Eric Tillman Eric Tillman ( born July 24 , 1957 ) is a consultant for the Hamilton Tiger - Cats and the former general manager of the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League . He was fired November 3 , 2012 . He had previously held the same position with the British Columbia Lions ( 1993 – 94 ) , Toronto Argonauts ( 1997 , 1999 ) , Ottawa Renegades ( 2002 – 04 ) , and the Saskatchewan Roughriders ( 2006 – 2010 ) . He won Grey Cup s with teams he was managing in 1994 , 1997 and 2007 . Tillman previously served as a CFL analyst for TSN and Rogers Sportsnet , and as a scout . Saskatchewan Roughriders . Part way through the 2006 CFL season , Tillman was hired as the Roughriders general manager after they fired long time GM Roy Shivers . The team finished 5 - 4 - 0 down the stretch and clinched a playoff spot . Tillman was credited with being the brains behind the scenes that allowed Saskatchewan to win their third Grey Cup , in 2007 , and he was rewarded with a contract extension through 2010 . The coach at the time was former Rider quarterback Kent Austin , the quarterback who won the Grey Cup with the Riders in 1989 . Other notable signees in Tillman ' s time were Stevie Baggs , Weston Dressler , Rob Bagg , Omarr Morgan ( second stint with the team ) Yo Murphy , Jason Armstead ( second stint ) , as well as re - acquiring the fan favourite in Regina , Corey Holmes . Sexual assault charges and resignation . On January 27 , 2009 , Tillman was charged with sexual assault . Regina police spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich said the complainant , a 16 - year - old girl , made her allegation on August 6 , 2008 . He was placed on paid administrative leave by the team on February 5 , 2009 . Tillman testified in his defence that he had been on medication when the incident occurred , while the accuser and his family had accepted his apology . Tillman pleaded guilty to the charge on January 4 , 2010 , the day his trial on this summary offence was to begin . He was granted an absolute discharge the following day and subsequently received no criminal record but was fined $ 50 . 00 . Judge Murray Hinds stated that Tillman was " genuinely remorseful [ and ] in this case there ' s no suggestion that Mr . Tillman is not generally of good character . He has no prior criminal record . His behaviour towards [ the teenage girl ] on Aug . 6 appears to be an aberration fuelled by his consumption of two non - prescription drugs , which he used for sleep and pain relief . " On January 8 , 2010 , after a several hour discussion with the board of directors , he resigned from his position as the Roughriders ' general manager . Edmonton Eskimos . On September 14 , 2010 , Tillman was hired as General Manager of the Edmonton Eskimos . He took over an Eskimos team that had a league - worst 2 - 8 record . Tillman stated that his primary goal would be improving the team ' s Canadian players . After joining the Eskimos midway through the 2010 season , the team went on a tear going 5 - 3 . They finished just two points out of the final playoff spot , losing to the Roughriders on the final day of the season . According to Eskimos president Rick LeLacheur , the team received a " substantial " number of phone calls from fans opposed to hiring Tillman , however , the Eskimos organization had deemed him worthy of a second chance . Tillman said LeLacheur has already given it to him straight : " There is a second chance , there will not be a third chance . " Tillman said he doesn ' t begrudge those who didn ' t want him hired . " It ' s my responsibility to carry myself in a way and conduct myself in a way that will re - earn respect and trust , " he said . On Dececmber 12 , 2011 , Tillman traded quarterback Ricky Ray to the Toronto Argonauts for quarterback Steven Jyles , kicker Grant Shaw and a first - round pick in the 2012 CFL Draft . The move would be criticized as Jyles struggled at quarterback for the Eskimos while Ray led the Argonuats to victory in the 100th Grey Cup . On November 3 , 2012 , 26 months after he was was hired , Tillman was fired by Eskimos president Len Rhodes .