Parker is heading to Edmonton
Last month, the Argos caught what seemed like a break when cornerback Byron Parker, a two-time CFL All-Star, was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles to make room for Michael Vick. The Argos, owners of his CFL rights after he spent 2005-2008 with the team, scooped him back up, expecting an immediate impact on special teams and in the defensive backfield. Well, needless to say it didn’t happen. Parker never cracked Bart Andrus’ regular rotation, and last week the coach said he wasn’t better than the “three or four” guys ahead of him on the depth chart and what happened in past seasons didn’t matter. And when Andrus thinks something…well, you’re more likely to win a peeing contest with a horse than to convince him he’s wrong, even though he usually is.
Toronto dealt Parker to Edmonton today for a reported fourth-round draft pick, where he’ll get a chance to play and more-than-likely will produce, Arland Bruce III style. Argos general manager Adam Rita indicated the move was mainly for salary cap reasons, with Parker in an option year and a handful of young players competing for positions. Still, at 28 it’s hard to believe Parker’s best days are behind him and that he can’t contribute on a 3-9 team. Don’t bother trying to convince Andrus of that, though.
