If Friday night’s lopsided loss against the Ottawa Redblacks wasn’t the final derailment in what has been a train wreck of a season for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, then maybe trading John Chick is the last straw.
Hamilton, who have a woeful 0-8 record, shipped the veteran defensive end, along with a fifth round draft pick in 2018, to the Edmonton Eskimos on Sunday in return for a second rounder next year.
The trade is a clear indication that the Ticats have all but closed the door on making the CFL playoffs this year.
Simply put, trading Chick, who was Hamilton’s top defensive player last season, is a salary dump. He is 34 and is not having a great campaign. He also makes a pretty penny, and that hefty contract will be guaranteed for the rest of the season after Labour Day.
So knowing that they have a mountain to climb to get back into the playoff hunt, the Cats have received something for an asset. This is the part of the football business fans hate.
Chick is a salt of the Earth guy and an even more tremendous person than player. He also has a wonderful opportunity to win his third Grey Cup ring when he joins the league-leading Esks.
It’s difficult to think that Hamilton was so close to winning a long awaited championship just a couple of years ago. Now, it appears that championship window has slammed shut.
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