((HT: GlobeSports/Naylor))
Arland Bruce ((pictured, thanks GlobeSports file)) is a Hamilton Tiger-Cat after the Toronto Argonauts completed a deal to move the disgruntled receiver on Wednesday morning, ending a week of drama that began when Argos head coach Bart Andrus decided to leave the veteran receiver home from last week’s road trip to Winnipeg.
Bruce’s critical comments about that decision provoked the Argonauts to begin exploring trade options which have resulted in them acquiring the rights to Canadian defensive end Cory Mace, who has spent the past two seasons with the Buffalo Bills, and a conditional third-round draft pick in 2011 if Bruce is on the Hamilton roster in 2011.
“We believe we received the best value we could get for Arland given the circumstances,'' said Argos general manager Adam Rita in a statement. "We believe strongly in the direction in which our organization is headed.”
While Andrus dismissed Tuesday the notion that Bruce is a vital cog in the Argos offence, he certainly should make the Tiger-Cats better. Hamilton has a young group of receivers who struggle with consistency, meaning Bruce’s veteran presence should instantly give them a new dynamic.
The departing six-year Argo insisted his comments were never meant to provoke a trade and as of Tuesday he was disappointed when learning that he was likely to be traded.
Bruce, 31, was expected on the field at Tiger-Cat practice Wednesday in Hamilton and will be in uniform when Hamilton hosts the B.C. Lions on Friday night.
It is believed there was some debate with the Argonauts owners, management and coaching staff over whether Bruce should have been allowed to return to the team. Sources say Andrus insisted Bruce’s days as an Argonaut be over, and the first-year Toronto coach got his way.
"We we were trying to have things fall in line and his response was very negative and it was time for him to go,'' Andrus said Wednesday at the team's practice facility in Mississauga, Ont., "I wish him well and better luck with his new team.''
The Argos had no other trade partners besides Hamilton, largely because of the difficulty moving Bruce’s $190,000 contract. Had they released him, however, both the Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers may have had an interest in him.
Though the deal was agreed to between the parties late Tuesday, it wasn't completed until Hamilton head coach Marcel Bellefeuille and general manager Bob O'Billovich had a chance to meet with Bruce on Tuesday night.
"We are certain that in the environment Marcel Bellefeuille has created around our team this season, Arland will be a respected teammate in our locker room and a valuable member of our community," O"Billovich said in a statement released by the Tiger-Cats announcing the deal.
Mace is a native of Port Moody, B.C., who has spent most of the past two seasons on the Bills practice roster and been unable to come to terms on a contract with Hamilton so far this season.
As a Canadian defensive lineman with NFL experience, the 23-year-old University of Wyoming product would give the Argos some depth behind Adriano Belli, another player Andrus has criticized for performing in ways detrimental to the team this season.
"I don't know if you want to say I'm putting my own stamp on something,'' Andrus said, concerning his decision to suspend Bruce last week. "I'm trying to do what I'm used to doing at this level, doing the things I've seen work in the past. There needs to be a certain degree of responsibility on the part of the players.''
SunTV in Ontario interviewed Argos wideout Andre Talbot about everything double-blue including the whole Bruce distraction...
((HT: GrillRoomTV/SunTV Ontario))
No comments:
Post a Comment