TAMAN RE-SIGNS
Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager Brendan Taman agrees to a two-year contract extension with the club.
Jim Hopson is all about continuity when it comes to the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ football operations.
The Riders’ president and CEO felt he addressed that with Thursday’s announcement that general manager Brendan Taman had received a two-year contract extension. The new deal will see Taman remain with the Roughriders as general manager through the 2015 CFL season. Taman’s contract was to expire at the end of the 2013 season.
“Continuity is important,’’ Hopson said during Thursday’s media conference at Mosaic Stadium. “(Head coach) Corey Chamblin has two more years — this year and next. It’s important for the general manager to at least be in sync. This way (Taman) has an extra year and that’s the proper order and structure. Clearly Brendan has shown himself to be a capable GM and he’s very committed. We’re excited about where we are going.’’
Hopson said that the contract extension was important for the Riders to show their commitment to Taman and how he has guided the team since taking over control of football operations in November of 2011.
“It’s also a commitment to Corey and his staff because at the end of the day they were brought in by Brendan,’’ Hopson said. “They need to know that we are as committed to Brendan as we are to Corey and the rest of the staff.’’
Taman, 46, appreciated the vote of confidence from the Riders’ management. Taman also cited assistant general manager Jeremy O’Day, director of player personnel Craig Smith and the Riders’ head coach as the reasons for the contract extension.
“I’m only as good as the people around me,’’ Taman said. “I’m leading the charge and to be rewarded for that is a nice touch. We know what the objective is and we’re about to set out on it. To be given a chance to continue to work here with the organization is very rewarding.’’
Taman is entering his fourth year as the Riders general manager and his fifth since returning to the team in 2009. Taman was hired then as a general manager, but wasn’t in charge of football operations. That changed when Ken Miller resigned as vice-president of football operations and head coach after the 2011 season.
Taman was handed complete control of football operations and proceeded to hire Chamblin as the Riders’ head coach. Taman then reshaped the Riders’ roster with the additions of guard Brendon LaBatte, centre Dominic Picard and defensive back Paul Woldu via free agency. Taman then acquired Xavier Fulton, who became the Riders’ starting left offensive tackle, and signed running backs Kory Sheets and Jock Sanders. In the 2012 CFL draft, the Riders selected offensive lineman Ben Heenan with the first overall pick and added linebacker Sam Hurl in the second round. Both rookies contributed to the Riders finishing with an 8-10 record in Chamblin’s first season as a head coach.
While it was an improvement from the team’s 5-13 record in 2011, Taman feels that wasn’t good enough.
“To get to the West Division semifinal (where the Riders were beaten 36-30 by the host Calgary Stampeders) was OK, but we’re not in this business just to get to the playoffs,’’ Taman said. “We’re in this to do better things than that. We all know that and now it’s a matter of getting it done.’’
Taman has already taken strides toward reaching the Grey Cup game this off-season because the Riders have been among the most active teams on the free-agent market. Taman re-signed all but four of the 15 players from the 2012 team who were eligible to file for free agency. He then added defensive backs Dwight Anderson, Weldon Brown and Carlos Thomas, linebackers Tristan Black and Rey Williams and defensive end Ricky Foley via free agency.
Before the Feb. 15 freeagent deadline, Taman traded receiver Justin Harper and a third-round selection in the 2014 CFL draft to the B.C. Lions for veteran slotback Geroy Simon. Those moves and how Taman deals with all of the details that go into being a general manager were among the reasons why Hopson felt a contract extension was warranted.
“There are ways you go about doing your business and our organization does a really good job in dealing with the league, agents and players,’’ Taman said. “You have to have a reputable way of going about your business and you have to win. There are a whole lot of things involved and you have to have the support of a lot of people too.’’
Taman’s CFL career started in 1987 with the Roughriders as a player personnel assistant. Taman has also had stints with the Ottawa Rough Riders and B.C. Lions. Taman spent 10 years with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the last five as general manager and vice-president of football operations, before joining the Roughriders in 2009.