From what I have heard, the principals of the deal – which stretches back to when the Cats visited the Eskimos back at the beginning of the month – would be Campbell coming to Hamilton with Receiver Chris Bauman heading to the Alberta capital. I'm sure there will be more to the deal than that, but those are the two players being discussed.
I don't want to say I don't like the deal, but I'm not huge on it. Campbell has had a problem holding on to the ball this year, which is the problem with Bauman. At least Bauman fills a need as a Non-Import. Campbell seems to me like he'd be Maurice Mann 2.0.
If Campbell is traded here, I would welcome him. He is a dynamic playmaker, and he is perhaps the guy who can take pressure off Arland Bruce. That said, it's not like Bruce – who leads the CFL in receiving yards with 1,237 – needs any help getting open. Also, Maurice Mann was brought here for that very reason, and it's not like that's been a roaring success.
Bauman would fill a criterion for the Eskimos as new GM Eric Tillman has said it is his mission to replenish the Canadian talent on the roster. The one area where many observers feel the Eskimos are weak is with their Non-Import talent.
They say where there's smoke, there's fire. The smoke has been building on this for almost two weeks, so there must be something there. Not to mention that Campbell has been out the last three weeks with an ankle "injury." I'm not saying that Campbell wasn't injured, but guys have a tendency to get nicked up just as they are about to be dealt. Campbell was back at practice for the Eskimos today, so perhaps this is all moot. Perhaps this is nothing but rumours and both Bauman and Campbell will stay where they are... or perhaps they won't. We'll know before the end of the week whether Kelly Campbell will wear the Black & Gold in 2010.
Where did you hear this?
ReplyDeleteWhy would Tillman trade for a player who has a good chance of becoming a free agent this late in the season?
ReplyDeleteWhen he's on his game, Campbell is a playmaker. When he's on his game.
I heard it first and foremost from Rick Zamperin. I was hesitant to write anything because when I first heard the rumour a couple weeks ago, nothing ever came of it. But I asked Rick recently what he's heard and he said the rumour is still out there.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason I can think Tillman would trade for Bauman is to assure that he got him. And maybe he really wants to get rid of Campbell.