The Gades have a new promo! Free 60 Oz night they will not even know a game was played! Hamilton is doing the right things. Even with their record last year they were competitivie they just need to tweek and then they are in there.
If the gades don't make any changes, that dubious 1-17 record that Hamilton owned could be in trouble.
If I were a Rens fan, I'd be burning up the phone lines of the talk shows, Its like Loonie is trying to make them fail.
In fairness to the Gleibs, they have signed a number of their players to long term deals. Also, they did offer Ranek $135,000 and he turned it down, likewise I read how Hudson turned down $150,000. So it does not appear they are going out to run the franchise into the ground.
hudson turned down more money, cuz it was a long-term deal...he didnt want to commit to 'the ottawa-project' for 5 years....incase its hopeless after 2....so he signed for less in hamilton.
i think thats why ranek left, too....didnt want to commit long-term incase the ship sinks...
thats why its important for the gliebs to keep quiet, and not make fools of themselves this year...so they can sign thier own players and other FA's
Sure now like that will happen
You have to think these signings may create an extra buzz in the Hammer, pushing their current season ticket number from 18,000 to 20,000+. It's time for the Hammer to build a new stadium on the lake front.
i think they might get 5 sell-outs this year, in the Hammer.
They averaged an unbelievable 28,000+ last year. How many were sellouts?
i think thier only sell-out was labour-day…but they came really close a couple of times.
i think they will sell-out thier home opener, and the labour-day clash FURSURE…and the game (s ) against Edmonton.
Any idea when the city will have their fact finding study completed regarding necessary mega $ structure improvements vs the much needed new stadium?
the Cats will succeed and fight the Argos to a draw no matter what.
Ottawa is in trouble now. 
I mean, I love the Cats, but I wanna see Ottawa make the playoffs this time around.
It's not as if we lost Payton Manning.
Why is it that the Ottawa O line was regarded as the worst in the League and our overall Offence was dissed all last season, but now that they've signed with Hamilton they will lead them to the Grey Cup? And what about Paopao? All of a sudden he is a saviour when ya'll thought he was a chump!
It's all in the perception of things I guess. :?
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Ranek, Hudson, Mariuz make 'better football team'
By Ken Peters
The Hamilton Spectator
(Feb 17, 2006)
It was arguably the biggest day the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have enjoyed since the Bob Young-era began two-and-half years ago.
The Tabbies pulled off a stunning coup yesterday by signing three blue-chip free agents, a development that has to leave the club as a serious challenger for the Canadian Football League eastern title.
Joining the Tabbies this season from the Ottawa Renegades are star running back Josh Ranek, who racked up nearly 2,000 yards from scrimmage last season, and stand-out centre George Hudson. Joining them is backup Argo linebacker and McMaster University alumnus Ray Mariuz.
They are expected to compete for starting jobs with the rebuilding Ticats.
Ranek, 28, signed a three-year pact that will pay him $130,000 per season. Hudson's five-year term makes him one of the league's highest paid offensive linemen, earning an average $150,000 a year. Mariuz, who hopes to become a starter after three seasons as an Argo backup, will earn about $75,000 a year in a two-year, plus a club option, pact.
The Cats aren't finished in their off-season prowl for free agent talent. They hope to snare ex-Winnipeg receiver and kick return specialist Keith Stokes. And they're hunting for help in the secondary and offensive line.
"It's a great day. We're significantly better as a football team today than we were yesterday," Ticat GM Rob Katz. "Anytime you can do that and take a major step forward, it's a very good day for the organization.
"We're ready to turn the corner and we're ready to fight and compete for championships. I think that's what we've been doing all off-season," Katz added.
Indeed the talented trio join a Steeltown squad bolstered by the acquisition of former Edmonton star passer Jason Maas, former B.C. tackle Jamal Powell and linebacker JoJuan Armour; and the re-signing of Tim Cheatwood, Brock Ralph, Wayne Shaw, James Cotton, Marwan Hage, Rob Hitchcock and Wayne Smith.
The Cats also add two experienced assistants with the hiring of former Ottawa bench boss Joe Paopao as offensive co-ordinator and former Renegade offensive line coach Kani Kauahi.
