TAMAN: RIDERS OFFER SUNSERI A NEW DEAL
Saskatchewan Roughriders GM Brendan Taman took time out of his schedule to visit Saskatchewan’s #1 sports show on Monday night and he had plenty of news for Rider fans.
Taman told “Sportscage” host and Riders play-by-play man Rod Pedersen that the football club has made a contract offer to Tino Sunseri.
“Corey, myself and Jeremy have talked about him extensively throughout the off-season,” Taman said. “A big part of our puzzle was hiring Jacques Chapdelaine as O.C. so his input was valued as well. Yes, we made an offer as of Monday morning.”
Some had wondered if the team would make an offer because of Sunseri’s play down the stretch which resulted in Kerry Joseph being brought in.
Taman also confirmed a tweet from Winnipeg Sun reporter Kirk Penton last week saying the team had released Dominic Picard.
Taman says money played a role in that decision and the team is trying to get Picard to return at a reduced salary.
Meanwhile on the coaching front, Taman was asked where it stands with the team’s vacant Defensive Coordinator position. The club confirmed last week it’s offered the job to Mike Benevides.
“He’s obviously a guy we’ve talked to. That’s factual,” Taman admitted. “He’s still trying to figure out what he wants to do personally; whether he wants to come here and coach or whatever other things he’s thinking of. There’s still some things to be ironed out there but we don’t have anything to report on that.”
Also Vancouver media reports suggest Jacques Chapdelaine will bring recently-fired B.C. Lions Offensive Line coach Dan D’Orazio to Saskatchewan which would bump current OL coach Doug Malone. Taman was asked about that as well.
“When you get to the end of the year the coaching world goes quite crazy and it’s quite a domino effect,” Taman said. “When you let an O.C. go and you bring in a new one, that changes the dynamics on your staff significantly. All I know is this: when I come in the office everyday, the names on the doors of the coaches are still the same as last year. I’m not naive enough to think that won’t change, because there’s a chance it will.
“Doug’s a very good coach and he’ll have some options in front of him, here being one of them. Some teams have asked for permission to talk with him and we’ve granted it. Again, there’s some truth to it but I’m not sure if that will come to fruition.”
(620ckrm.com)
Tino's main problem was George Cortez had no clue how to bring along an inexperienced QB. Give him a star to work with and everyone thought George was a star too, but not so. Maybe he'll re-sign with George gone. I hope so because the talent is there.
IF Picard does not resign for a reduced amount, who replaces him at centre?
u either have "it" or u don't! i'm sorry but tino's lack of "pocket presence" doesn't instill any faith in him getting er dun! #3 i'm ok with,but we need a legitimate backup here…look @ Arizona cardinals!…resembles our season!
Not a huge fan of the Sunseri deal but I suppose it's good to have someone around that has SOME experience at back up. Not to mention that he might work better in a different offence. My guess is that by the start of the regular season he will slide down the depth chart.
Stranger
His pocket presence? Like his pocket presence when he rallied the team from 20 points down against Calgary? or the fact he put the balls in a spot to win the playoff game but had crucial drops by Getzlaf, Swain and Williams?
I say let him develop. If he wants to come back then great. We have an experienced guy behind DD instead of starting over or going with Glenn who isn't worth investing in.
Some seem to forget that in spite of Cortez Tino was able to come off the bench and pull off a victory. He is a bit raw and needs a QB coach to help him. So whom would you like to replace him???
Ya he can play half of a game we all seen that. We need a backup that can play an entire 4 quarters and not choke when he has to start the game whenever he started he looked awful
Everyone on here is like "Remember that one time Tino did something kinda right for half a game? We should keep him forever!"
– Hot Carl
Cortez had no clue?
When he had Doug Flutie – Jeff Garcia was the backup and Dave Dickenson was the third stringer.
No it's no that … name a QB that has come in and been real good as a rookie or second year? Calvillo? Garcia? Ray? Nope, nope, nope …
He has shown potential. It's called developing and if he can play half a game really well that tells me he's got something.
Picard signed with Winnipeg.
Also, heard Ron Selesky is the Riders new Director of US Scouting.
Paco
Hope they give Keith Price a good look. The kid is a stud…
Time for Cory Watman to step-up in the role he was drafted for.
Shut up Paco
Why should he shut up? He's breaking the news ala Arash Mandani.
"Vancouver media reports suggest Jacques Chapdelaine will bring recently-fired B.C. Lions Offensive Line coach Dan D'Orazio to Saskatchewan"
Wasn't he the same guy Scott Schultz labelled the offensive line of BC as 'Fat and Sassy'?
Secondly, hopefully OC Hhapdelaine will get rid of his ridiculous signals that he calls in from the side lines. The QB has enough on his plate, doesn't need to interpret that mess also. Besides, isn't that what the helmet radio was supposed to alleviate?
Sunseri? What the hell… You might as well have kept Joseph.
Anonymous who's listing QB's who didn't light it up first year… Ray did! In a big way!! 😉
doug Flutie was good in his first year.
When I said Cortez has no clue how to bring on an inexperienced QB, I meant now. Sure he won in the past but a few years ago my Dad was more capable than he was at the end, and I'm saying George knew more 5 years ago than he does now.
To the goofballs that are trashing Sunseri I've only got one question.
Who is the only QB in CFL history to be successful on 4 consecutive two-point converts?
Ya but thats still only half a game you cant win like that
And all that means is he executed four plays well you should be able to do that im sure not a lot of quarterbacks have had to try