Eskinews

                Everybody remembered where they were back in 1988 when the Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to the L.A. Kings.  I think many people will remember where they were when the Edmonton Eskimos traded Ricky Ray to the Toronto Argonauts.  When I first read the rumours online, I could not believe what the Eskimos were supposedly getting in return for the future Hall of Fame quarterback!  Steven Jyles, a journeyman quarterback who started his career in Edmonton back in 2006, Grant Shaw a second round draft pick of the Argonauts back in 2010 and the Argonauts 2012 first round pick which turns out to be the second overall.  Not exactly a good return on what the Eskimos are giving up.

                 My initial thought was that this trade was going to be like the blockbuster trade the Eskimos pulled the trigger on in 1993 when Tracy Ham went to the Argonauts in a 16 player trade!!  That trade started out small and ballooned into a massive deal…something I was secretly hoping that the Eskimos were working on.  Unfortunately as time went on, word came that the Eskimos had scheduled a ‘press conference’ for 2:00 PM at Commonwealth Stadium and the rumours of who the Eskimos were getting in return were realized.

                 The outrage at the trade became apparent as websites reporting the deal were filled with comments of irate fans lambasting the organization for giving away their starting quarterback for no ‘starting players’ in return!  Some of the comments made by Eric Tillman at the press conference did nothing to give fans confidence that there was a plan in place.  I was at the Eskimos office this week and had asked one of the ladies there what the fans reaction to the trade was?  I was stunned to hear that they were about 50-50 for/against the trade!  I cannot understand why anyone would be ‘for’ this trade…especially based on what the Eskimos got in return.

                So, now the Eskimos must move forward without Ricky Ray with Steven Jyles, Kerry Joseph, Eric Ward and Matt Nichols at the quarterback position.  Reed has gone on the record stating that Jyles would come to camp as the #1 QB, I would be very surprised if he will still be in that position come the start of the season.  In five seasons, Jyles has put up the following numbers:

                                A             C             %            Yds         Long      TD           INT         Rating

Career Total       688         412         59.9        5,319     81           31           29           81.7

                While there is nothing there that is going to make us forget Ricky Ray, his numbers when he did start back in 2010 in Winnipeg were decent.  He played in 16 games that year, starting 11 and throwing for 2804 yards, 19 TD’s and only 7 interceptions.  I guess that is what the Eskimos are hoping to see from him in 2012.  Eric Tillman has gone out on a limb making this trade and should the team struggle in 2012, all fingers will be pointing at him.