Focus on core group, says Willis
Veteran seeks continuity
What’s the big deal, anyway?
Odell Willis won’t be glued to his television screen to watch CFL free agency kick off Tuesday (10 a.m., TSN1, 3 and 5).
It’s been four years since the Edmonton Eskimos defensive end last tested the free-agent market, arriving at Commonwealth Stadium amid tampering cries when the club made the announcement mere minutes after teams were allowed to start courting players whose contracts came up.
That’s about as exciting as it gets, as he was the first bigname mercenary Ed Hervey brought aboard after becoming Eskimos GM heading into the 2013 season.
But even Willis, himself, questions how much immediate impact bringing in a high-profile free agent can have, a theory backed up by the fact the Eskimos went just 4-14 the year he arrived.
“I hope we let the other teams have free agency because people look at free agency like, ‘OK, they’ve got him, he’s going to change the game around,’ ” Willis said.
“I haven’t seen too many free-agent splashes make a difference. Name the last free-agent splash that was a big signing that made a difference.”
Even the big names are pieces of a puzzle that take time to build.
“I don’t even look at free agency, I look at it like we sign the free agents we need,” said Willis. “Just because you’re going to go out there and sign a big name in free agency doesn’t mean you’re going to win free agency. You can win free agency within your team.
“That’s what we’ve done the last couple years and it’s worked out perfect for us.”
And in the last three seasons the Eskimos have made at least the divisional championship round, and hoisted the Grey Cup in 2015.
“Two finals and a Grey Cup, and one crappy year?” Willis said. “I’d take that any day.”