Most of the Saskatchewan Roughriders haven't seen their general manager all season, yet despite the public banishment of GM Eric Tillman, the CFL team sits tied atop the West Division standings.
"Whatever's going on with Tillman doesn't affect us," said veteran cornerback Omarr Morgan.
"I haven't seen him and I don't have to. There were some rumblings about it at training camp, but everybody here is a grown man with jobs to do. Tillman handles his business and the team's business. That's what he does."
It's an unprecedented situation, not having a general manager at practices, games or in the office. Tillman is supervising the team's day-to-day operations from his nearby Regina home because he is on paid administrative leave while dealing with criminal charges laid six months ago.
"At the start there was a view that we would let things unfold, but that Eric was not going to be divorced from the organization for several reasons," said Roughriders president and CEO Jim Hopson, who had lunch last week with Tillman.
"Every person has a right to have their case heard, so we have to be respectful of that process. We also have to be respectful of the complainant. Plus we have to be respectful of our fans. Once the decision was made to place him on administrative leave, the realization came that if he's getting paid, why don't we use him as a resource?"
Tillman joined the Roughriders in 2006 and retooled the team into a Grey Cup champion the next year. This year he has stockpiled four quarterbacks behind starter Darian Durant, reacquired defensive end Kitwana Jones and returner Jason Armstead and recruited Joel Bell and Antonio Hall to bolster an injury-riddled offensive line. After winning back-to-back games against the woeful Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Saskatchewan has a 6-4 record (tied with the Calgary Stampeders) heading into a home-and-home set with the Edmonton Eskimos, starting tomorrow at Mosaic Stadium.
Tillman calls agents, contacts other teams and the CFL office, entertains off-the-record media questions, studies game film, and conducts round-the-clock checkups with Riders staff. Player personnel director Joe Womack, football administration director Brendan Taman and head coach Ken Miller - who credits his assistant coaches for the team's strong showing - are regular visitors at Tillman's house.
"It makes me a little more active on-scene," Womack said. "But Eric is in charge and he's working just as hard as ever at his home - the South Albert [Street]Office - he's just not in front of the public.
"We talk about everything from top to bottom in the organization. I think 32 of our 46 players are guys we have brought in. I'm also trying to help with his exercise and diet, get his [troublesome]back ready. It would be wonderful if we could get him back full-time on the scene."
Contacted by telephone, Tillman chuckled at the Wizard of Oz moniker he has been given for his behind-the-curtain tinkering, but he won't be quoted, a decision Tillman made "in mutual consideration" with Hopson. A bigger decision awaits in the off-season, when Hopson must determine the future of his general manager. When the Roughriders hired Taman, a long-time CFL scout and general manager, this year, there was speculation he would become Tillman's replacement. Not necessarily so, the Roughriders said.
"This is a climate where the Saskatchewan Roughriders are bigger than life, so to speak, and I'm proud of how our team has responded," Hopson said.
"The worst thing you can do in most cases is to react emotionally. You have to know the facts and respond. I think our fans respect the fact that we will act accordingly, depending how the situation turns out. We don't know that at this point."
Tillman was charged with sexual assault following a complaint made by a 16-year-old girl. Prosecutors have decided to proceed summarily, which is the least serious form of charges. Tillman's trial is slated to begin Jan. 4.
Special to The Globe and Mail