Argonauts fire GM Jim Barker after CFL-worst season

The Toronto Argonauts opened the 2016 CFL season amid high expectations with new ownership, a revamped stadium and the prospect of hosting the Grey Cup at home. They ended the campaign out of the playoffs at bottom of the league, and general manager Jim Barker paid the price Tuesday.

Toronto looked good early, winning four of its first six regular-season games. But the wheels fell off quickly as the Argos lost 11 of their final 12 contests, including their last seven straight, to finish last in the East Division with a 5-13 record that left them tied with Saskatchewan for the league's worst mark.

Toronto was especially bad at BMO Field, posting a 2-7 record there while being outscored 283-187.

After spending two months reviewing the club's football operations, president Michael Copeland felt change was necessary, firing Barker despite the two years left on his contract.

"The last several weeks I've been talking to people within the CFL and NFL who are at senior levels and part of championship organizations to understand what separates them from the rest," Copeland said. "I came away with a very clear vision and confidence that we have the ability to be the very best football organization in the CFL.

"It requires change and the type of change that I think can only be delivered through a fresh perspective and new leadership."

Copeland will begin the search for Barker's successor immediately and has potential candidates in mind. Former CFL general managers Jim Popp and Brendan Taman are both available but Copeland wouldn't say who he plans to approach.

Blockbuster deal

When contacted via text Tuesday, Barker declined comment.

Toronto was 49-59 under Barker, who began his second stint with the club in 2010 as head coach before adding the GM's post later than year when Adam Rita's contract wasn't renewed. The Argos did win the 100th Grey Cup in 2012, Barker's first season as the full-time GM, and reached the 2013 East final, but they also missed the playoffs three times.

Barker acquired veteran quarterback Ricky Ray from Edmonton in a blockbuster deal shortly after hiring Scott Milanovich as head coach. The move was huge as Ray was instrumental in Toronto's 2012 Grey Cup run, guiding the Argos to 35-22 win over Calgary before over 50,000 fans at Rogers Centre, their home stadium.

While Barker had an eye for young talent at quarterback -- bringing in talented rookies Zach Collaros and Trevor Harris in 2012 -- he couldn't keep them. He released Collaros after the 2013 season, allowing him to sign with the rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Harris left as a free agent last season to sign with the eventual Grey Cup-champion Ottawa Redblacks.

While Ray has shown a deft passing touch throughout his Toronto tenure, the 37-year-old has battled injuries. Ray missed most of the 2015 campaign recovering from shoulder surgery and was limited to just nine games last year.

With few options behind Ray, Barker had to overpay to land veteran quarterback Drew Willy. He dealt starting defensive back T.J. Heath, a 2017 first-round pick and 2018 third-round selection to Winnipeg on Sept. 11 for Willy, who'd been replaced by Matt Nichols as the Bombers starter.

21 pending free agents

Even with Willy in the mix, Toronto missed the playoffs.

The timing of the Tuesday's move was odd as Barker was busy preparing for the 2017 season. He'd re-signed four pending free agents and earlier this month scouted the NFLPA Bowl in California.

But with the Feb. 15 start of CFL free agency looming and 21 Argos being pending free agents, the club is minus a GM. Toronto did promote Spencer Zimmerman to assistant GM after serving as Toronto's director of American scouting and pro-development last year.

"We've got a lot of confidence in Spencer," Copeland said. "We have a very solid plan for free agency in place focusing on, first and foremost, our own free agents.

"There wasn't one isolated reason for the disappointing season last year and we wanted to make sure we were making decisions that set this franchise up for success not only in 2017 but also the decade that follows. Sometimes it's important to take the time to make sure you do it right."

Milanovich remains Toronto's head coach but Copeland said Milanovich's future will be decided by the new GM.

"Scott is a very good head coach with very good ideas on what we need to do to get better in 2017," Copeland said. "But ultimately it will be the new GM's mandate to make sure the coaching situation is what's going to allow us to win."