A Closer Look at Marwan Hage's Retirement

A few days ago, I wrote a post about a few players that were said to have been signed by the RedBlacks.

Since then one veteran player retired and up to seven more were released (depending on whose report you read).

Most of those transactions have yet to be made official (as I write this, all the released players are still on the official roster).  I was going to wait until they were announced to comment but the league doesn't seem to be in any hurry.  The last posted transaction is from April 9th. Could be a while, so here's a modified Citizen article about the cuts to get the ball rolling:

(Receiver Limas) Sweed, a member of Texas’ 2005 NCAA championship team who also earned a Super Bowl ring with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was among six players released by Ottawa on Wednesday. 

Also let go were receivers Paul De Pass and Eric Rogers, defensive backs Justin Ferrell and Bo Smith and kicker Derek Schiavone. 

Smith is a veteran CFL player, having previously been with Hamilton (2008-12) and Winnipeg (2013). Smith also spent time with the NFL’s New York Jets’ in 2010. 

Schiavone, 28 of Fort Erie, Ont., signed with Ottawa after playing previously with Edmonton (2008-12) and Montreal (2012-13).

Martin Comtois for Le Droit reported that QB Matt Faulkner was also released.

Comtois, by the way, is "the man".  If I could follow one guy's coverage, it would be that dude's. You'll frequently get details from him that other teams have missed.  Best of the bunch.

Now earlier in the week, expansion draft selection Marwan Hage retired.  It had been hoped that he would provide veteran leadership and experience on the offensive line but he wanted to spend more time with family.

So be it. Can't fault a guy for that.  It was always a possibility anyway.  But what really caught my attention were comments from fans to the effect that Hage's selection was a "wasted pick".

That comment irritates the hell out of me.  Hey, every sports fan enjoys being the passenger-seat GM, but there's a perspective to that point of view that is clearly lacking.

Hage was picked in the second round of the non-import draft.  Before each round, teams were able to protect six non-import players.  That means that by the time Ottawa got to choose in that round, 12 players were already made unavailable by each team.

The Redblacks had already chosen FB John Delahunt from Hamilton.  If we say that they should avoid Hage because of the possibility that he wouldn't report, we're up to 14 Canadian players removed from Hamilton's list.

Of course, the RedBlacks did not want to select upcoming free agents that they might lose to another team two months later anyway.  So that removes another few guys, including linebacker/long-snapper Kevin Scott, who ended up signing with Ottawa anyway.

So ultimately, during the later hours of the expansion draft, the Redblacks had a choice to make; take a chance on Hage or select Hamilton's (approximately) 17th best Canadian.  Since teams have seven starting Canadians, technically the RedBlacks were choosing between rolling the dice on a quality veteran continuing to play and a "3rd-string Canadian".

So it didn't work out.  Sure, it sucks.  But there was logic behind it.  It was a low risk (based on what Ottawa might possibly have acquired) but high reward (a talented, high-character veteran) move.  In all likelihood, Ottawa would have selected Kevin Scott anyway, and they have Scott now.  So you could make a case that they lost nothing at all.

Hey, it would be great for Hage to have played a year or two.  I'm certainly not denying that.  But taking a chance that he would not retire did not cost the RedBlacks anywhere near as much as some people are assuming it did.