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One of the worst seasons in 136 years of Argos football creeps slowly towards its conclusion, with almost every aspect of the operation in peril or in doubt.
Who will own, who will manage, who will coach, and who will quarterback the Argos all are matters to be addressed in the ongoing confusion that surrounds this legendary franchise.
It is entirely possible the Argos will have new ownership, a new football management team, new coaches, and (please) a new starting quarterback before the start of next season. Where to start in all this transformation is a matter of interpretation.
For now, David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski own the Argos. For now.
Reportedly, David Braley is paying the bills. Reportedly, Cynamon and Sokolowski have interest in buying the Phoenix Coyotes (talk about going from one disaster to another). Reportedly, Cynamon and Sokolowski would like the Canadian Football League to implement something akin to revenue sharing, which would provide some financial incentive for the largest market, largest financial losing franchise in the league.
There are even rumours the Argos would like to move outdoors to BMO Field, which doesn't have enough seats or a large enough field, but those are just more intricacies to deal with.
Whether Cynamon and Sokolowski still own the team, whether B.C. Lions owner Braley buys the franchise, this is all but certain: Adam Rita and his assistant Greg Mohns will be out as general manager and director of player personnel. Nobody seems to dispute that. Rita has had his share of successes, mostly when either he or Michael (Pinball) Clemons coached the team, just not recently, and his loyalty to people such as Mohns and assistant coach Steve Buratto, hasn't exactly helped him.
LITTLE TALENT
And rarely have the Argos been so understocked in both American and Canadian talent at the same time.
The CFL is a league of playmakers and the Argos have few explosive athletes.
The eventual dismissal of Rita will be unfortunate on a personal level because he always has been well-liked and also because his fortunes the past two seasons have been tied to quarterback Kerry Joseph, who was acquired by the football club, just not by him.
But he has to take a hit for the hiring of head coach Bart Andrus, which he played a large hand in.
He also demonstrated weakness for not having more influence over who Andrus selected as his coaching staff. It was one thing to bring in a green American, whose chief experience was as a head coach in NFL Europe. It was another thing to allow him to select his assistants, so many from NFL Europe, who clearly have little understanding of the Canadian game, the nuances, the roster ratios, the appreciation of Canadian players, and all that goes along with being a CFL coach.
Maybe with a more experienced staff or with better players Andrus would have had a chance to succeed.
But if the Argos finish with just three wins, it will tie their mark for the fewest number of wins in an 18-game season. In 1993, coach Dennis Meyer was replaced after starting out 1-9 and the Argos finished 3-15. Willie Wood was 0-10 in 1981 before losing his job and the Argos finished at 2-14.
Those were the worst Argos teams in history. Andrus' first season in Toronto isn't far from the all-time bottom.
Part of that relates to Joseph's failure at quarterback, where over two seasons with three different head coaches he hasn't done the job.
The next general manager, whoever he may be, will have to find the next quarterback.
That could come after the club is sold or even before. Whether Andrus is retained or not is pure economics.
If whoever owns the team wants to pay him to go away, they will. If not, he will return -- a good chunk of his staff will not.
The tumult of the season may not compare with the turnover that awaits. There will be change. There will be few survivors.
STEVE.SIMMONS@SUNMEDIA.CA