MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Jonathan Brown is hoping David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski have a change of heart.
The veteran defensive tackle made the passionate plea Thursday, a day after the Globe and Mail reported the Toronto Argonauts co-owners are considering selling the franchise.
The six-foot-four, 272-pound Brown is in his sixth season with Toronto, all under the watch of Cynamon and Sokolowski. The former Tennessee star has experienced the highs -- winning a Grey Cup in '04 -- and the lows -- missing the CFL playoffs last year, amassing league-worst 3-11 record so far this season -- during his tenure with the Argos.
Brown understands the frustration his owners are likely feeling, but he admits talk of Cynamon and Sokolowski selling the team hurts him.
"It's hard to hear that, it's real hard," said Brown. "I know it's a sign of the times and we're not doing real well right now but it's very hard because we've had such a good time.
"My first year was the owners' first year in 2004. We won a Grey Cup together and we had a fabulous party afterwards. I have real fond memories of these guys, they're both great owners. I just hope it's not true. I hope they continue to keep the team but you never know."
The Argos flourished the first four years under Cynamon and Sokolowski. They won the '04 Grey Cup, registered two first-place finishes and twice ended up second in the East Division.
But last year, Toronto missed the CFL playoffs with a league-worst 4-14 record, losing its final eight regular-season games. The club fired head coach Rich Stubler through 10 games and replaced him with Don Matthews, the winningest coach in league history.
He went 0-8 the rest of the way.
The Argos hired former NFL assistant and NFL Europe head coach Bart Andrus in the off-season but are enduring yet another miserable season on the field. They take a league-worst 3-11 record into Friday's contest with visiting Edmonton, with a loss eliminating them from CFL playoff contention for a second straight year.
Brown says Argos players are to blame for the club's recent losing ways, and putting Cynamon and Sokolowski in a position where they'd even consider selling the franchise.
"You have to," he said. "Coaches coach and players play and we're the ones out there playing and we're the ones who've not been successful around here for a while.
"When Stubs left we were 4-6 and since then we're 3-19. We haven't been producing and they're losing money so that's what any normal human being would do, which is look at all their options."
The report stated that B.C. Lions owner David Braley had an interest in purchasing the Argos. In June, it was revealed Braley fronted Sokolowski and Cynamon half the $2-million franchise fee to purchase the Argos out of bankruptcy in 2003, and continued to lend the team money.
Argos tackle Rob Murphy says the club could do a lot worse. And he should know. Prior to signing with Toronto in the off-season, Murphy spent three seasons with the Lions.
"He's a great owner," Murphy said of Braley. "He takes care of his players and puts a winning program on and off the field.
"If you trace his track record in the CFL he's one of the best and a huge proponent of this league."
Braley, who resides in Burlington, Ont., has no intention of selling the Lions. So that sets up the prospect of one person owning two CFL franchises, and amazingly there is nothing in the league's constitution to prevent that from happening.
Only in the CFL.
"True," Murphy said with a grin. "I'll leave it at that."
Both Brown and Murphy agreed that talk of the club's sale isn't proving to be a distraction to the players.
"If you've been around football a long time you see stuff like this," Brown said. "As players, you just have to go play.
"That's all you worry about: Playing."
Added Murphy: "I'd be lying if I said it didn't take the locker-room (Wednesday). I mean, it's the big story in the CFL but we're really focused about winning and trying to keep ourselves in the (playoff) hunt."
Andrus echoed those sentiments.
"I don't think it's something we're going to think too much about," he said. "It's something that's totally out of our control what David and Howard decide to do or what they're going to do.
"I just know my experience with them has been outstanding. It has been very good, very professional, very supportive. They're part of the reason why I came here."
