Aug
Is Joe Smith done in BC?
Courtesy Vancouver Province:
The threat of job loss can elicit a range of emotions. Wally Buono, for example, knows what it would take to get his attention if it was ever deemed by the owner of the Lions that he wasn’t performing to expectations.
“If Mr. [David] Braley brought in a consultant it would make me quite annoyed,” said Buono, who then was asked how he would react if the consultant turned out to be Fred Fateri, the infamous former Calgary Stampeders vice-chairman who orchestrated his ouster six seasons ago.
“If you brought Freddy in, I’d say either I better wake up or I better keep my bags packed,” the Lions coach said.
It’s called, of course, sending a message. But the arrival Monday of practice roster running back Terrence Whitehead to the CFL team brought about no discernable reaction from the player he might one day replace, and that may not be a bad development.
Joe Smith is no less concerned about what might initially appear to be his declining stock than when he was replaced by Stefan Logan, who’ll start again at tailback when the Lions host the Calgary Stampeders on Friday.
Buono said Monday that Smith will remain on the inactive roster this week, and the top rusher of last year suggested the only difference for him during his next lineup absence is that he has no plans to return home to Houston to do more gardening because he has some latin dance lessons scheduled locally.
“I got to be able to shake my hips,” Smith said.
But if you’re thinking he’ll eventually become angered by lack of work, you don’t have him figured out.
