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Only friesen can be that obtuse.

I don’t love JT as a front line contributor but I think people dismissing him as reliable depth are off the mark. It needs to be that role for him, though.

Now that he’s gone, I’m looking forward to speaking of Bighill as one of the best, without talking about his diminished play. B.A. is sweating

Let’s just be honest here - do the Bombers handle everything perfectly? No, definitely not. When the players all consistently talk about how well they’re treated and how well their families are treated and how much they want to stay, do I think a few (all past their prime, which is a huge point in all of this) players who say their feelings got hurt has more to do with their unwillingness to accept reality than it does with the Bombers holding their hand gently through the process? Yes, yes I do

I mean it's basically two weeks until the tampering period. Would players rather be strung along with love and then hit the market? Maybe depending on what happens in the tampering period the Bombers would make an offer for Bighill. I honestly don't know what's running through Bighill's head and why he thinks he'll get paid enough for it to be worth his while to keep playing.

For those screaming and crying about unfair practices ("...***** ***** *****...") Here's the timeline from Our Man Tait: "And just to be clear as to how this unfolded from a club perspective, head coach Mike O’Shea told Bighill in early December he would not be receiving a new contract offer from the club. Bighill represents himself and GM Kyle Walters said they spoke not long after the player’s meeting with O’Shea to confirm the news."

Fatboi hold Walters and O'Shea on the palm of his hand

So like I said, trust Kyle Walters.

Yep Bighill was a HUGE part of this team getting over the hump... but now he's over the hill and everyone needs to move on. Father time is undefeated.

Relax, man. You’re officially hitting the “I am gonna whine about everything” point in your off-season arc

“I realized when I got hurt it’s a real possibility that a club who’s already looking at ways to probably redo their roster, with heavy veterans, this is an easy one for them,” he said. “Whether I think or whether other people think it’s a right decision or not. It’s an easy one to point at and say, ‘It’s probably time.’ “So I understand that from a business stance. I prepared myself for it.” From the winnipeg sun. Doesn't sound like there's hard feelings. Phones do work both ways and bighill got his answer. He also comes across as one of those guys completely unwilling to accept that his time has passed.

We move on from Biggie but give Jake Thomas a new contract. Go figure.

Before players go home, they have exit interviews with players. I have no doubt that the bombers let biggie know what the whole league knew after he played in the previous years gc. Yuuuuup he’s the 100 year old media version of a social media $@&% poster. How long till he retires? Or will the sun go under first?

His exit interview...discussion on rehab and when he be ready...which won't be to start yr...he knew he was not in plans...and I sure other teams knew as well... Much ado about nothing tho...that's how she goes He served us well while he was prime and healthy..and was a big paer of the suceas...and was a positive influence in room and to the young guys...and we thank him for that. But the beat goes on and it happens to every player...next up

It's money....money......money.....and the nfl has lot's of it.....So they wave the bucks and it's adios....It's always a players dream to play down south and nobody will ever stomp on anyone's dream BUT that dream does nothing for the CFL AND it's fans paying for tix to see the best and their high expectations for their club.....I believe there should be some compensation however this system of ' we do our best to get the best and they take it' has gone on for so long it's just become an accepted part of our football world....We should be working on a way to change it

He was released in December... That's plenty early to me. The only thing you could POSSIBLY say against the Bombers here is that they didn't do a big public hurrah in December... But maybe Bighill didn't want that? Who's to say... But they talked to him shortly after the season ended and told him he wouldn't be back.

Maybe he'd rather have Ed Hervey at a podium telling everyone why he sucks and isn't worth his game cheque. There's no real way to handle these situations and I'm not sure why a professional would expect or want a team to close a door on them. Maybe the Bombers have a couple free agent targets on D and if they don't sign them they'd circle back on Bighill. They have no obligation to publicize their off-season strategy to make Bighill feel comfy.

