Will Poole Released

Another stunner from the Tiger-Cats as the team announced today that they have released Defensive Back Will Poole.

Poole, along with Jason Shivers, was signed as free a agent this past off-season to help solidify the Ti-Cats' Secondary. I really do not know what to say about this. I was very excited when Poole was signed in February, as I thought he'd be a key player for the Tabbies in 2010. I really do not know what has changed from last week to this week, but Poole is no longer a member of the club.

Some real noodle scratchers have come out of Tigertown in the last week or so. Change is good, but this close to the start of the season, change looks an awful lot like turmoil.

Poole, Shivers, Obie React

New Tiger-Cats Jason Shivers and Will Poole as well as GM Bob O'Billovich have commented on Shivers and Poole signing with the Tiger-Cats. Both Poole and Shivers seem happy to be playing for the Black & Gold, and O'Billovich seems excited as well.

Initially, I wasn't too excited about Shivers and Poole coming to town. I think both are decent players, but my hope was that a superstar DB like Byron Parker would sign with the Tabbies. Looking at both players' 2009 stats they had somewhat productive seasons for DBs. Shivers had 64 tackles and 1 interception, while Poole had 54 tackles, 1 sack and 1 interception. Not terrible, but not great either. Adding both Shivers and Poole in with guys like Geoff Tisdale, Dylan Barker and Jykine Bradley could make the Cats' secondary pretty formidable. I guess only time will tell.

Notice in the videos that the GM says that more movies are to come in the next couple of days or so. Can it please, please, please be about a certain Niagara Falls native who plays Placekicker? Man, I hope so.

Ti-Cats Upgrade Secondary

Talk about a busy day. The news just keeps on coming.

The Tiger-Cats just announced on their website the signing of DBs Will Poole and Jason Shivers, both formerly of the Toronto Argonauts. Both players represent an upgrade over what the Tiger-Cats have, especially with the trade yesterday that sent Chris Thompson to Edmonton for Maurice Mann.

One of the areas that I outlined previously that the Ti-Cats needed to address was Defensive Back, specifically saying they should make a run at Byron Parker. However, Parker decided to sign with the Argonauts, and landing Poole and Shivers helps offset losing out on Parker.

Kick Returner and Placekicker are still two areas that the Tabbies haven't addressed, and with the recent announcement that Dominique Dorsey has signed with the Riders, it looks like the draft may be where the Cats will land their explosive Kick Returner to replace Marquay McDaniel who is now a full-time WR.