The Ottawa Redblacks are just a bit ticked off with Jaime Elizondo
In a world where words are usually chosen carefully and positively, the headline on the Redblacks’ brief press release early Monday afternoon: “Elizondo quits on Redblacks.”
The offensive co-ordinator dropped the bombshell on head coach Rick Campbell in a Friday afternoon phone conversation. To say the team was surprised would be an understatement.
“I feel kind of duped,” said Campbell. “No one called to say, ‘Can we talk to your coach?’ ”
A story on the 3DownNation website suggested Elizondo would take a job working for head coach Marc Trestman in Tampa Bay in the new XFL — which will begin play in 2020.
Elizondo was the Redblacks’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons. In his first season (2016) after replacing Jason Maas (who took the head coach job in Edmonton), the Redblacks won the Grey Cup. He interviewed for head coach jobs in both B.C. and Toronto in December, but may have been miffed when the Redblacks denied him the opportunity to talk to Saskatchewan about its head coach opening when Chris Jones left for the NFL.
Before joining the Redblacks, Elizondo spent time with the Toronto Argonauts as a receivers and quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. He spent the 2008 season with the Montreal Alouettes as a receivers coach and special teams assistant.
The Redblacks’ coaching staff had been in Ottawa all of March, game-planning for the coming season. For the guy calling the offensive plays to leave at this point is a huge smack to the side of the head.
“He had been meeting with our offensive staff so there was nothing to say he was going to leave,” said Campbell. “It’s not typical for people to do it this way, at least not when it’s not for a family reason, especially when we’re six weeks from training camp.”
(Picture & Story Courtesy Ottawa Citizen)
3 comments:
So he was denied the opportunity to better himself by talking to the Sask Riders about a head coaching position and Campbell is ticked off? Wow I do suspect he was "miffed" about that. Wonder how LaPolice feels. Miffed as well? Funny how that always comes back to bite you in the ass.
Ottawa roster and coaching staff decimated in off season
Is this a circle around back to the Roughriders by Elizondo. 2020 is along time to be out of football. Let's remember Chris Jones Rider coaching staff and their respective contracts expire after this season. Third choice Dickenson out, O'Day's First choice Elizondo in as head coach.
Dom
Post a Comment