Brendan Taman will continue to be general manager of the Roughriders for two more years keeping him in Saskatchewan through the 2015 season.
This will be Taman's fourth year as the Riders' GM. He’s been with the organization for five. Taman has been with the CFL for 26 years. In the past six years, he’s been involved in three Grey Cup games.
This is the second season in a row that Taman has seen his deal extended just before the season began, last year he signed a new deal during training camp and it was announced during Green and White day in Saskatoon. Like last year, questions certainly were raised about the timing of the deal.
"As you get into the season, it gets harder and harder to do these things," said president Jim Hopson. "Maybe you hit a bit of a losing streak, or you're really rolling well and all of a sudden there's other people talking to him. So I though let's just get this done."
While winning certainly is always the goal, and a lack of winning could still lead to some changes for Taman and the coaching staff should things not pan out. Hopson told reporters the extension was about showing confidence in what Taman and his team are doing.
"The way he has developed a team, his willingness to make change, all the different elements that go into a roster and a coaching staff."
Not surprisingly Taman was pretty happy to have the deal done as well, but he admits he understands why some would question the timing.
"I totally do, but it does wear on you a bit," he said. "Because you're starting to wonder, three-quarters of the way through the year, you're wondering when you're recruiting people if it's for Saskatchewan, or what's going on."
While Taman was in the spotlight today, he knows it takes a good team around him to make sure he got this deal.
"I'm always as good as the people around me," he said. "Guys like (assistant general manager Jeremy O'Day) and (head scout Craig Smith) and our coaches do a great job."
As mentioned the deal will keep Taman through 2015, which is one year longer
than the current contract for head coach Corey Chamblin.
Some highlights
of Taman’s work identified by the Riders in the last couple of seasons:
- Hiring head coach Corey Chamblin
- Adding CFL veterans such as Dominic Picard, Brendon Labatte, and Jock Sanders.
- Finding new talent such as Kory Sheets, Xavier Fulton, Terrell Maze, and Drew Willy. Select Ben Heenan and Sam Hurl in the 2012 Canadian Draft
- Orchestrate a trade for Geroy Simon
- Lock up free agents Tyron Brackenridge, Dwight Anderson, Weldon Brown, Ricky Foley and Rey Williams
Edited by CJME's Karen Brownlee and Joel Gasson.
With files from Karen Brownlee
