America’s got talent

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/08/2010 (5856 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Joe Mack says Winnipeg football fans can expect some new faces to ride into town when the team reconvenes following the bye week. The size of the cavalry, however, will be on the smaller side.

The Blue Bombers GM was in Charlotte, N.C. Saturday, getting ready to take in the NFL pre-season game between the Carolina Panthers and the visiting New York Jets. This month has been (and will continue to be) dotted with stops along the NFL landscape for Mack, as he explores talent upgrade options for his own struggling football operation.

“There are some good prospects out there,” Mack said, figuring that only a couple of new players will be in Winnipeg after the week-long break. “The tough thing is trying to decide who the good players are and whether they are actually going to become available after their release.”

And there’s the fine print for Mack and director of player personnel Ken Moll as they scour NFL training camps these days. Sure, good players are available following their release but many of those back-end roster guys are prime suspects for NFL practice rosters, and with the NFL oasis just an injury away in most cases, players will hang around for as long as they can before looking at other options.

“Everyone is in a holding pattern,” Mack said.

The reality for CFL teams is most players would jump at a NFL practice roster spot. The reason? Money. According to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, players on the taxi squad make $5,200 per week, which is just under $90,000 for a full season (average CFL take: $60,000-70,000).

Another issue preventing the massive shipment of new players to Bomberland: The UFL. In an effort to entice talent, the second-year, five-team league allows players on the active roster to leave at any point of the season should the NFL come calling.

“That’s the dream for these guys, we understand that, but it limits the amount of prospects for CFL teams,” Mack said.

Despite sitting at 2-6 and in last spot in the East Division, Mack feels his own roster has some good talent on it. He points to the number of injuries the club has had, including key losses like starting quarterback Buck Pierce, prized rookie receiver Terence Jeffers-Harris, and changes to the offensive line, stating that 28-31 per cent of Winnipeg’s projected starters have been out at least one game with injury.

That doesn’t mean much to those living and dying on every snap, though. Mack didn’t blink when asked about the patience of the Bombers’ fan base and his job security.

He’s hearing the calls for change but for now, he’s letting them go to voice mail.

“It’s incumbent on me, while holding people accountable, to establish some stability here,” he said. “I can see why our fans are frustrated — I’m frustrated myself — but I still feel that we have the pieces in place to turn this thing around.”

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca