Eskimos GM Ed Hervey publicly carves his 1-8 team, singles out OL Simeon Rottier

EDMONTON – The general manager of the Edmonton Eskimos publicly lit into his team Tuesday, saving his harshest condemnation for underperforming offensive lineman Simeon Rottier.

Ed Hervey says he had a candid conversation with head coach Kavis Reed following the team’s 37-34 Labour Day loss to the Calgary Stampeders.

Hervey said while no one is being fired, offensive co-ordinator Doug Sams will no longer call the plays, the defence is being asked to move into attack mode, and the team will plow straight ahead rather than go to one side or the other in short-yardage situations.

Hervey says he is not micromanaging the team and isn’t trying to undercut Reed’s authority, but says something has to be done to fix the 1-8 team.

Hervey says big changes are coming for an offensive line that is allowing quarterback Mike Reilly to take some hellacious hits, and says he would be happy if Rottier never played another down this season.

When asked about changes for the off-season, Hervey said “everyone is on notice.”

Note to readers: Rottier pronounced roe-TEER’