Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

[Swivel Hips]

This from TSN:

This smacks of desperation. I hope the Esks are not stupid enough to give them Schiavone.

Blue Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

After being away from the CFL game for five years, kicker Dan Giancola has found a new home with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The 39-year old placekicker has signed a deal with the club after he worked out at Canad Inns Stadium weeks ago.

"I'm 39," Giancola told the Winnipeg Free Press on Tuesday. "And I know a lot of people out there are going to say, 'Oh my God... he's 39 years old. Why don't they bring in (Troy) Westwood? Why don't they bring in Bob Cameron? Why don't they bring in Lui Passaglia?' I respect that. I've been out of football since 2004. But what people don't know is the love I have for the game."

Giancola started his CFL career as a 29-year old rookie with the Toronto Argonuats in 1999, where he recorded 48 field goals and was a perfect 28-for-28 in extra points.

After the 1999 season, he was signed by the Buffalo Bills of the NFL, but he was cut before the exhibition season.

After that, he became a journeyman in the CFL, going from Toronto to the B.C. Lions, the Montreal Alouettes and then back to the Argos, where he played three games in 2004 as an injury replacement for the eventual Grey Cup Champions.

"People can say what they want and I know there are going to be naysayers," Giancola said the to Free Press. "You know what? I'd be one, too. But if anybody knows anything about me, they should know never to count me out. And I was going to keep going until I got that blessed chance again."

[glenvb]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

Beat me to it...this is a puzzler! The guy hasn't played for five years, and he wasn't that good when he did play. Besides, he's only 4 years younger than me, so he might as well collect his social security cheque.

Why not bring in a young prospect?

[Swivel Hips]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

Beat me to it...this is a puzzler! The guy hasn't played for five years, and he wasn't that good when he did play. Besides, he's only 4 years younger than me, so he might as well collect his social security cheque.

Why not bring in a young prospect?

Just wait. I fully expect we'll end up giving them Derek Schiavone at some point here and he'll turn into a "star" kicker in this league for years to come.

[Esks4ever]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

Just wait. I fully expect we'll end up giving them Derek Schiavone at some point here and he'll turn into a "star" kicker in this league for years to come.

With Pre under contract, no one can expect Schiavone to stick around indefinitely and be content to kick in practice and be there in case there's an injury.

If there's a decent return for him, I'd support the Esks moving Schiavone... even if he does turn into a solid leg in this league for years.

Not much different than dealing LeFors... you had to know that he wouldn't be around until Ray was ready to hang them up, so when there's a chance to get some assets for him, knowing that you have a solid number two in Maas, you consider making that deal.

[Swivel Hips]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

With Pre under contract, no one can expect Schiavone to stick around indefinitely and be content to kick in practice and be there in case there's an injury.

If there's a decent return for him, I'd support the Esks moving Schiavone... even if he does turn into a solid leg in this league for years.

Not much different than dealing LeFors... you had to know that he wouldn't be around until Ray was ready to hang them up, so when there's a chance to get some assets for him, knowing that you have a solid number two in Maas, you consider making that deal.

Decent American quarterbacks are bountiful. Good Canadian kicker/punters are not.

[Opus]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

Given Pre's penchant for getting his nose dirty on ST's play, coinciding with his concussion history, I sure like having Schiavone around for insurance at any given point.

[Swivel Hips]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

Given Pre's penchant for getting his nose dirty on ST's play, coinciding with his concussion history, I sure like having Schiavone around for insurance at any given point.

So do I. From what I've seen of Schiavone, I think he can kick in this league, and very well, for years to come. And, then there's the difference in ages - 24 for Schiavone vs. 36 for Prefontaine. Let's not make another mistake, Esks, and let this kicker go.

[glenvb]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

Are you saying that letting Warren Kean go was a mistake?

Another crazy part of this: it's a 3-year deal. He'll be 42 when the contract expires.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

So do I. From what I've seen of Schiavone, I think he can kick in this league, and very well, for years to come. And, then there's the difference in ages - 24 for Schiavone vs. 36 for Prefontaine. Let's not make another mistake, Esks, and let this kicker go.

Alright Opus and SH...

Do you:

1) Split the role and use up two roster spots... keeping in mind that both are natural punters I believe?

2) Stash Schiavone on the IR or somewhere where he's not touchable by other teams and try to find ways to keep him happy with just earning a cheque and not playing?

3) Cut ties with Prefontaine, who likely got some up-front money in his most recent contract and gives you a proven commodity, in favour of a guy that's only got the one CFL game under his belt?

4) Try to trade Prefontaine and go with Schiavone?

5) Try to trade Schiavone and go with Pre?

I understand that there's some risks with Pre's historic style, and his concussion history, but I really wonder how you keep both around for the next few years. Pre is enough of an athlete, that if he stays healthy, he can kick for at least another 3 years or so I'd think... and that's far enough out for me to suggest that the position is relatively stable.

