Willy extension shows Bombers have changed their ways

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This article was published 01/05/2015 (4005 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This was so un-Bombers-like. Progressive, smart and forward-thinking. None of the things this franchise had recently been known for, prior to Kyle Walters and his ascension to the GM’s chair.

No, the Bombers’ way would have been to scrimp on the cash this season and then watch Drew Willy progress and come into his own as a starting quarterback — just as his contract expired, and with any number of CFL teams anxious to slide a juicy offer his way in an attempt to pry him out of Winnipeg.

Imagine the calamity, had Walters held off on extending Willy, only to see him develop into an elite starter and then walk out the door to help another team in its quest for a Grey Cup. It would have been a fireable offence. A reason to push Walters out the door and put this franchise back a number of years. Without a GM and without a starting quarterback. No plan, no progress — no chance.

But that’s not the Bombers’ way anymore. Not under Walters. Being a GM in pro sport isn’t about being some mad genius and pulling off crazy deals. It’s about understanding salary systems, overseeing a thorough and detailed scouting department and following a plan.

Don’t get me wrong, Walters is a smart guy. But he’s no wizard pulling off a grand heist behind the curtains. Rather, he’s ultra-transparent and the Willy move is telegraphed protection.

Walters gave Willy a signing bonus of $150,000 this year, which he says he had already accounted for against the team’s cap for this season. The added years to the contact — 2016 and 2017 — will see Willy get a raise to $400,000.

So Walters paid $150,000 for insurance to keep Willy should he prove to be a quarterback worthy of those dollars going forward.

If Willy were to unexpectedly regress, Walters could deem him expendable and release him following this season. No fuss, no muss and, most importantly, no financial attachment.

This is all so reminiscent of the Brendon LaBatte negotiations of a few years ago. Except Walters elected to play the wise and prescient overseer rather than the fool.

Back in 2011, then-Bombers GM Joe Mack had the opportunity to extend his top offensive lineman during the season for a reasonable number. His coach Paul LaPolice urged him to do so.

Mack, however, didn’t see the good sense in that reasoning and became red-faced and angry when the all-star fled to the Sasktachewan Roughriders on the first day of free agency.

The management strategy was lazy, uninformed and arrogant. The results were disastrous for the Bombers.

Walters understands the value in protecting assets. Good players are hard to come by and keeping them happy and compensated at the market rate is good business.

My money won’t be on the Bombers to win the Grey Cup this season. They still have glaring holes in the roster. But Walters is making steady progress. When Dominic Picard became available, Walters leapt. Stanley Bryant was the big fish in terms of offensive linemen on the free agent market this off-season and Walters landed him.

Winnipeg will field a better crop of Canadians this season, will have a much better offensive line and a defence suited for the West Division.

The days of the GM chomping on a cigar in his office and playing the role of mastermind are over. Salary caps and technology have changed the role.

A GM has to understand the value of the players he has and develop a constantly refreshing pipeline of talent. This is Walters. A GM for today.

 

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @garylawless