" like I wrote last week. He's probably kicking himself in the head. Had he been just a little more patient, he would have had a real shot last season".
I would agree with HFX's above comment but, I wonder if McPherson really would have had a real shot last season. Calvillo, again, owned the Als QB slot at the beginning of last season and, to McPherson this has to have meant that he would have returned to the Als in his same old position. In this old position he would have been with the Als who, in his years with the team, completely neglected his need for more playing time. Without doubt, during his tenure with the Als, there were many many occasions when, the Als could have given him needed playing time. There were many games with the Als so greatly in front of the opposing team that, McPherson should have been permitted playing time. In other games, McPherson, with his running ability, could have been a real plus to our offensive team. A large issue here is the concept of relationship. Persons with positive relationships with others will usually receive positive relationships in turn. The way the Als treated McPherson, this must have certainly promoted negative relationships between McPherson and the team management. From my perception, this meant that McPherson's leaving for Tampa was a neat way to remove himself from persons like Popp, Trestman and a team that refused him development time. He then placed himself in a position where he was very accepted, by the Tampa Bay organization- and he thrived.It appears that Larry Taylor and Kevin Glenn did convince McPherson that he would receive respect from Coach Hufnagel. The result is that McPherson returned to a back up role with the Stamps- a role he refused with the Als. Too bad! Calvillo was washed up in 2013 and, McPherson, none who follow the Alouettes closely can argue, is miles ahead in QB qualities than is Neiswander.
There is a sad story to all this. The Als, by not permitting McPherson to have game experience, lost the opportunity, to have a skilled and, game active McPherson take over from the aging Calvillo. McPherson was not permitted to grow in skill with more experience. On the positive side, The Stamps acquire a talented, game ready QB to play in a back up role. They will most likely use McPherson, beginning on third and one situations- McPherson was one of the best third and one QB's that I have ever seen. He certainly led the league in this role and, demonstrated a competency to throw from this position also.
I recall McPherson demonstrating great beginning skill as a pro QB. In watching McPherson execute a 8-10 yard third down and, then, resume his usual place at the back of the team, I often "spoke" to him from the comfort of my den yelling= " For God,s sake man, get away from this team, you'd be better of with another one". He finally did.