MURPHY ON KEITH PRICE, CHRIS GETZLAF
Saskatchewan Roughriders Assistant V.P. of Player Personnel John Murphy made his weekly appearance on 620 CKRM’s SportsCage on Monday, updating fans on the club’s off-season moves. Speaking from New Orleans, Murphy discussed the status of free agent quarterback Keith Price (who was with the team last year) and the decision to allow receiver Chris Getzlaf to go to free agency, ultimately leading to his signing with the Edmonton Eskimos on Thursday.
ON KEITH PRICE
JM: What Keith wants to do is have the option to see where the best decision for him will be. The discussions that we’ve had about Keith coming to our minicamp in Florida is that the ball is kind of in both of our courts to decide that. Closer to the event, that’s when we’ll make that decision. That leaves him open to discussions of possibly playing in that spring league, or discussions possibly on does he want to go throw for another CFL team to gauge of what they think of him?
We want to lay hands on as many of these guys as possible, see them face-to-face, with our own coaches and sometimes how that’s received by a player. At first I think it was a little more shocking like, “Hey don’t you know who I am?” type thing and now it’s progressed more towards our side of the picture of him and his agent seeing it has nothing to do with what he’s done to date, or nothing to do with taking it the wrong way. Our staff wants to see him prior to signing him so that we’re not investing in him for the wrong reasons and he’s not coming to camp with the wrong expectations. If he’s the right fit, he’d be the guy. If he’s not the right guy, at least he’s not being signed and then released sometime in April.
ON RELEASING OR NOT SIGNING VETERANS THIS WINTER
JM: Number one, first and foremost, with every one of these guys, we addressed them directly where they stood with us, what our plan would be, how they could return if there’s an interest in returning, and it’s a two-way street. To want to accept what we’re saying, things could have gone one direction. Clearly each one of these guys felt like there was a different opportunity available to them, and to not want to re-negotiate with us, to not listen and look at other options on how they could return. Each found an option that could be equal or better that what he spoke about.
With Chris Getzlaf, he had an off-season roster bonus that we gave him. We continued to process and look at where he’s at from a health perspective and our decision was that we had to make sure our starting Canadian ratio players were 100% ready to compete come Day 1 of training camp. And my opinion, along with our staff, was that he was going to need time throughout the whole off-season to get to where he’s 100%. We’re all hopeful that occurs because he’s a good player to have in our league and has had an amazing career to date.
Let’s not forget there was a time and place where he was something else other than a Rider (in Hamilton in 2007). And now there’s a time and place where he’s moving on to be something else other than a Rider. I think fans would be far less happy to come up with a formula of building a roster to say we hadn’t looked at the medical stuff and true evaluation of where he’s at as a player and then cut short during training camp at that position because it’ll take some extra time to get to 100%. There’s no time to make those second guesses later on. You can’t be fine with going to training camp and saying ‘We were hoping he’d be 100%’ and be happy because the fans wanted Getzlaf back in a uniform. If he isn’t, then say ‘Well I hope everybody gives us a break because we signed a fan favourite’. You and I all know that’s not gonna be how business works. You can’t run a season off your heart. You have to run it by what’s in front of you.
We wish Chris nothing but the best. He’s had a tremendous career with Saskatchewan but at this time and place, going after him would’ve meant sacrificing someone else at a Canadian ratio position that was 100% healthy. A lot of turning this team around will be through competition in training camp.
The new management team does not owe anyone anything…. including some pepole's so called favorite players. They have to do what they feel is going to give them the best chance to succeed on the field. The same people who are moaning and groaning about all the players they have let go will be yelling and screaming about the crappy team we have and they will want Murphy and Jones fired. Football is is brutal, rough sport and hard on a player's body. The average career is three or four years you can't just cannot keep players based on their… Read more »
Darcy, you are 100% correct. Hopefully some of the idiotic commenters read this
These guys are probably good coaches, maybe even great. Maybe they are even good evaluators of football talent. We will find that out as the season progresses. However their frequent team switches of allegiance would seem to indicate they either wear out there welcome quickly or have no sense of loyalty or respect toward organizations or people in their narcisstic climb to the top. Yes my beloved Riders needed a wholesale coaching change and probably a massive player change. That was obvious to all. But that can still happen while using respect in the process. John Chick and Weston Dressler… Read more »
Time to grow up buddy. This is a business. Not some old timey country club. Murphy was more than loyal to calgary. He stayed there until he was offered a promotion in saskatchewan. Anyone would do what he did. Same goes for Jones. Anyone who disagrees is a liar or a complete idiot who puts the interests of their employer above their own… see how far that gets you in life. P.S.: It's no longer 1955.
If I remember correctly Dressler and Chick both bolted to the NFL when they had an opportunity to go. Now the Riders have shown them the door. It's just the way professional sports works. You have to look out for number one.
I get from this that Riders medical staff weren't sure Getz was going to be 100 percent. Why sign a guy who might spend half the season or more on IR collecting a paycheque. Some think its because he is a long time Rider who is from our fair province. If that is what you think builds a winner, I have swampland in Florida to sell you. This was a smart business move.
