JIM POPP OUT IN MONTREAL
MONTREAL – Jim Popp will not return as general manager of the Montreal Alouettes.Team president Mark Weightman said the split was done by mutual agreement and that search for a replacement has begun.
Popp, who spent 21 years with the club, did not attend the announcement.
“This a difficult and emotionally charged situation,” said Weightman.
Popp, 51, came with the former Baltimore Stallions franchise when it moved to Montreal in 1996. He had been GM in Baltimore for two seasons, winning a Grey Cup in 1995.
He built the Alouettes into an Eastern Conference powerhouse, reaching the Grey Cup game eight times between 2000 and 2010 and winning three – in 2002, 2009 and 2010.
The Elkin, N.C. native, whose father Joe Popp was an NFL coach, had a knack for finding strong Canadian and U.S. talent and his teams often dominated on both sides the ball.
He was less successful as a coach, compiling a regular season record of 22-36 and 1-4 in the playoffs in four stints in the dual role of GM and bench boss.
Popp took over behind the bench from the fired Rod Rust with one game left in the 2001 season and moved in again when Don Matthews took ill with four games remaining in the 2006. He stayed on for 2007 and went 8-10 before bringing in Marc Trestman as head coach.
In 2013, he took over when Dan Hawkins was fired five games into the season and became coach again when Tom Higgins was let go after eight games in 2015.
The Alouettes were looking for continuity when he stayed on to start the 2016 season as coach, but was removed with a 3-9 record on Sept. 19 and receivers coach Jacques Chapdelaine was promoted to the job. Chapdelaine went 4-2, winning the final three games of the season, but the Alouettes missed the playoffs.
The Alouettes went into decline following the retirement of quarterback Anthony Calvillo after the 2013 season as Popp struggled to find a quality replacement. The team missed the playoffs the last two seasons.
Popp was often reported to be seeking an NFL job and was interviewed for the GM’s job in Indianapolis in 2012.
© 2016 The Canadian Press
Wonder who the front runners are going to be. Would John Murphy look at this? Wonder if Noel Thorpe is moving on too? Beneviedes did a good job in Edmonton so I doubt if they want him, but who knows Perhaps Jones should take him on to focus on Head Coach and GM, Be interesting to see where Popp ends up. Wonder if Al Ford's ties to Montreal are over?
Calling mark Trestman. Coach & Gm in 2017?
Mark Trestman! ha ha, you're funny.
Trestman is currently unemployed and has been fired by 3 NFL teams since he left.
Why would it be so funny that he wouldn't return?
It's funny because without AC he was a flop as a coach and has no history as a GM.
One would have to think that Jim Barker will be next on the chopping block.
Hopefully they steal Jones and Murphy from us.
Not going to happen. In Jones We Trust. Please get off the Jones/Murphy firing thing.
John might look at this if doubles went along with him. They have had no luck at QB since AC.