Area51 wrote:Just to clarify - - a verbal agreement is never ever a legally binding contract. Not in sports, not in real life. That's the first thing you learn in the most basic high school law class.
Ever heard that expression about the team that wants it more is usually the team that wins? It was obvious that Barker & Rita genuinely wanted Ricky in Toronto. Buono was more concerned with salary cap flexibility and "breathing room". Questioning the limited impact a potential signee might have on the team isn't exactly the best recruiting method either.
Funny to think that the BC players did more to persuade Ricky to return than the coach/GM did. That should tell you everything you need to know about how much Buono wanted to resign Ricky.
Now Buono gets to spin the situation to look as if he was stood up and shafted - - get some sympathy and buy him a bit of temporary job security while he tries to recover. I feel bad for the BC fans seeing their best player leave town but unfortunately this is just another example of Buono puting his personal feelings/agenda ahead of the team, even if it's in the worst interests of the organization. Just as he let Jamal Johnson leave town...just as he kept Javy Glatt in as a starter...just as he keeps Chapdelaine as the OC.
People generally get off sinking ships rather than climb aboard as they're going down. And make no mistake - - BC is a sinking ship that won't be righted until Buono is finally out of there.
Well said...
All this gripping, gnashing of teeth, and wringing of hands over loosing what the Lions never obtained in the fist place.
Up until the exit of Cam Wake and Gary Butler who the hell on this board knew the potential of, much less cared who the hell Rick Foley was but PigSkin_53 and Area 51 (before joining lionbackers.com)?
As I remember it four training camps ago Foley was moved from potential starting rush end to linebacker experiment, and back to back-up rush end again, where he languished on the sidelines waiting (patience without end) to even crack the defensive rotation.
Finally when it was evident that Wake had showcased himself off adequately enough that NFL scouts were finally taking notice of him he left for Miami, leaving the “Gary Buono” project a bitter slap in the face of the guy who was forced to bite his tongue and live in the shadow of a rival who joined the club a TC latter and then was forced to ride the pine for two seasons more.
Was Foley toying with the Lion’s organization or wearing Wally like a necktie or was Wally acting in the best interest of the organization when he left Foley to twist in the wind all those seasons waiting for an opportunity to show he had what took to compete with rival Wake?
How awesome could our front four have been those two seasons with both Wake and Foley anchored by Hunt and Williams in the middle, with a waning Brent Johnson in the defensive rotation???
Did Wally serve the Lion’s best interests when he showed Foley his interests to resign him to a two-year deal for his services this week, only to show tepid mediocrity later when Foley agent up the ante, and leaving Foley the unforgivable avenue to bow out of his deal with Lions?
The “Wally worshippers” will call us “haters” just as they vilified me 2 1/2 seasons ago for calling it like I saw it then, but you can only lie to yourself so long before even you must read the writing on the wall .
