos assistant coaching picture is about as clear as mud and new head coach Richie Hall didn't exactly pressure-hose the situation on Wednesday.

Perception from some league executives is that the Eskimos are in a penny-pinching mode.

"I hear they are squeezing their nickels so tight that the Queen is being introduced to the beaver," said one Canadian Football League East Division executive, who wanted to remain anonymous.

"From talking to coaches, I hear the question being asked of Edmonton is, 'Who are your (offensive and defensive) co-ordinators?' " continued the source. "The answer they're getting from Richie is, 'I'm not sure, yet.' " To be fair, Hall is busy settling in and conversations and hirings are tougher to complete during the holiday season.

"I'm encouraged, as a matter of fact," said Hall, who was cleaning out his Regina office on Wednesday. "There is a lot of interest out there. I would say there is a large pool of coaches and I'm trying to find the best mix with both those already on staff and those abroad." Hall wasn't naming names as to who would remain and who might go. He did admit he has talked to current Eskimos assistant Noel Thorpe regarding the defensive co-ordinator's job, as well as Rick Worman with the offensive co- ordinator's position.


http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Sport...407/story.html

[Opus]

I think the "eastern" executives would and should be more concerned with the coaching & management issues in Toronto......

[TurfToe]

"I hear they are squeezing their nickels so tight that the Queen is being introduced to the beaver,"

oh my... that could be taken in some very inappropriate directions!

[Beerfish]

If this is the case there is no excuse for pinching pennies when it comes to coaches and front office staff. Just another reason that I hate having a bean counter as the overall head of our team rather than having a seasoned football guy at the same level.

We should in theory have more cash than most if not all other teams in the league. Everyone has to live by the salary cap thus we should have an advantage in other areas.

[The Gum Guy]

If this is the case there is no excuse for pinching pennies when it comes to coaches and front office staff. Just another reason that I hate having a bean counter as the overall head of our team rather than having a seasoned football guy at the same level.

We should in theory have more cash than most if not all other teams in the league. Everyone has to live by the salary cap thus we should have an advantage in other areas.

I couldn't agree more.
They are paying RL and DM too much. I hear they still pay Hugh Campbell a consulting fee. I hope it's a lot less then the 350,000 plus he made before.

[Numberz]

oh my... that could be taken in some very inappropriate directions!

[Esks4ever]

If this is the case there is no excuse for pinching pennies when it comes to coaches and front office staff. Just another reason that I hate having a bean counter as the overall head of our team rather than having a seasoned football guy at the same level.

agreed

[dickwhad]

Anybody know what they're paying RL and DM??

[bceskiesfan]

The penny-pinching comment is possibly just a reference to the Greg Marshall rumour, that we didn't offer him enough.


The Esks are either penny-pinchers or cap abusers, depending on who you are I guess. A lot of perception issues amongst the CFL fanbase/media.

[Oiler]

The fans would be ecstatic if RL, DM and RC left and were replaced with seasoned and experienced football people. They would not care what at the cost would be.

[stamphater]

So Richie Hall doesn't quite know who exactly he wants but at the same time they are penny pinchers? That doesn't make sense.

[displacedinbc]

I think the "eastern" executives would and should be more concerned with the coaching & management issues in Toronto......

What can you say....they are so screwed up in the East division except for Montreal. The Argos are going to be even a bigger joke than the Leafs are. Yep, they should look after their own houses before commenting (rumor) about the EE's.

I think our new HC Mr. Hall (I love saying that) will do us right. If he fails to get the people he wants and it causes the EE's to falter, it will only deflect to DM and that'll be 1 more nail in DM's coffin. DM's best job insurance now is that the EE's become a powerhouse and respected as in the years past. You read it here first!

[Rids]

The first year of the salary cap the coaches salaries were tied into it. Is this still the case? I haven't heard anything one way or the other since that first season.

[Swivel Hips]

The first year of the salary cap the coaches salaries were tied into it. Is this still the case? I haven't heard anything one way or the other since that first season.

No, coaches salaries don't count against the cap.

[Rids]

In that case then the Labour Day Rematch game should pretty much fund the coaching staff...

[Esks1975]

There is no penny pinching with the Double E. I would think the player costs would be the highest cost of running a team. Yet with a salary cap of what, 4.2 million, the Eskimos barely break even with revenues of in excess of ten million. Where does the penny pinching come into play?

[Rids]

The Eskimos only had $10 million in revenues last year? Is that a real number? The Roughriders of 2007 reported revenues of $17 million (albeit it was a Grey Cup winning year but still).

[SportScallion]

If this is the case there is no excuse for pinching pennies when it comes to coaches and front office staff. Just another reason that I hate having a bean counter as the overall head of our team rather than having a seasoned football guy at the same level.

We should in theory have more cash than most if not all other teams in the league. Everyone has to live by the salary cap thus we should have an advantage in other areas.

So what are they pinching pennies for? We had all those winning seasons and now we're a well-off team. Spend some money! Get a money player! Make something happen! Eskimo fans demand the BEST team in the League!

[Wilkie12]

How better to discredit your competition than to call them penny pinching. Every team is looking for coaches right now. When some candidates hear that comment, they might take a pass on the Eskies and look for work elsewhere.

Plant a seed and watch it grow ........

[dickwhad]

So what are they pinching pennies for? We had all those winning seasons and now we're a well-off team. Spend some money! Get a money player! Make something happen! Eskimo fans demand the BEST team in the League!

Ricky Ray IS our money player--at 500K per season.......

[Jtuck09]

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=2633...=headlines_cfl

So much for Brad Miller coming here.

[Esks4ever]

and we have no signs of who our staff is going to consist of.. Didn't they say they wanted the coaching staff done asap IMO this isn't asap

[turftoe27]

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=2633...=headlines_cfl

So much for Brad Miller coming here.

A smart hire for the Tabbies. Sure would have looked good on our sidelines. As Diesel said - Miller is highly regarded around the CFL.

[Jtuck09]

and we have no signs of who our staff is going to consist of.. Didn't they say they wanted the coaching staff done asap IMO this isn't asap

DM was on with Gregor yesterday and I caught only a bit of what they were saying about the coaching staff. It sounds like they want things done by the end of the month. I may have heard that wrong though so don't quote me on that.

[Esks4ever]

DM was on with Gregor yesterday and I caught only a bit of what they were saying about the coaching staff. It sounds like they want things done by the end of the month. I may have heard that wrong though so don't quote me on that.

too late.. you're quoted on it

[Diesel]

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=2633...=headlines_cfl

So much for Brad Miller coming here.

DAMN DAMN DAMN!

[Esks4ever]

we need a DC and he was hired as a DC's assistant??? OUCH.. either he had no interest in the Esks or we had no interest in him....

[Looner]

we need a DC and he was hired as a DC's assistant??? OUCH.. either he had no interest in the Esks or we had no interest in him....

I think we are looking for the same thing.... DC's assistant

[Esks4ever]

maybe.. but IIRC its not 100% that RC will be the DC

[Looner]

Actually I was thinking we would be looking for someone that can run Richies defence, therefor making him somewhat of a DC's assistant