Ricky Williams to the Argonauts?

[YOUR Hero]

Rumour that Ricky Williams will end up with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.

Would it be a wise move by the Argos? The CFL?

[The Icon of Elisim]

I dunno, they let in the Whizzinator so I dont see how Ricky Williams would be any worse for their image.

[Bad Company]

Isn't he a brilliant player? Who just smoked dope?

[YOUR Hero]

Yeah, but he failed the NFL drug test at the end of last year. Too much baggage, IMO

[The Show Off]

If I were the CFL I'd do anything to get Ricky Williams in my league, even if he wanted tto smoke a blunt while running for a touchdown.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Ricky Williams would dominate in the CFL. He took a year off, then still had a pretty productive year in the NFL - if he ends up in the CFL he'll be coming off a season where he actaully played, instead of one where he was just in Asia chillin

I don't see why a team wouldn't want to take him, he just failed a few drug tests for weed - its not like he killed someone.

Doug Flutie is the one of the greatest CFL players ever, in the NFL he's pretty much been a career #2 - what do you think Ricky Williams would be do up there?

[Nervous Ferret]

wasn't the last drug test a no show not a fail anyway


But yeah, he is pretty much still the man, if he wants to go I don't see any reason the CFL wouldn't want him

[BCWWF]

Who is the CFL to be picky? It doesn't have drug tests to begin with.

[YOUR Hero]

Yeah, why should the CFL be picky. If a player is booted out for failing a drug test, cool. Sign him.
Sure says a lot about your league.
It doesn't matter if the athletes that play in the CFL are of a 'lower quality' than the NFL. That doesn't mean you run yourself in a less professional, or moral manner.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Yeah but he only failed a few tests for weed, it is not like he was caught with kilos of crack or something. He smoked a few blunts and got caught. Big deal.

I also think the signing of Williams would boost the interest in the CFL, atleast from Americans for the year that he plays there. So while the image of the CFL could possibly take a hit (I disagree) fan interest would increase. Even as simple as some curious fans checking out a CFL website would be worth it, since the CFL does not have much to risk (How would the CFL be seen any different than the NFL since the NFL is going to take back Ricky Williams for the '07 season + they already took him back for the '05 season)

[BCWWF]

It doesn't matter if the athletes that play in the CFL are of a 'lower quality' than the NFL. That doesn't mean you run yourself in a less professional, or moral manner.

That is the whole point, and being Canadian I'd think you would have known that. The CFL doesn't have drug testing, so if they are letting other players come in and not be tested why should they be picky about Ricky Williams?

I understand your point and would agree with it, but the CFL doesn't come off as a league that can be picky about an issue like this, and obviously they aren't being picky.

[YOUR Hero]

In hockey for example, if a player is suspended for something, say in Europe, the NHL recognizes that suspension and will not allow that player to play in the NHL. Vise-versa as well. Otherwise what's the player's punishment really? This is the way it needs to be. Doesn't matter if the suspension of for a violation of something another league doesn't enforce. A suspension is a suspension.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

That is a pretty stupid rule IMO

What if a player is banned for a legal over the counter supplement that is not banned in another league? Why should that player be barred from competing in another league? Ricky Williams smoked some weed - smoking weed isn't againest the rules in the CFL so why should he be barred from competing?

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

O. Smith has signed on with an CFL team after being told he was barred from competing in the NFL for the 2006 season as well, so apparently the CFL does not feel that allowing these players to participate is going to hurt their image. Hurting the image or not, it is going to increase fan interest you'd imagine. Business is buisness

[BCWWF]

The thing is, if the CFL doesn't test for drugs, what baggage do these guys have? I think that is the point Stima is trying to get across.

In the big picture, I think the CFL has these rules because it is such a low-level league. I mean getting Onterio Smith is going to be huge for some ream, and he was barely a No. 1 running back, if even. The team's really can't afford to be too picky, or else there will be nobody to pick.

Nonetheless, like Stima said, I will be interested to see how this turns out, Ricky Williams more than Onterrio, but it should be interesting and could mark some sort of change in how the two leagues interact.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

The CFL isn't really that "low level" of a league though plus that has nothing to do with anything really. They could be the worst football leauge in the history the world but if they had drug testing then Ricky Williams shouldn't be allowed in. If the CFL had a drug policy then I'd be all for the banning of Ricky Willaims - but they don't. They got a lot of good football players up there, it is not like it is some semi-pro league or something with part timers.

