The CFL needs Ottawa and Jesse Palmer

The Ottawa franchise has been a key component of the Canadian Football League since 1911 and has won nine Grey Cups and been in eight more Championship finals and has produced CFL legends like Russ Jackson, Ron Stewart,Bob Simpson, George Brancato,Margene Adkins and many more and for the nations capital to not be represented in a highly viewed league that has participants from across the nation just does not seem right

The CFL has to blame themselves for the most recent failure as Bernie and Lonnie Gleiberman who failed as owners in the nineties should never have been given a second chance to own the team as they were a few years ago when Ottawa came back in to the league with a name change from the Rough Riders to the Renegades.This was a desperation move and one that then CFL commissioner Tom Wright should not have allowed to happen.

The problem now is creating credibilitry with the Ottawa citizens who are skeptical. The ownership group must be one that is respectedand be prepared to suffer financial losses for three to five years.
Bll Palmer who played for the Rough Riders and who is a well connected developer with several wealthy American partners thought he had things going his way as he had almost reached an agreement with the City of Ottawa for a revitalized Frank Clair Stadium and a huge Office complex and housing development in the surrounding area.

But as has been the trend with Ottawa football projects the City and Palmers group came to a stalemate and any and all proposals were taken off the table and negotiations ceased.

So why would anyone expect Ottawa football fans to have any faith that the CFL might return to the nations capital. The constant bungling of every aspect of the football concept and the tremendous success of the Ottawa Senators in the NHL creates a situation where everything will have to be handled in a first class manner by possible new owners for any chance of that old football enthusiasm to return.

The City does have an excellent minor football set up at their junior and University levels.both of which are rich in tradition and are used to winning but as of now it would appear to be a large uphill battle to create the atmosphere for the desperately need ninth CFl franchise to be established.There are those who say the league is doing just fine without a return to Ottawa but by in large anybody who is anybody in the CFL hierarchy feel it is a must to return to one of the original cornerstones of the CFL.

The CFL has also been crying out about not being able to develop Canadian Quarterbacks an once again Ottawa would have the built in answer for that scenario as Bill Palmers son Jeesse who grew up in Napean Ontario a suburb of Ottawa and who was one of the greatest athletes to play in the Ottawa high school system is more than slightly qualified to play Quarterback in the CFL and become a dominating star.

He certainly has the potential to be as good as Russ Jackson the best Canadian signal caller of all time as after graduating from high school in Ottawa received a footballscholarchip to attend the University of Florida in Gainsville Florida and play for the Gators in the tough Southeastern Conference which is generally regarded as the toughest conference in American College Football.

From 1998 to 2001 Jesse played in 27 games and started 14 completing 254 passes for 3755 yards and 31 touchdown passes.which are the eighth best Quarterbacking statistics in Gator history.He stands six foot three and weighs two hundred and twenty five pounds and has a Cannon for an arm.and had several outstanding performances over his college career such as directing the Gators to big victories over South Carolina and Tennssee in 2000

Upon Graduating in 2001 he was rated by Mel Kiper the ESPN football guru as the fourth best pivot coming out of the College ranks eligible for the 2002 NFL draft.

He was taken on the fourth round of the draft by the New York Giants and played there for four years before going on to Seattle.He along with Mark Rypien are the only Canadians to play Quarterback in the NFL.

He was release a year ago by Seattle and went to Montreal last year but did not see any action and after the CFl season was over joined Fox and the NFL Network as an analyst.

His intentions were to join his father in the rebirth of football in Otawa a scenario just to good to be true for the CFL as right now it looks as though the plans will be doomed to failure because the City of Ottawa and the Palmers being unable to negotiate.

It is time for new CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon to step up to the plate and make things happen in the Nations Capital.as the Palmer father and son scenario is an opportunity that cannot be allowed to be derailed.