The only stumble the first full day of free agency was watching star receiver Jason Tucker re-sign with the Esks and ex-B.C. linebacker Barrin Simpson opt for Winnipeg. The Cats had interest in both.
Katz said signing Hudson and Mariuz leaves the Cats one of the best contingents of made-in-Canada talent in the CFL.
"We think that when you look at Canadian talent, we're as strong as anyone in the league. When I took over this position and talked to people around the league, the one consistent theme was 'you win by having talented Canadian players,' and we feel that we have that," he said.
Coach Greg Marshall said a combination of 5-foot-8, 205-pound Ranek with fullback Julian Radlein, gives his club some ferocity out of the backfield. This R&R dynamic duo promises some serious head-banging.
"Those are two guys that can hit you. Josh is someone who can benefit from having Julian leading the blocks, and Julian is as devastating a blocker as a fullback as you'll see in our league," he said.
Ranek should make fans forget former Cat starting running back Jesse Lumsden, who earlier signed with Washington in the NFL.
"Josh Ranek, I believe, is one of the top running backs in this league. I think the world of Jesse Lumsden and I wish him all the best, but we're a better football team right now," Marshall said.
A four-year starter with the Renegades, the 6-foot-4, 310-pound Hudson, 29, is expected to start at centre with the Cats, with Hage moving to guard.
The Cats will also give Mariuz, who spent the past three years with the Boatmen, a chance to compete with Hitchcock and Renard Cox as the starting weakside linebacker. But even if he can't score the starting job Mariuz, 25, was the Argos' special teams captain and will upgrade the Cats' unit.
"There are only so many times in the year when you can get better as a football team, one of them is in the Canadian draft, another is when the NFL makes their cuts and certainly this is another one," said Marshall.
"You need to spread your resources around but we needed to make a bit of an impact today," Marshall added.
No, but you lost a couple of your best players. To the team that kept Ottawa from finishing fourth last year.
It was only the folks in Ottawa who thought Paopao was a chump. He was building a new team on a shoestring budget in a market where people don’t care about you unless you win. And hey, maybe he doesn’t have what it takes to be a head coach…but he’s a great offensive co-ordinator. And now with an excellent quarterback, a decent offensive line, and one of the league’s top offensive threats from last season, he can show what a great OC he can be!
Every move I’ve seen Hamilton make has led me to believe they are building a winner. Every move I’ve seen Ottawa make so far has been leading me to believe they are building a loser.
Oh well, they should get the first pick overall in the 2007 college draft. And missing the playoffs again will give the “fans” there another excuse for not buying tickets…again!
BigDave you are bang on, I think. Only point where I may not necessarily agree is your description of Hamilton's O-Line as being "decent"...I think it's going to be outstanding, possibly the league's best.
It was a good crew last year. Remember, Danny Mac is pretty immobile, but he was not sacked very often, a testament to the O-Line. Now, you only had Travis Claridge for a few games last year, this year for the whole year that guy is going to be a major star....I recall how he made Joe Montford disappear in a game against Edmonton last year...no mean feat, Montford can be so dominating, but in that game Claridge took him right out of it. Now you add Hudson.....that is going to be one great line this year, both opening holes for Ranek and protecting Maas against the pass rush.
As far as I can tell with the signings they have made this off season, Hamilton will have a great shot at the East Title. Also, if the Riders don't win the cup this year.... yeah yeah laugh it up...... I hope the Ticats do. It will be great for the team, but more importantly, I want Edmonton to know they lost the better of 2 QBs. I think Hamilton will if nothing else have a winning season again.
Go Riders!!
Sign some damn players already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cough Elijah Thurmon cough
I think you’re right, MadJack. I just didn’t want to sound overly boastful, after bragging about the OC, QB, and RB. 
Hey Dave brag all you like.....I think this could be a big year in Hamilton (almost makes me wish I never left town).
In fact, I am thinking of heading down that way this year to take in a game at ol' Ivor Wynne.....I recall fondly having seasons tickets before I left town, it'd be fun to be back there again, especially with a good team this year!