[Boomer]

Ricky and the Argonauts, part of the Whizzonautika

[YOUR Hero]

You make a pretty good arguement, Stima. While I can understand where you are coming from, weed is an illegal substance in Canada, so the suspension should follow him into the CFL. Now you make a hypothetical arguement about other things, which I would agree to.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Let's say Casey Printers smokes tons of weed but is allowed to play since he has never been tested for it, since they don't have testing in the CFL. How is banning Ricky Williams fair at all?

[The Outlaw]

Will he be allowed to smoke weed? If so, take him.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Yep, since they don't test he can smoke as much as he wants.

[BCWWF]

But then he can't get reinstated to the NFL, makes $55,000 per year and has a lifetime debt to the Dolphins! :$

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

I don't think he gets tested by the NFL while he is banned for year...does he? It only takes a little while to get out of your system. Couple of my friends play at D1 schools and as soon as they got home for summer break they were all fiending weed 'cuz they couldn't smoke cuz they get tested while at school haha....so I am assuming it doesn't last very song since they are all going back to camp in August.

[The Miz]

30 days, but there are things you can do to cut that time considerably

[The Outlaw]

Drink a lot of water.

[el fregadero]

I'd sign him.

[Gonzo]

If you're a habitual smoker it can take longer than a month to get it out of your system, it varies.

[BCWWF]

The NFL and the Dolphins have the right to test him whenever they want next year

[YOUR Hero]

A little bit of old news now, but Joe Thiesman ripped the Argo's organization for signing Williams. He stated he was ashamed to have ever wore their uniform. While I still agree it's a poor move for them and the CFL, Williams statement when asked about it was beautiful. He said, if you didn't hear, that he didn't think Joe hated him, but hated himself. He said he thought that since he was unable to forgive. I mean come on, how do you respond to that without going further and making yourself come off as a jerk.

[BCWWF]

Ricky had a pretty low day in the preseason, but they said he had only been practicing for a couple days before that. It goes to show though, people will be interested in what he does and it will definately boost some awareness of the CFL.

[The Miz]

BC Lions baby

[YOUR Hero]

:love:, Miz

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

I really wanna see Eric Crouch play but I don't think NESN (the Red Sox owned channel) is airing CFL games this year...damn

[BCWWF]

Seriously, if the CFL could get some of the bigger name college players that can't make it in the NFL, I think people would notice. I mean if Reggie McNeal can only play as WR in the NFL but is able to play quarterback in the CFL, it would give people a reason to pay attention.

[BCWWF]

Other 'name' players the CFL could try to lure:
Maurice Clarett
DJ Shockley
Marcus Vick
Jason White
Mike Stima
JJ Arrington (is he out of a job in Arizona yet?)
Chris Rix
Aforementioned Eric Crouch
Tommy Chang

And then there are other factors, like if you are the Toronto Argonauts, why not cater to former Big 12 players or something? I mean if you can put a couple guys from the same programs together, you might get some fans down there. Like people from kansas are going to be looking for Nick Reid and Charles Gordon in years to come. Neither will make the NFL, but they were a big deal at ku and will probably end up in the CFL, why not sign both of them? Little things like that wouldn't hurt the competition in the CFL, and maybe if done right it could help the league make some more money. Make the money and then you could even start attracting the deep NFL reserves. Right now, if you can make 100,000 not playing a second in the NFL or 50,000 as a CFL starter, players will likely take the 100,000. But there are a lot of players that were good in college that are just taking their time on the third string of NFL teams. If you could get some of those guys to go and star in the lesser league it would be tremendous, methinks.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Well for guys like Reggie McNeil he is looking at a lot more money playing wideout in the NFL then compaired to playing QB in the CFL. Plus, just assuming here, he probably does not want to have to live in Canada.

I bet that could be a big factor in a lot of the other guys too, having to live and play football in Canada, a lot of guys may not be interested for the amount of money they could be making. There could also be a lack of interest from teams in Canada, I know their is certain rules stating that there must be a certain percentage of Canadians on each roster, so the desire for more American players may not be that great.

Plus there is now the AFL in the States, I was watching the other day and I noticed a lot of names I've heard before. One name I noticed was Woody Dantzler playing for Chicago, he was a Reggie McNeil type in college and he tried his hand in the NFL as well.

[BCWWF]

I hardly think Reggie McNeal is a lock to make an NFL roster in any position though

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

I think someone should give him a shot at QB. Just because he runs a 4.4 it doesn't mean he shouldn't be a QB. He has a great arm

[BCWWF]

The thing is though, after the success he had as a junior, if he still wasn't even drafted into the NFL, quarterback is a very, very long shot. And just because he is black and fast doesn't mean he can be a good wide reciever (not implying that you said that).

