The Montreal Alouettes released kick returner Larry Taylor (pictured at right returning a missed field goal in last year's Grey Cup) today, and the timing is very unusual. Taylor was named the league's top special-teams player just last year before heading to the NFL. He rejoined the Alouettes last month just before the playoffs, and started an Oct. 29 game against Toronto before leaving with a hip pointer. He didn't play in the season finale, but neither did most of the Alouettes' key players, and most expected him to be ready to go as the Als' primary kick returner for the playoffs this week against Toronto.
This decision would be unusual even if it happened at the start of the year or in the middle of the regular season. It's not as if Taylor's shown that he's lost his ability, as he hasn't really received any significant playing time yet, and it's not as if they have a surplus of other options. Rookie Tim Maypray hasn't exactly lit the world on fire as a returner, especially on punts, where he averages just 7.8 yards. He has been better on kickoffs, picking up a decent 23.6 yards per attempt, and he has returned two missed field goals for touchdowns, but he hasn't shone to the point where he'd even be considered for the special-teams honour Taylor won last year.
The timing makes it even more curious. This comes only days before the Alouettes are in a crucial playoff game against Toronto, and I don't really see the point of jettisoning Taylor at this juncture. If they have more confidence in Maypray, they could have used him and kept Taylor around as a backup in case of injury or ineffectiveness. Taylor's certainly demonstrated ability and explosiveness in the past, and he's definitely very familiar with the CFL game. He's also only 25, so he has a lot of potential for the future. It's a very odd move to let him go at this point.
Special teams may play a critical role in Sunday's East Final, and the Alouettes' struggles on punt returns could hurt them. They're facing Toronto's tough defence, who allowed a league-low 442 points this season and held Hamilton's high-powered offence to just 13 points last week. Field position could become crucial against that defence. Moreover, Toronto's likely to punt a lot considering their anemic offence, so opportunities to make plays on punt returns should be plentiful.
The Alouettes know they're going to have to watch out for big returns from the Argonauts, as Chad Owens was by far the most dangerous return man in the league this past year with 2,701 combined return yards, almost 1,000 ahead of his closest competitor (Hamilton's Marcus Thigpen). Maypray was third on that list with 1,666 yards, but had more opportunities than many of the people below him. Taylor offered the Alouettes the chance to perhaps threaten big returns of their own that could make a difference in a close game, but it appears Montreal has turned that down.
Rick Moffat, from Montreal's CJAD 800 AM, reports that general manager Jim Popp is saying the move was made because of concerns about Taylor's attitude. That perhaps makes this a bit more understandable, as it's hard to see an on-field reason to dismiss him at this late juncture, and the attitude and chemistry around a team can be crucial. Just look at how much better the B.C. Lions played down the stretch after jettisoning Casey Printers. It's also not hard to picture Taylor being dissatisfied if he returned as the league's reigning top special teams player (he's pictured with that award at right) and came in from the NFL only to be told he was backing up Maypray. Still, the timing is still rather surprising, as you'd think that the Alouettes would have figured out if this was going to work or not long before playoff crunch time. We'll have to wait and see if this has any bearing on Sunday's game, but it's certainly made the special teams a bigger storyline to watch.
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