Cortez is the Bills Qb coach, which sort of highlights the fact in most NFL fans minds, the CFL is a sort of backwater, but in pro football circles it is seen as a place to go and do things that matter to pros Cannot find out who reps though
Looks like we landed Thigpin. Reports say that Tiger-Cats receiver Marcus Thigpen is bound for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Spectator reporter Drew Edwards blogged Friday that reports say the two-year Ticat has signed with the Dolphins.There has been no official confirmation, but Thigpen wrote this on his Facebook page: "I just want to say Thank YOU for all the Congrats. I really appreciate it. All the prayers and support I couldnt do it without you all. Im so thakful and grateful to have this opportunity ahead of me. Its just the start of things though so continue to keep me lifted up. God Bless!!" http://www.thespec.com/news/article/650483--marcus-thigpen-nfl-bound
Thigpen is on twitter and called it "money Monday" so it seems like a sure thing. No announcement though, ditto Khalif Mitchell, and Olafioye has yet to find a roster. Jovon Johnson...not feeling it anymore, when Wake was in the CFL he really busted his behind to make it to the NFL, JJ, don't have the same feel from him.
Did Washington work out or sign Olafioye? Also is it normal for a CFL player to work out with that many teams before signing with a certain team? Is he just trying to get a bidding war going between multiple teams?
Worked him out. Typically, maybe 3-4 teams look at a CFLer, a guy like Mitchell is a good example, only 1% of the CFLers trying to make the jump have that many workouts, Wake had 9 teams work him out, Jovan is up to 12 or so, and in a position that is much more difficult to translate to the NFL. As for a bidding war, well, sort of, the largest signing bonus they can have is 67k, so if anything it would be a sort of contingency deal, like IF you make the team, we will offer you "x" amount, which will put the teams in a dilemma if he makes the team, larger contract, if he plays well enough they won't be able to practice squad him.
Colts new GM of course has tied to the CFL, how this works is odd, guys get a start in the CFL, go to the NFL's staff positions, then their CFL time is never mentioned, the CFL is sort of like Java.
Add New Orelans to Olafioye's visit list. He's approaching half of the NFL having kicked the tires. Jovon Johnson is also working out for the Bengals. I wonder if he was caught up in Miami with the Fisher stuff and never got a tryout.
Yessir, Polian won 3 Cups in the CFL iirc, before moving to the NFL. Funny thing about JJ, he was quoted as saying he's more mature now, but if follow him on twitter, he was down in Miami a good 4 days, and was living it up, foolish really, imo/. To me, you have one of the best speed camps in the country in South Florida, would have made more sense to attend to sharpen technique, to me that is what Cam Wake would have done with unexpected down time while waiting for a workout.
We're all entitled to time off , so as I don't know how much of a party it was I won't be critical. When he signs he has more than enough time to go to a performance camp to work on getting better for OTA's , mini camps etc. Miami has a real opportunity here though , the have had great success ( Wake ) other CFL players see that Miami is willing to play CFL signees and signing 3 or 4 is a selling point imo . Getting just one contributor is a big plus , and you may indeed get more than that. Players see Miami has done this before to their benefit plus the players and a new coach will look at all players maybe a bit more evenly than an established one ... I hope/expect one or two more announcements.
Well, yes and no, keep in mind he will only get offers from teams who he impressed via his workouts with them coupled with his film work, meaning his workout has to match what they see on film before he will get an offer, or rather get a large offer, it's nothing to offer a "chance to come into camp and compete", but Bonus $. And alcohol has effects on athletes that don't matter to regular folks it does for athletes if they want peak performance, and that is not to mean "no alcohol ever!" if they are athletes, but when performance counts they really should lay off the sauce. I agree, having a "in" with CFL talent, be they import or non imports, has to be maximized, but keep in mind the market for CFLers now is much more crowded with 5 teams consistently working them out, it's a sort of process. Some teams give them a try, have better results then they'd have putting a draftee in that role, so they sign more and try them out, Philly w/Hunt the Jets/McIntyre the Seahawks w/Browner Jags w/Chick. I feel one of the mistakes that Miami made after 2009 was no longer giving CFLers an opportunity, I feel this was Sparano's decision as he preferred to go with NFL veterans or UDFA's.