My point is just that if you can put him as a QB and a few other A&M players on one of those lower level teams, it seems like it would help their fan base rather than trying to simply make the best possible team.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Well if he doesn't make it as a wideout, then yeah my point is N/A. I was kind of saying that implying he would catch on with a team as WR.

Even though he is projected wideout, I think McNeil should be given a chance at QB , he isn't DJ Shockley or Michael Robinson. I think the guy would be a good NFL style QB.

[BCWWF]

I was kind of surprised he wasn't even given draft consideration at all this time around, he is an unbelievable athlete and seemed more pass oriented in college, but I dunno.

[Gonzo]

What college is this dude from?

[YOUR Hero]

There are import rules and quotas in the CFL. Also, not every one that gets cut from the NFL is good enough to play the CFL game. It's a faster game, has a much quicker pace and that alone doesn't suit everybody's abilities.

[Stickman]

You know, I really doubt Ricky Williams will do anything special in the CFL. Too many Americans think it's a rinky dink inferior league. There's a lot of Americans who can't play in the CFL because they're not good enough. Naturally the best of the best are in the NFL, but the CFL is a good sport. ANnd I think Williams will be a bust.

[BCWWF]

Doesn't the CFL have a larger field or something?


Reggie McNeal is from Texas A&M, a Vince Young/Brad Smith type QB

[Adder]

Wider field, 10 yards longer, only 3 downs, the ball itself is larger.

Among other things

[The Outlaw]

Timmy Chang* ;)

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

There are import rules and quotas in the CFL. Also, not every one that gets cut from the NFL is good enough to play the CFL game. It's a faster game, has a much quicker pace and that alone doesn't suit everybody's abilities.
While that is true, not every single guy cut in the NFL could make it, a lot of them would be able to. Especially most of the guys BCWWF listed since they where "stars" in respective programs back in college. It comes down to talent, usually if a player was good enough to get a shot in the NFL i'd be pretty confident in saying he'd have a real good shot at making it in the CFL. Unless he was wrongly scouted by the NFL (Which does happen a good amount of time) the odds of a cut NFL player being able to play in the CFL would be great. The different style would require an adjustment period but I think the NFL style athletes would be able to adapat.

The only way I can see Ricky Williams not doing well is if he is not interested in changing his style, which I could see happening since he is eyeing a return to the NFL next season. This post isn't a knock on the CFL at all though because the CFL is no joke, it is a real good leauge with a lot of talent. It is just that the players in the NFL are so good that those cut are still really really good football players, if you look in the past of players with success in the CFL compaired to their "failures" in the NFL it is pretty evident.

[YOUR Hero]

I'm not saying your wrong on any of your post. Great athletes, guys with good speed would most likely succeed unless they didn't want to (not adapting, etc) Slow guys that are cut in the NFL aren't going to make it in the CFL, 9 times out of 10

[RoXer]

The Rock played in the CFL.

[RoXer]

Also, I'm not sure what the status is on J.J. Arrington. He's behind Shipp and Edge right now,but I wish they'd keep hiim because he is fairly young.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

I'm not saying your wrong on any of your post. Great athletes, guys with good speed would most likely succeed unless they didn't want to (not adapting, etc) Slow guys that are cut in the NFL aren't going to make it in the CFL, 9 times out of 10
Any skill position where speed is require, 9 times out of 10 a person trying out for the NFL is going to have great speed wether he gets cut or not.

In the case of Veterans, it is different becuase they could have lost a step due to various different reasons, in those cases I'd agree. Just because you once played in the NFL, it doesn't always mean you'd be good enough to make it in the CFL. But I just can't see big time college players packed with speed, such as a Reggie McNeil, a Marcus Vick or even a linebacker like Corey Mays out of Norte Dame not making it in the CFL because they aren't quick enough.

Players coming out of college that don't get invited to try out with NFL teams, then I'd agree with you, they'd most likely have no chance of making it in the CFL.

[BCWWF]

What was the Rock's story again? I remember he was second behind Warren Sapp as a freshman on the depth chart, but then injuries kept him out of the NFL and from being great in college. Did he ever have a chance in the NFL though?

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

He played behind Warren Sapp? I thought the Rock was a defensive end

[BCWWF]

I just remember reading that in his book, maybe he was a tackle early on?

[The Miz]

lol BCWWF read The Rock's book

[RoXer]

So did I :o

[BCWWF]

I also read Mankinds :rant:

[Gonzo]

Hey man The Rock Dwayne Johnson went to the U.

[Stickman]

The Rock was on the practice roster for the Calgary Stampeders