Murphy jumps at opportunity to rebuild Roughriders’ roster
O’Day brought back as assistant VP, as 19 pending free agents are released
John Murphy is a personnel man with personality.
Murphy was candid, confident and entertaining during his introductory media conference on Tuesday as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ assistant vice-president of football operations and player personnel.
The former Calgary Stampeders assistant general manager and director of player personnel even coaxed smiles out of the usually stoic Chris Jones and Jeremy O’Day while answering questions at Mosaic Stadium.
Jones was named the general manager, vice-president of football operations and head coach on Dec. 7. On Tuesday, Jones revealed the addition of Murphy as well as the retention of O’Day as assistant vice-president of football operations and administration.
The trio is in charge of a team that missed the playoffs in 2015 with a 3-15 record. Murphy showed his candour when asked about the Riders’ roster looking forward. “It got better today,’’ he said. Having said that, Murphy knows there are a lot of issues that have to be dealt with on the Riders’ roster. Some were addressed when 19 pending free agents were released on Tuesday in advance of the league deadline of Feb. 9.
“There are a lot of holes and age to be addressed in certain areas,’’ Murphy said. “The key to that is some of the areas that would have been considered weaknesses at the end of the season are key areas that Chris has fundamentally done a very good job with the staff that he’s had in the past of finding new guys at those positions.
“That gives a lot of hope that a quick turnaround at those positions can be accomplished because you will have unity between the coaches and scouting departments.’’
Murphy is a veteran of 11 CFL seasons, including stints with the Montreal Alouettes, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Stampeders. He spent eight seasons with Calgary, including the last five as assistant general manager and director of player personnel.
Murphy said he was prepared to remain with the Stampeders, but felt the opportunity to join the Riders was too good to pass up after receiving a call from Jones.
“There are 250,000 people here who want to do this job,’’ Murphy said. “I was in Disney World last year and there was a guy with a Riders jersey on. I was in a bar in New Orleans trying to watch a game on TV and there were eight Rider fans watching the feed on ESPN.
“To do the same job, even with the same job title and everything else with another team in this league … doing it with the Riders is a step up.’’
Murphy was credited with finding players who helped Calgary become one of the CFL’s most successful franchises on the field.
He refused to take the credit for finding players like quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, defensive end Charleston Hughes and receivers Eric Rogers and Jeff Fuller who are on Calgary’s roster. Murphy’s explanation of what takes place in scouting players is an indication of how he will fit in with the Riders.
“To me, it’s we not me,’’ Murphy said. “If that doesn’t work, then your organization is going to fall flat on its face.’’