I'm with Darcy. Go Riders Go.
Murphy told it the right way! The behaviour of a few "supposed fans" is very disrespectful and shows a downright lack of class. Considering this team has not even had it's training camp yet, some of the comments are downright ignorant and sheds this organization in bad light which it shouldn't be. The team knows his physical condition but the fools don't. There were less of the "trolls" when the team was going 3-15 last year and that too shows a lot of ignorance. This is coming from a very small group of fools who have found a soapbox for… Read more »
Price really didn't show much in his time here. Not a big loss. Getzlaf on the other hand will probably put up a 900-1000 yard season for the Esks
Darcy is bang on with his comments. Disappointed fan you live in a dream world.
I see nothing wrong in what the Riders have done. I watch the Riders no matter who is on the team cuz their Saskatchewan's team. Jones and Murphy have a damn good resume so I back all their moves that they've made. Of course some people on here and others around the country will continue to moan about the loss of Dressler and Chick and probably Getzlaf to. GET OVER IT!!! You don't wanna have a couple players taking a good chunk of the salary cap. If you critics wanna blame someone, blame Taman for giving the pathetic contracts. Lemon… Read more »
Hear Hear !
This guy may be able to find players but he is simply a blow hard. He talks to talk and makes no sense.
Commentor Tk. Im sorry but you have no idea how Chick and Dressler were treated. You are simply speculating!!!
Their Agents spoke with Jones and Murphy. They were given a fair offer to what the new regime could afford. Their agents declined the offer. Thats it.
So how is that disrespectful. The Riders could no longer afford what these men and their agents felt they were worth. From what Dressler signed for in Winnipeg. The rest of the league agreed as well.
You notice how the list of fan favorites shrinks and changes over time? Two months ago it was Brackenridge, Brown, Maze, Jackson … well, where are those guys? Is it strange that no one else wants them.
Dresslers agent calls it an insult then takes an $80,000 pay cut to go to Winnipeg. Chick takes $100,000 less.
Ryan Smith didnt want to be here and Rod knows it. He talked about it how at seasons end Smith interviews felt like he was as good as gone.
I am of the boat as, who cares? It is time for fresh blood.
To anon TK, and everyone else complaining,
This happens in sports and this is the ugly side of it. Get over it. You are making it sound like this never happens. Well news flash people. What do the following hall of famers have in common: Joe Montana, Brett Favre, Payton Manning etc… They have all been cut or traded by their teams and guess what the sun came up the next day.
So get over it and support this current regime that is what true fans do! Go! Riders Go!
Ron – Saskatoon
"an off-season roster bonus" for a pending free-agent?
I don't think so.
The only way Getzlaf gets 900 yards is if he stays healthy and they use him a lot. Now in the last two seasons his production has dropped and his time on the IR has increased. He didn't make the physical and the doctors have been in contact with the Riders. You can't continue to spend good money after bad. Some popular players have had their run here and now is time to move on. This happens all the time in pro sports and the Riders are not exempt. It's time to support the team (or not) but this incessant… Read more »
Hey CB, I will take that bet! $100 says Getzlaf doesn't hit 1000 yards what do you think?
The rumblings on the street were Jones wanted Getzlaf to see one of his handpicked doctors down south and Getzlaf never went. Hence the no offer.
I hate to be the grammar police but please guys at least write in paragraphs. It really makes it unbearable to read.
Thats Getzlaf's problem. He's now a Eskimo, who cares.
To Rod,
One of your website pop-up ads is seriously out of date. The online advertisement "Real Cash 2016: Feds preparing to kill social security", was only true when the previous Federal Conservative government was in power (less government and phase out retirement programs). You don't need to worry about that now that the Fed Libs are in power.
In fact, the retirement age has already been returned to 65, from Harper's ridiculous idea where he made it the age of 67…
Doesn't really matter how it shook down, the players have moved on. Let's quit beating up our new management team for doing their job. Personally I feel like it's going to be a good year. Perhaps not until the second half of the season with all these new people but I'm willing to sit back and watch some entertaining football again. Last year I came very close to not caring anymore, glad that feeling is gone and optimism has returned. Change is good, let it happen.
I do not support Trump!!
I did not support Harper !!
and I do not support Jones and Murphy !!!
Its all the same !!!!!
Spoken like a true bleeding heart pansy.
(Support your local sheriff Jones and his deputy Murphy).
It took awhile, but thanks to another article on this blog, I finally understand why exactly some people don't like the player transactions made by the current Rider management team. It has to do with the "folksy", small town character of Rider nation and Saskatchewan. We are not the biggest, don't have the most resources but we'll work very hard to do the best we can. We'll also support our own as much as we can. We know who everyone in the community is and form very strong relationships with people. While this is a great way of life, it… Read more »
It took awhile, but thanks to another article on this blog, I finally understand why exactly some people don't like the player transactions made by the current Rider management team. It has to do with the "folksy", small town character of Rider nation and Saskatchewan. We are not the biggest, don't have the most resources but we'll work very hard to do the best we can. We'll also support our own as much as we can. We know who everyone in the community is and form very strong relationships with people. While this is a great way of life, it… Read more »