I don't often indulge my sports fanaticism on this blog, but I can't let the Riders' acquisition of Kerry Joseph (with a side of Jason Armstead) go without comment.
From a talent perspective, the move is sheer genius. Joseph's upside is second to that of no other quarterback in the CFL, Holmes' value will never be higher (and his main contribution, the special-teams ability, is more than replaced by Armstead), and Gordon and an uncertain draft pick are acceptable losses in exchange for that much of a skill upgrade.
But by trading the Riders' most popular player, Shivers has essentially punched his (and Barrett's) ticket away from Regina if the team is anything short of dominant this season - regardless of whether that's due to a rash of injuries like the one that hit last year. And even a year in the 12-6 range - which by all accounts should be a success - might not satisfy the fans if it isn't accompanied by playoff success...particularly if there's any sense that Joseph hasn't fulfilled his potential (or that Holmes could have helped the team do better).
The Riders are now better positioned to win in 2006 than they have been in ages. But if they don't, the architects of their current team will probably be run out of town, and the team could be headed for some serious lean years ahead.
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