Who’s in charge?:Eskimos give conflicting statements on play callers

EDMONTON – The strange case of who calls the plays for the Edmonton Eskimos is quickly spiralling into an issue of who calls the shots.

One day after general manager Ed Hervey publicly guaranteed that offensive co-ordinator Doug Sams was done calling plays, Sams announced he will still be the one sending the signals to quarterback Mike Reilly against the Calgary Stampeders on Friday.

Head coach Kavis Reed refused to say who will send in the calls, but hedged when asked by reporters if the play calling will eventually be taken out of Sams’ hands.

Reed would only say he needs to discuss the issue with his staff and has not had a chance to given the team is playing the Stampeders twice in five days.

After the Eskimos lost to the Stampeders on Labour Day, dropping their record to 1-8, Hervey publicly lambasted his team and announced he had ordered the coaching staff to change play callers, run straight ahead for short yardage on third down, and bench underperforming offensive lineman Simeon Rottier.