Argos name franchise legend 'Pinball' Clemons general manager

The Toronto Argonauts shuffled their front office Tuesday, firing general manager Jim Popp and naming franchise legend Michael "Pinball" Clemons as the 20th general manager in team history.

Clemons will be tasked with turning around the fortunes of a team that sits dead last in the CFL with a 2-12 record amid dwindling attendance at Toronto's BMO Field.

A three-time Grey Cup champion as a player with the Argos from 1989-2000, Clemons made his mark as a dynamic rusher, slot receiver, and kick returner. He holds the CFL record for career combined yards (25,438) and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Clemons transitioned to coaching after his playing career, twice serving as the Argos' head coach and becoming the first black head coach in CFL history to win the Grey Cup in 2004 with Toronto.

Clemons also served as Argos team president from November 2001 to September 2002, and as chief executive officer from December 2007 to November 2008. He was named vice chair of the team in May 2009, a title he has held since.

The Argos hired Popp as general manager in February 2017. Along with former head coach Marc Trestman, Popp delivered Toronto a Grey Cup title in his first season at the helm. But things turned sour in 2018, as the club slumped to a 4-14 record and eventually fired Trestman.