I believe Jake himself has said "you can't pull fat"

I don't have much interest in pro hockey, but last night we took in a junior game (Steelers vs. Terriers) for the first time in many years. Tons of hitting, lots of chippy play, some guys with decent skills. The refs let too much go in the first period then clamped down, which led to players mouthing off - interesting drama. It was a good night. 3-2 Terriers, in OT

I don't know, man. I see where you're coming from and I say this with all due respect. I'd say the NFL to the CFL is like the U.S. is to Canada. They are the big elephant next door, and we can't help but be affected by every twitch and grunt. If the CFL draws a line in the sand, the NFL will be the ocean that washes it away.

pretty easy to stay injury free when you arent involved in much of the action...and cant run to pul any muscles and are just kind of....i dunno how to even phrase it....just "out there" we have 3 other canadian DT'S...all younger....all with upside....we dont need a 4rh who really offers nothing other than this excessive depth

Nah. This is how it goes. It’s not like we are losing guys under contract mid season. We went from one year plus an option that allowed guys to go to the nfl to this. Independent pro baseball has the same windows in the off season. With in the league it self the window of guys staying or going is almost never that quick unless the team decides it to be. We have no leverage, and this isn’t the nfl deal. This is the rule with our own PA contracts first and foremost. Then we have a contract with the nfl for option windows. From when they gave us a no interest loan that saved us from folding after us expansion. If teams have locked up multi year base rookie contracts that nfl teams need to buy out, this will cease to be a pro league. We don’t get another guy with hope of nfl play again. As it is we can’t even compete with the Canadian kids in our own draft. This would be the death knell for our league. Those aren’t the reasons we lost the young demographic. This is just the life and reality of a 2nd tier league. Team engagement is where it starts. Look at the rum hut and RBs home games. Some teams do it well, other teams don’t have a fan base. By some I mean it’s getting close to half the league. Yes the league needs to change stuff, but the familiar comfort of a sure thing has lulled the teams into accepting what we have.

Osh will say who he wants...it's up.to Walters to work it out..or say...nahhhhh I bet it was a case of walters saying g...nahhhhhhh

We must be the only professional league who lets another football league poach its players without compensation. Look what teams in soccer pay when players transfer from one professional team to another or go from one league to the other. Country to country. As far as the CFL goes with free agency among its own teams, we draft or sign a player & develop them. Then bang, as soon as their contract is up, players leave their original team. The team that spent the money developing these players lose them for nothing. I think we need to take a hard line with the NFL & demand compensation. The same hard line with CFL free agency. Have restricted free agency among teams in the league until players reach a certain age or a certain number of years of playing experience before they can leave a team without compensation. I just look around & for millions of young Canadian football fans, the CFL means absolutely nothing to them. Part of that reason is because of the way the league is run. With the CFL, everything is free. Complete free agency among teams. Players free to sign with NFL teams even if they are under contract. I just feel the CFL's business model is broken & because of that we average 19-22,000 a game year in & year in & year out with little growth. We lose out in the 18-35 year old demographic because they don't take the CFL seriously as a pro league. That has to change.

I pretty sure Biggie knew the gig was up at end of season...and it can be tough for a player to accept that playing days are done...some know...even during their last yr...some just have to much fire in them to quit...I'll give Biggie that, and he may get a bottom barrel deal somewhere but not to be "the guy" That being said...I would have taken him over Jake as a ST guy and emergency backup/role guy and player coach role...as he would offer value there...Jake offers none whatsoever

https://3downnation.com/2025/01/24/bombers-moving-on-from-veteran-lb-adam-bighill-report/

Yea...thus the need for our OC to adjust. I don`t believe that Buck did that well. I`m not defending Zac, but Buck needed to adjust to Zac`s aging and he did not. If you are going to roster a 35+ year old QB then you gotta adjust as he ages and change the dynamics of what you are asking him to do. Perfect example is Harris in Saskatchewan. Guy can`t be touched without breaking so they changed how he is to QB based on that and developed a system that allows him outlets to get rid of the ball quicker while still moving the chains. If we are going to try roll out 2019 Zac every game we are not really being fair to him or the team at this point. Zac can be very productive still, but he needs an offence that evolves with him.

He doesn't have one at end of 2024 season...so no need

I don't believe Lawson was an acl..and even so...young guys now come back from that no worse for wear...and a lot of times in better condition...he's had the whole season...and now off-season to rehab and train..i sure he will be his dominant self And TC is for evaluating and assessing and picking your best players...if 3 other guys show better...and also are younger.. cheaper and have potential, in what sane world would u cut or PR one for a aged...declining player...answer me that

Stats: 21-19-7 @ 32-14-3 Streaks: W3 @ W1 Last Ten: 5-4-1 @ 5-3-2 Injury Report: Lowry week to week with likely return after 4 Nations Game Notes: Ehlers ill, game time decision hence Lambert call up Bring a pet food donation for the Winnipeg Humane Society

What does that look like, 15-20 reps? For that I'd argue you're better off using Schemekel, Sampson or a new draftee.

