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The late stages of Free Agency came and went in most CFL cities without much news. It's the time of the football season where nothing sensational ever happens and even the splashes that made headlines at the beginning of free agency have faded into recent history.
Leave it to Las Vegas GM TurfToe to generate noise to disturb the peace.
During late free agency, Vegas starting QB Pat Springer announced his hold out for the 2041 season. The following week, Springer found himself atop the pile of veteran CFL QB's looking for a new opportunity.
"Well, yeah, of course I was surprised when I got the call from TurfToe", said a dejected Pat Springer by conference call on Wednesday.
"I mean, he was calm relative to his normal schtick, but when he said he enjoyed our time together and wished me luck down the road - my jaw just hit the floor. It really stung when he told me 2040 was possibly my best year with the club and he thought I had what it took to win a CFL title in Vegas. It stung because he was up front and sincere only to follow it with news that left me breathless for a while. I had to take a few minutes to make sense of it all before I called my agent. I wasn't sure I wanted to do it [hold out] but it was supposedly in my best interest. I'm at a loss right now."
TurfToe was surprisingly available for comment Thursday morning. TurfToe had this to say, "The CFL is business, big business. I have a roster to put together for my coaching staff and the last distraction I need is for my leader, my fucking starting QB, to hold out and put himself before the team. Springer fit the plan here in Vegas but his actions, whether on his own accord or through his agent's hand up his ass working him like a puppet, indicate he thinks he is more important than the team. I've held players to different standards in the past and it did not contribute to the success of this team. I believe I have sent a clear message to our team and the CFL community. If you want to be part of the team in Vegas, you are either all-in or all-out, this is not a part-time deal. I loved that kid but I had no choice but to support my team. In return, I'm asking the team to support whoever it is that replaces Springer and we move forward as one team with one simple mission. Period. End of fucking sentence. End of fucking lesson."
When asked about 9-year CB, Donald Neu who is also holding out, TurfToe quickly added, "He got the message. If he didn't, we know he cheated on that Solecismic test."
When asked why Springer was cut immediately and Neu was still officially under contract, TurfToe quipped, "Look, they don't hand out a rubber stamp that says 'Cut' that I can go around stamping on contracts. There's a process and for every process there's too much damned paperwork. We'll take care of Donny in due time. Next you'll be telling me they have a 'Fine' button I can click any time I want to fine a player or coach. I'd have carpal tunnel syndrome in no time."
This leaves the Ring of Fire champions without a starting QB. Will a hard-line approach on contracts help team morale or is the Vegas franchise shooting itself in the foot in the middle of stringing successful seasons together?
Stay tuned...
_________________ ROF Division Champions: 2039 - 2043, 2045, 2047, 2054, 2056 - 2060, 2063, 2066-2067
WFC Conference Champions: 2018, 2041, 2042, 2057-2058, 2060, 2062-2063
CFL Champions: 2018, 2041, 2057-2058, 2060, 2062
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