Tillman Charged

By now most everybody in the 306 knows about Riders GM Eric Tillman being charged with sexual assault. The alleged incident took place last summer and Regina, the 16 year old female complainant reported it to police three days later and charges were laid on January 27th.

In our justice system one is innocent until proven guilty and I will follow by those standards in this case as well. I am not a lawyer or a legal junkie, so I won't delve into that arena, but what I do know is sports.

Despite Riders President Jim Hopsin stating that the team will be fine with Tillman on administrative leave, one has to think that Riderville may see a few speed bumps ahead. The CFL Free Agency period is set to kickoff in less than two weeks time. I have to think it might be hard to convince prospective players to come to Regina when the GM is caught up in some serious legal matters. Players want to know where the team is at and where it is heading before they sign on. Tillman is a great orator and can be quite the salesman for the Green and White. But with his voice being muted, players may flip through the station to listen to something else they like.

The word out of Mosaic is that the team will look to the senior members of its staff, lead by Ken Miller will assume the GM role. No disrespect to Coach Miller, but he is just that, the Coach. This is a league of salary caps and long term planning. Its just scary to think that the man with a plan is now on the sidelines while the guy who is used to being on the sidelines is making the plans. The good news for Rider Nation is that Tillman has already all but locked up the majority of the teams needs before his charges.

Two questions still out there are Linebackers Maurice Lloyd and Anton McKenzie. Both All-stars and both due a raise, but at what price. Ultimately the choice is theirs whether or not to return to Saskatchewan and I wonder if this issue may just sway them.

It's a difficult situation and in time it will all play out. The truth and the answers will start to come forward in the court room in just a few weeks, but there will continue to be questions on the field until the season starts.