I think there is an argument, that a player like Biggie should get a little better treatment on the way out. But in all honesty, isn’t this the job of and why these players have agents? Why isn’t his agent on the phone to Walter’s to advocate for his client and push the issue. Or does he self represent, in which case he needs to play that job.

Whose job it is, isn't the issue. They, the Bombers, should have call Biggie to let him know for sure that he was no longer in their plans.

That would be Darren Cameron's job not Kyle Walters, you know the Senior Director of Public & Player Relations who hates being the bearer of bad news. To quote action hero the Tick, "the man is incapable".

Yeah idk if he does either. But we are married to him, and we aren’t going to instantly have a team that can win a gc with him chucking bombs down field on 2nd and short or when ever else he wants. (Which is a lot) He isn’t gonna become Ricky ray, but he’s gotta quell the chucking in the worst situations into triple cover. Thats true, but we’ve seen more miraculous late career changes Damon Allen being the biggest up here. this. No way he didn’t know what was coming with his and season interview. Probably didn’t want to believe it.

I think they should have called Biggie and let him know. That's the professional thing to do. I'm glad they made the right decision tho.

But feelings don’t negotiate contracts. “Oshe tends to stay out of contract negotiations,” is how Bighill put it. “He lets the front office do their part. So it doesn’t really matter what he thinks or feels, to some degree, I would say. The roles and responsibilities are different.” I thought I heard somewhere O'Shea was overly influential in who gets offers and who doesn't. This direct quote appears to be on the contrary. That, or he is demonstrating that his loyalty has it's limits. Either way even Biggie can agree it's time to move forward.

I agree. Some QBs are simply downfield guys...Mike Reilly was the same. And Reilly had the same protection issues that ZC has.

Yeah, I'm complaining but lots of things going on with the team, I guess. All it means is that I care about the team. The Biggie thing is just a head scratcher to me. I don't disagree with him not being offered a contract. I actually agree with that decision. It's just how it's been handled. I've been fired once or twice in my career. Don't have to worry about it now that I'm retired. I know that I received a phone call saying to be at the office at such & such a time for a meeting where the boss delivered the bad news. It wasn't pleasant but it was done in person. I just don't get how a GM & Head Coach can just ghost a player of Biggie's stature like that. To me, it's all about respect.

If I was a GM, I wouldn't be making an offer, at least not now. I could see him maybe getting picked up as a late season injury replacement. Stranger things have happened in the CFL though.

Nice to see 91 get his first career hat trick. Really hope he starts heating up soon. Return the favor to Utah.

What did we do thirty years ago? I'd argue that the quality of Americans coming up here back then was better than or equal to now. Yes, I know there weren't rival leagues like the UFL or expanded NFL rosters but still, if the NFL wants to raid our rosters then they should pay for teams for the privelige of taking our players. Then, we'd know for sure if a player like Ajou is just training camp fodder or is a serious prospect. As a league, we seem to cut off our nose to spite our face, Too much freedom for players moving around. Fans have nothing vested in most players which hurts loyalties. Most fans can't name all the players on the rosters or their numbers unlike when I was a young fan many years ago. Less investment leads to fan apathy. That's a huge problem.

This tweet..... 🤐

It’s a really hard balance that is deep in the blind spot for us as fans. Is he willing to evolve his game to extend the last bit of his career? Is he capable? What does that look like? How much do you try to cover for his weaknesses (forcing the ball down field, holding it too long) and how much do you give him what he wants? I feel like both alleged finalists, Jackson and miller are well poised to deal with him. But it won’t be an easy job. It the oc balances that well the rest will fall in place. as has been said, he can’t run and escape like he used to. He also struggles mightily with rpo and option play in general. He’s shown flashes of really good up tempo play involving Timing routes and select screens. He does a lot better with this stuff off PA. He also likes to read down field back to the line, so stuff has to be designed around that. The offence also needs to have some development beyond zach. It’s very likely that the next oc will be here longer than zach at this point in his career. So we don’t just need some one who can excel with zach, but who can develop the next guy and involve him.

Ehlers and Lambert both seen in the warmup

Yeah but he's got that big smile according to Suitor.

Hey, in another ten years, he'll be a decent 6th defenseman.

The injury to Chibrikov is quite unfortunate.

If it matters, our seats are Section 125 and we quite like them. Higher seat numbers in the row is closer to the field side.

P33 11 Game Season Ticket: $739.00 Youth: $199.00 Per Game Price: $67.18 Youth: $18.10 https://www.bluebombers.com/season-ticket-packages/#pricing