Maybe Schiavone has the Rocky Butler mentality and is just happy to have a paycheque from pro football and doesn't need to see the field... but I doubt it. Put him on the PR this year, and he might be gone.

[Swivel Hips]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

Alright Opus and SH...

Maybe Schiavone has the Rocky Butler mentality and is just happy to have a paycheque from pro football and doesn't need to see the field... but I doubt it. Put him on the PR this year, and he might be gone.

Oh, no question in my mind - put him on the PR this year and Winnipeg takes him for sure. I'll reply in more depth later. Got to go right now.

[dickwhad]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

Look for the Bombers to soon announce that they're also bringing back Trevor Kennard to kick for them this season.....

[Opus]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

Alright Opus and SH...

Do you:

1) Split the role and use up two roster spots... keeping in mind that both are natural punters I believe?

2) Stash Schiavone on the IR or somewhere where he's not touchable by other teams and try to find ways to keep him happy with just earning a cheque and not playing?

3) Cut ties with Prefontaine, who likely got some up-front money in his most recent contract and gives you a proven commodity, in favour of a guy that's only got the one CFL game under his belt?

4) Try to trade Prefontaine and go with Schiavone?

5) Try to trade Schiavone and go with Pre?

I understand that there's some risks with Pre's historic style, and his concussion history, but I really wonder how you keep both around for the next few years. Pre is enough of an athlete, that if he stays healthy, he can kick for at least another 3 years or so I'd think... and that's far enough out for me to suggest that the position is relatively stable.

Maybe Schiavone has the Rocky Butler mentality and is just happy to have a paycheque from pro football and doesn't need to see the field... but I doubt it. Put him on the PR this year, and he might be gone.

I'm real fond of option #2.........

[Beerfish]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

Schiavone will be gone as soon as he is on the pr if a team wants to claim him unless he's a dummy. You have to take the chance when given it.

The Bombers wouldn't be in this problem if they simply would have traded up to #2 and taken a pk.

[Swivel Hips]

Re: Bombers Ink Dan Giancola After Five-Year Layoff

Alright Opus and SH...

Do you:

1) Split the role and use up two roster spots... keeping in mind that both are natural punters I believe?

2) Stash Schiavone on the IR or somewhere where he's not touchable by other teams and try to find ways to keep him happy with just earning a cheque and not playing?

3) Cut ties with Prefontaine, who likely got some up-front money in his most recent contract and gives you a proven commodity, in favour of a guy that's only got the one CFL game under his belt?

4) Try to trade Prefontaine and go with Schiavone?

5) Try to trade Schiavone and go with Pre?

I understand that there's some risks with Pre's historic style, and his concussion history, but I really wonder how you keep both around for the next few years. Pre is enough of an athlete, that if he stays healthy, he can kick for at least another 3 years or so I'd think... and that's far enough out for me to suggest that the position is relatively stable.

Maybe Schiavone has the Rocky Butler mentality and is just happy to have a paycheque from pro football and doesn't need to see the field... but I doubt it. Put him on the PR this year, and he might be gone.

Okay. Let me take a crack at this.

First of all, let me say I have never been a real Noel Prefontaine fan. Could the Esks have done worse last year? Definitely. Could they have done better? Maybe. I don't believe that Prefontaine has a strong enough leg and does not get enough "hang time" on his punts, particularly, for our special teams to be as effective as they could be. Especially for an "outside" punter. His line-drive punts result in him "out kicking" his coverage more often than not.

Case in point is last year's Eastern Final where we had two of Prefontaine's line-drive punts returned for touchdowns against us by the Al's Larry Taylor because he "outkicked" his coverage with these "line-drive" punts i.e. did not have enough hang time on these punts for the special teams to get down the field and cover the punts properly. That was the game.

My personal experience with Schiavone is very limited, except for what I have seen in TC, in practices last year, and in the one game that he played last year. Essentially, what I am saying is that I truly hope Schiavone gets a real legitimate shot at winning the K/P job in TC and the pre-season this year. If the competition between him and Pre is even close, I believe the Esks have to give the job to Schiavone and either try to trade Pre, if they can, or flat out release him. The age difference alone 24 vs. 36 years would dictate this. Prefontaine's career is nearing the end of the line.

When you look at many precedents of young players starting and becoming regulars and eventually stalwarts at their positions in this league, it is because they were given the change to play and prove themselves. Sandro DeAngelus comes to mind here, as does Nick Setta. A prime example, although at a different position, is Ricky Ray. If Jason Maas does not get hurt and the Esks are not forced to let Ricky Ray play, how long might it have been before he got a chance to prove himself?

I believe that Schiavone has the chance to have a Sean Fleming-like career here if he is handled properly.