Hmm, so he is returning to Miami long enough to do a workout (imo) wonder if it is his first one, or number two? So far we have worked out: -Jovan Olafioye #3 -Khalif Mitchell #4 -Marcus Thigpen #8 -Jovon Johnson #1 Not playing the 4-3 (yet) means Solomon Eliminian and Jerrell Freeman were not on our radar, and Ireland kicked the tires on my #2 Justin Hickman in 2010, and Greg Carr has gotten no play as far as I can tell, 4 of 9 of my CFL to NFLers have gotten worked out in Miami, 2 have signed, JJohnson has yet to work out and Olafioye is in heavy demand. Ireland lands JJ we will have signed the #1, #3, #4 and #8 CFL to NFL prospects FWIW, Johnson mentioned he is 5'9 and 194
Alright will attempt to list the places Jovan Olafioye has visited: Miami, NYG/NYJ, NOLA, Detroit, DC, Jville, Carolina, Pittsburgh, St Louis, Texans add Cinci to the list. Feel free to add to the list. JJ has worked out in Jville, Cinci, Miami, Cleveland, Philly (maybe) Sol-E Tampa, MN, Jville, Tampa, St Louis Freeman: Indy, Pitt, Tampa, Texans, NYJ, Pittsburgh feel like there should be 2-3 more teams on that list, he clearly has been the #2 in the most visits among these players Johnson said something odd when he left Miami the other day, "maybe I'm supposed to play in Wpg" This was after his Dolphins workout was cancelled and his philly workout was cancelled, would love to have him in Miami, but he has to watch those temptations.
per the Herald, and the first time they've mentioned that he will be tried as a punt returner, imo, he should be the Returner, handles punts and kickoffs, if he makes it that puts a lot of pressure on DBess.
A big if , but if he makes the team it is as a return specialist. On a side note , with today's events we know Ireland is making player decisions , I still think he signs one or two more CFL players.
Hopefully, I do think there should be a balance on how many guys Irish signs as these players are more like JuCo professionals, they have a shorter learning curve, but they also tend to have less upside (imo). You can replace a Nolan Carroll with Jovon Johnson, can you replace Vontae with Jovon Johnson? Interestingly, if we do hire Zimmer, JJ will have had a workout with the Bengals and Dolphins, wonder if that would help to make a decision on him? Another hat in the ring:
If you think a player has no real chance to contribute, whether that is right now or down the road , there isn't a need to sign them then . However a lot of these CFL players can play , to varying degrees of course. A lot of it is getting the chance , the support or belief by a team/organization. It is similar to major programs signing juco players , some turn out great , most don't , but one great signing and one good one merits multiple signings imo. If signing 4 or 5 players fills 2 holes then you can use say a mid round draft choice(s) to move up for player of want/need , and that is a plus as I see it.
Agreed, much of it is the organization having a conviction on a player, that to me is where the NFL falls down with CFLers, they usually are brought in and more or less treated as camp bodies instead of letting the get some run with the first teamers v first teamers. The way I see it, what they do in the CFL is as good as they will be, so unless they are at a extremely high level in the CFL, they probably won't do well in the NFL, that said my Top 9 all were physically dominant in the CFL so they should be able to make an impact in the NFL..if allowed the opportunity. Take JJ, he was a great Returner, great Cb, and he made plays, all things that translate in the NFL game, so he should make a great pickup.
This is random but how is DT Keith Shalagahn (formerly of UCF) doing up there? If I recall correctly he was like the 2nd player picked in their draft like 3 or 4 years ago. I loved watching him play at UCF, he never had elite talent but always gave it his all and played really well. I am just curious about his success up there.
Hey Pad, Is this O-lineman Oliafioye a better prospect than that cat they had a few years ago who you liked who's name escapes me?
He played for the Calgary Stampeders, his name was Dimitri Tsoumpas, and he is one of the reasons why Olafioye was not #1on my list, he's gotten all sort of looks from NFL teams so he must be talented, but I'm cautious now after Tsoumpas did so poorly.
Talk here today is that Jovon is looking to renegotiate his contract with Winnipeg , he was being raked over the coals this morning for that and a former Bomber emphatically said he would never play in the NFL due to his size and lack of true speed .
He just took a load of dookie on twitter over that new deal he'd like. Eh, fun while it lasted, a under the radar guy, Brandon Issac from the Stamps is looking for work in the NFL
Well, can't hurt, he is talented, but not sure how he'd handle the other stuff a running back has to do in the NFL.
Congrats to Brandon Browner, 5 yrs in the real frozen tundra of Calgary to make the pro bowl in the NFL in his first yr in the league. Jovan Olafioye visted 15 teams in all, and has until 2/15/12 to decide on a team/field offers, RT/RG type according to what Adam Caplann has heard.
New labor deal makes CFL to NFL less attractive, 35k signing bonus is not equal to the salary they would miss if they stayed put in the CFL.
Per Wally Buono, Jovan Olifioye is signing with the St Louis Rams. Jovon Johnson and Justin Hickman and Justin Medlock have not signed anywhere as of yet from my Top 10 list. Jerome Messam is still floating around, to me he could be a James Starks type of Rb for someone
Surprising, Melvin is a good DL coach, but we have Rodgers, suspect he is taking the Bryan Cox role, solid hire of a good Coach from the CFL and fmr Patriots DL coach as well as a HC at Temple.
