Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

[esks123]

"Tillman will be eyeing Als' offensive co-ordinator Scott Milanovich and he's also a longtime friend of Doug Nussmeier, the quarterbacks coach at the University of Washington. Whatever happens, Tillman will dump a lot of Hall's favourites, who are old and overpriced. We wouldn't be surprised if he lures Riders' player personnel director Joe Womack and gives him the role of assistant GM. Tillman will look to acquire Canadian draft picks and will likely shop Ray to gauge interest."

http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl...mour%20central

[Hugoagogo]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

I highly suspect that the part about shopping Ray was leaked with intent. Much easier to get a player to reduce a current contract if there is potential to shake up his world. On the positive side, it gives Tillman some leverage from his side. On the negative, it could send the wrong message to the player about how the organization values him. This is a strong tactic for a GM if the player has firm roots in the city. I know Ray likes playing here, but his family doesn't reside in Edmonton do they? I don't think so...
Anyway... it looks like the games have begun...

[acura]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

I thought Ray and his wife purchasewd a home in St. Albert.........I may be mistaken

[Angelus]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

I thought Ray and his wife purchasewd a home in St. Albert.........I may be mistaken

Yep, years ago. He has also expressed desire to remain where he is and retire an Eskimo. They are expecting their first child.

[adb]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

While I've heard of Perry Lefko and have read his column a couple of times I must admit that I really don't have much of a guage of how well connected he is within the CFL or how accurate his rumors have turned out to be in the past. To be honest I don't regularly check out sportsnet's coverage of the CFL since it usually doesn't seem to be all that much in depth. In any event if the RR rumours turn out to be true I could see ET getting a lot of heat for it. I'm sorry but JZ is not ready to lead yet and jettisoning RR at this time would be a huge mistake. I know there are a lot of posters on this site that are huge JZ fans and at times have wanted RR's head on a platter but I think that if you watched the last 10 or so games it was apparent that JZ was not yet ready for prime time and that most of the misfortunes that the EE experienced this year were not RR's fault. When they were able to protect him and they were able to run the ball (not to mention the recievers hold on to the ball) he proved to me anyways that he still has it.

[Hugoagogo]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

I thought Ray and his wife purchasewd a home in St. Albert.........I may be mistaken

Thanks for the clarification - been out of town too many years. Last I knew, his "fiance" lived in California I believe. Well, there you go. Leverage to the GM...

[Hugoagogo]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

adb - I don't think it's about trading Ray right now, it's about a salary cut. I don't think Tillman's ready to put all his eggs in the Z basket right now.

[adb]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

I highly suspect that the part about shopping Ray was leaked with intent. Much easier to get a player to reduce a current contract if there is potential to shake up his world. On the positive side, it gives Tillman some leverage from his side. On the negative, it could send the wrong message to the player about how the organization values him. This is a strong tactic for a GM if the player has firm roots in the city. I know Ray likes playing here, but his family doesn't reside in Edmonton do they? I don't think so...
Anyway... it looks like the games have begun...

Near the end of the year RR was asked quite a few times about how he would feel about renegotiating his contract and he seemed somewhat receptive to the idea. I don't see how leaking such a rumour to the media helps the process along of re signing RR especially this early when face to face negotiations have not even started. All I think it accomplishes is pissing the player off not frightening him into signing the first contract offer put in front of him.

[esks123]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

adb - I don't think it's about trading Ray right now, it's about a salary cut. I don't think Tillman's ready to put all his eggs in the Z basket right now.

I don't know... I really wonder what's going on in Tillman's head right now. Isn't it odd how he signed KJ to a 1+1 year deal, and ensured that that info. was released to the public? If KJ was truly signed just as "insurance" for this season as Tillman said, you'd expect him to be released shortly after the grey cup, otherwise I'd start wondering. He's done this before when he traded MOP Joseph after '07 and put all his eggs in Crandell. Wasn't hard to predict that wasn't a smart move at the time.

In terms of the validity of sportsnet rumours, consider that Tillman used to work with them if I'm not mistaken. Sportnset employee Arash Madani has pretty much been the first person leaking info. about Esks roster moves(on twitter) ever since Tillman has been GM. Seems like Tillman has been giving Sportsnet(well at least Madani) "inside" info. before things are officially announced. Some food for thought.

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

He can shop Ray all he wants - I think he knows he'd have to get the moon, three satellites, and a planet to be named later to even consider shipping RR out.

But overall, it just seems like Lefko is throwing possibilities at the wall in the hope that something might stick.

[esks123]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

Yeah I hesitantly agree. Doesn't seem to have any basis for the rumour, and seems more like speculation. But maybe more stuff leaks out after the GC? Who knows we'll just have to wait and see.

[Sectionq]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

I am not prepared to believe much of what Lefko said. As an example. When talking about Winnipeg, he says Reed could be the new head coach for the Riders if Miller retires which he thinks will happen. Then he goes and talks about Edmonton and how Reed is the front runner for the head coaching job there.

[Oiler]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

Ray is not the same QB as he once was. He is still good but I think it is time to try to groom some better backup QBs. This doesn't mean getting rid of Ray unless it was a great trade offer. JZ isn't ready and the trade would have to involve a fairly good QB or prospect.

[Smartie123]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

RR is a great QB who had a horrible O-line for the 1st 2/3 of the season. And the way he handled that just reinforced for me that we need more people like him on this team. Never did he point fingers even though he repeatedly almost got decapitated. In any case, he's still got it; he just needs the right supporting cast.

Also, if this Womack thing is true, what happens to Paul Jones, Ed Hervey, etc? I really wanted EH to be the new GM -- quality over quantity -- so it would just suck if he was squeezed out, too.

[EsksTMac]

Re: Rumour(Perry Lefko): Tillman to "shop" Ray to gauge interest...

Yep, I'm sure before even hiring a coach and discussing offensive philosophies and what the new coach and his coaching staff believes.. they're going to shop Ricky. Sounds like a very sensible thing to do.