“It was an easy trade for Hamilton, they got a heck of a deal"-- Toronto Argonauts GM, Adam Rita outlining his thoughts on the relocation plans of Arland Bruce III, former member of the Double blue.
The Arland Bruce days in Argo Blue have come to an end, the showdown between coach Bart Andrus and his talented but decidedly independent thinking receiver ended on Wednesday as the Argos traded Bruce to their bitter rivals the Hamilton Tiger Cats.
The move was a reinforcement of control for new head coach Bart Andrus, who quickly tired of the off field inconsistencies (and perhaps one or two of the on the field ones) that Bruce showcased in his first four weeks under the Andrus regime.
As the weeks went by, it became clear that the two weren't going to be getting along too well, with Bruce proving to be a bit of a disruptive force early on this season. So Andrus it seems outlined where he stood and in the end the Argos management decided that their new coach needed their support much more than they required Bruce's talents.
So it's down the QEW he goes, in return the Cats have received the rights to highly touted Canadian defensive lineman Corey Mace,currently with the Buffalo Bills, the Cats also will receive a third-round pick next year as well as a conditional pick in the 2011 draft.
As Wednesday was coming to an end, the word was that the Argos had made contact with Mace and it's anticipated that an agreement may soon be worked out to bring him back across the border to Ontario. An ending that at least may help calm down those Argo fans who may be feeling that they played a poor hand of poker this week in TO.
For Bruce, it's perhaps the best result he could have hoped for, a chance to remain in the centre of the CFL's media universe (though slightly west of the centre) and provides the chance to come back and haunt his former team on a somewhat regular basis.
The only question for Hamilton fans probably is what may be ahead, can he just concentrate on the football while in Hamilton and leave the off field theatrics back in the Argo camp. If he can focus on the football, the Cats suddenly have become a very serious threat to the final standings for the 2009 season.
In the end though, the two weeks of drama have at least kept the CFL on the sports pages in Southern Ontario.
And while they've not said a word, we suspect that the league likewise is pretty content with the way it all has played out.
As if the Argo/Tiger Cat rivalry needed any help in raising the temperature, we now add in the element of the Cats taking on the spurned son of the Double Blue, old Harold Ballard would have loved the theatre of it all.
Hamilton Spectator-- Argos send disgruntled receiver Bruce to Ticats
National Post-- Bruce starting fresh with Tiger-Cats
Globe and Mail--Hey Bart, get used to flakes
Globe and Mail-- Bruce says he won’t lie down on job
Globe and Mail-- Bruce dealt to Tiger Cats
Globe and Mail-- Re-visiting the Arland Bruce Shuffle
Toronto Star-- Argos end Bruce saga with trade to Hamilton
Toronto Sun-- Argos deal Bruce to arch-rival Ticats
Toronto Sun-- Bruce traded to Hamilton
.
Photo above from Globe and Mail website
The Arland Bruce days in Argo Blue have come to an end, the showdown between coach Bart Andrus and his talented but decidedly independent thinking receiver ended on Wednesday as the Argos traded Bruce to their bitter rivals the Hamilton Tiger Cats.
The move was a reinforcement of control for new head coach Bart Andrus, who quickly tired of the off field inconsistencies (and perhaps one or two of the on the field ones) that Bruce showcased in his first four weeks under the Andrus regime.
As the weeks went by, it became clear that the two weren't going to be getting along too well, with Bruce proving to be a bit of a disruptive force early on this season. So Andrus it seems outlined where he stood and in the end the Argos management decided that their new coach needed their support much more than they required Bruce's talents.
So it's down the QEW he goes, in return the Cats have received the rights to highly touted Canadian defensive lineman Corey Mace,currently with the Buffalo Bills, the Cats also will receive a third-round pick next year as well as a conditional pick in the 2011 draft.
As Wednesday was coming to an end, the word was that the Argos had made contact with Mace and it's anticipated that an agreement may soon be worked out to bring him back across the border to Ontario. An ending that at least may help calm down those Argo fans who may be feeling that they played a poor hand of poker this week in TO.
For Bruce, it's perhaps the best result he could have hoped for, a chance to remain in the centre of the CFL's media universe (though slightly west of the centre) and provides the chance to come back and haunt his former team on a somewhat regular basis.
The only question for Hamilton fans probably is what may be ahead, can he just concentrate on the football while in Hamilton and leave the off field theatrics back in the Argo camp. If he can focus on the football, the Cats suddenly have become a very serious threat to the final standings for the 2009 season.
In the end though, the two weeks of drama have at least kept the CFL on the sports pages in Southern Ontario.
And while they've not said a word, we suspect that the league likewise is pretty content with the way it all has played out.
As if the Argo/Tiger Cat rivalry needed any help in raising the temperature, we now add in the element of the Cats taking on the spurned son of the Double Blue, old Harold Ballard would have loved the theatre of it all.
Hamilton Spectator-- Argos send disgruntled receiver Bruce to Ticats
National Post-- Bruce starting fresh with Tiger-Cats
Globe and Mail--Hey Bart, get used to flakes
Globe and Mail-- Bruce says he won’t lie down on job
Globe and Mail-- Bruce dealt to Tiger Cats
Globe and Mail-- Re-visiting the Arland Bruce Shuffle
Toronto Star-- Argos end Bruce saga with trade to Hamilton
Toronto Sun-- Argos deal Bruce to arch-rival Ticats
Toronto Sun-- Bruce traded to Hamilton
.
Photo above from Globe and Mail website
No comments:
Post a Comment