RIDERS' MURPHY LINKED TO ARGOS JOB

The hot Rumour du Jour in the CFL is that Saskatchewan Roughriders Assistant VP of Player Personnel John Murphy could be in line to replace Jim Barker as General Manager of the Toronto Argonauts.

Murphy’s name came up briefly when the Montreal Alouettes were searching for a replacement for Jim Popp however that notion went by the wayside when they went internal with the hiring of Kavis Reed.

Murphy has a respectable track record in the CFL, having worked almost a decade with the Calgary Stampeders in a personnel role – winning two Grey Cups – and one season in Winnipeg.

He could be a fit too in Toronto, being a “big city” guy as he hails from Long Island, NY.

However Murphy could get some competition from the guy across the hall.. Riders Assistant VP of Football Operations Jeremy O’Day could be looking to move up the ladder as well and is a former member of the Argos, winning a Grey Cup in 1997. He’s been working in the Riders’ front office since the day of his retirement as a player in 2011.

O’Day is much-respected in football circles and has now seen how two regimes work from the inside. He could be ready to spread his wings elsewhere as well.

It shouldn’t hurt that he hails from nearby Buffalo, NY.

It’s unlikely Rider GM & HC Chris Jones would stand in the way of either advancing if they got the opportunity in Toronto. He’s not one to hold his staff back.

It’s likely Argos President Michael Copeland will cast a wide search and it’s expected to include Eric Tillman and Marc Trestman, whose names have come up as well. Long-time Alouettes GM Jim Popp would be a popular choice too.

Others who are expected to get a look are long-time (and former) Alouettes front-office man Joey Abrams and RedBlacks personnel guy Brock Sunderland.

Some feel the Argos need to land a “big name” for the role, so as to grab the attention of Toronto sports fans and that could come in the form of Trestman or Tillman, both of whom have NFL experience.

@rodpedersen