NEW GUY ALREADY IN PLAYOFFS?

And the next head coach of the Toronto Argonauts is …

There’s a good chance that the man that Argos general manager Jim Popp eventually hires is about to start preparing for the CFL playoffs.

“The likelihood, not a guarantee, is that a coach would come out of our league (is one) that we would be looking at,” Popp said. “Does not mean necessarily on the offensive side of the ball, could be on the defensive side. I think there are some strong candidates in our league right now that are with other teams.

“(The timeline) is going to be strung out. Probably (there are) people in the playoffs right now we’d have interest in talking to.”

The list of potential candidates could TigerCats assistant head coach Orlondo Steinauer, Blue Bombers offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice and Stampeders defensive coordinator DeVone Claybrooks.

The new guy might expect to inherit some of the Argos coaching staff under contract, which could be a rub.

“Part of the problem we have is the new (salary) cap (for personnel, going into effect in 2019),” Popp said. “Whatever new coach we have, more than likely, will retain some of the coaches.”

Popp left the door open slightly to the idea that new head coach could come from the Argos’ current coaching staff.