Leaderboard

Tyson Philpot who has never had a 1000 yard season and who has missed 5, 9 and 6 games over the past three seasons got $275,000. Brady was not getting less.

Mike's post above hit the nail on the head. Drop the deadweight Cdn's making that much and I have no issue paying top $ for Brady.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/16/blue-bombers-sign-redha-kramdi-to-two-year-contract-extension/

We’ve been spoiled at RB for almost a decade and played really 2 guys Harris and Brady. Deactivate Hogans access card now, forget about last year and let Brady eat.

I love the signing but not at that insane money. Man, we better be pairing him with a damn good OC because hes got an enormous contract to live up to.

thus far Walters has signed 3 cdns all in their prime and given Wilson an extension again in his prime. And all 2-3 yr deals. Kudos for great job.

As it should be, maybe even to a far greater extent. We spent well below the SMS last year by my math so spending it now is the least he could do. Heard via the grape vine that Thomas is likely to retire. Take it with a grain of salt, but a friend of mine connected to the Bomber's training staff seems pretty convinced he's hanging them up. Hope for the best on that one.

The reality with Brady’s deal is that you really need to know what the cap hit is in order to talk about whether the deal is good or not. In the new CFL, with the marketing money, I don’t think we’re really going to know that early on after a signing so you have to play a bit of a wait and see. That being said, there are two things that (imo) should be getting talked about more with regards to this deal. 1. This contract makes very little sense at the reported cost (even if you build in 100k of marketing money) if we still insist on playing more than the required amount of Canadians. We’re essentially paying him regardless of passport at that point, which makes this deal awful 2. Lots of people haven’t had their mindset catch up to the reality of the new CFL and the cap figures. The cap hasn’t just gone up, but teams are shifting more to youthful American OL which means less money is being tied up in unmentioned Canadian OL and more is being invested in big name splash Canadians. Everyone talks about Brady and his big deal, but nobody blinked twice 10 years ago when guys like Tyson Pencer and Chris Kowalczuk were making six figures as middling (that’s generous) Canadian OL. Canadian football is developing, which means more guys can play at premium positions, which means the “you gotta have 4-5 Canadian OL” mentality has kind of gone by the wayside. The money getting distributed has changed a bit as a result. (one last thing, anyone who thinks Gauthier or Hallett make near league minimum are WAY off)

I'm a broken record about this but RB's are about 7th to 9th in terms of average salary paid by position in the NFL due to availability of replacement level talent and overall impact. Why are we going against a trend run by much smarter and wealthier football organizations? Don't tell me it's because he's Canadian. Yes Canadians get a premium in terms of salary, but a smart team should still be paying that premium at the impact positions based on the bigger, smarter NFL - Dline; WR's; all star OL; QB's if you have a unicorn Canadian star (hopefully we might). This was a decision to appease the fans who value the local community impact over good cap management.

To be fair there are 45 starting receivers and 9 starting RBs. About 18 starting Cdn receivers, vs really just 1 starting Cdn RB. Cdns get paid in the CFL

If the team is paying Brady this much then they need to lean into an offense focused through him and take advantage of having a Cdn RB by playing another American on offense. Either go three American Olineman or play 4 American receivers. No need to trot out a crappy Cdn centre/guard or Cdn receiver that is no threat to do anything.

Brady and Demski are our only Canadians who are outstanding.

It's a **** load of money and probably way too much for a running back.... however... how do you not do what it takes to bring that guy back? The marketability alone makes him valuable to the club. Just gotta make the rest of the roster work around that.

I get the issue with how high Brady's salary is but this deal is not what is going to kill us. If we bring back Jefferson at $200,000, Schoen at $175,000+, Kyrie Wilson at whatever he makes, all three of Holm/Kramdi/Nichols (two are fine), Vaughters at $165,000, Jake and Kolo at any price, aging foot soldiers such as Gauthier and Hallet, Mitchell at $160,000 and J. Jones at whatever he got, that huge amount of deadwood and clinging to aging vets, that's what kills us.

This would be the best news of the offseason. The D line could be so much better with him gone.

Lawson I think will be in that status...already is and was one of the better interior guys in league in creating pressure and penetrating the pocket...now just imagine if ww would have actually let him have the lions share of the reps, and played him beside legit giys for those reps...as opposed to JT...and JT getting the big reps he got Yup....poor allocation of funds for sure....RB and DB...should never et up your SM...If we re-up all of Nichols..Kramdi and Holm...Plus BO and ZC...Thats gonna be like about 1.3 to 1.4 million on 5 guys....thats not good....2 of those DB spots can be had at a combined 200k and we be no worse for wear...we already have guys on even cheaper entry level deals already in house to cover that...Re-Up the vet Nichols....and go shopping, or scouting If anyone thinks 1.4 million to 5 guys isnt gonna cripple you elsewhere even with a SMS bump is kidding themselves...BO I can justify if he is on some marketing and gonna be the focus of what we do, and is given some help to do it.....But paying 2 DB's whats gonna prob cost us about 300k where we dont need to wont help in getting BO and ZC for that matter some help Gauthier is likely making a fair bit over 100k and for what he brings now...Shay..Smith...have that covered and I am sure we will find a draft pick or 2 who will contribute nicely on ST's But canning guys like Hallett..Gauthier...even tho not making huge money...but likely decent money as Canadian vets..Much like JA was making as a ST/backup before he left for Hamilton all helps when you can replace with entry lvel dals Same with Thomas..Kolo...who made 150k...Thomas not sure but I bet close to that...Vibert takes Kolo spot on entry...Bailey takes Thomas spot on global salary....that extra money would o long way just there in securing a legit FA olineman...or DT who will be a big impact...Bringing back vets like Hallett...Kolo...Thomas..Gauthier..who are not the futer...have zero upside and are all on decline serves no purpose other than block development and eat up more SMS than we need to pay out....hurting us elsewhere BO was hurt going into 2024 yr...and missed time...then strained a knee later in he yr and played less than 100 percent....Got banged up first game last yr and played less than 100 percent again for a lot of the yr....so sure that...and piss poor offensive game planning played a lot into his down yr...but also his style isnt conducive either to long term career either, so to me this is a risky investment especially being 29 already during the 2026 sesson...with 2 yrs beyond that at 300k....yikes Hopefully Osh has the sense in his head to deviate away from his iron clad ratio idea and allow for a fast/shifty RB who can make people miss, and runs a 4.4...4.5 40 to play in backfield at same time as BO to take focus away from him and limit his abuse.... yup....and alogns with my post and Osh's rigid use of ratio...he aint helping us in any way when guys get hurt and he just stays the course with a sub par Canadian....plus the act he feels this need to play more than he has to..which as well doesnt make sense agreed....I mentioned they were making north of 100k...Thomas who knows...but fact they not reported it anywhere that I have found says he is grossly overpayed..... Canadians get payed for sure...but you also have to look at where you can overpay and where you can get same bang for your buck on a lesser paid American...RB not being one...And if you choose to back him up with a Canadian...good luck finding one who gives the same production...and if you do...He's being payed premium as well...so you basically kick yourself in the nuts twice you can get tha same production...and likely a better homerun hitter with an American for less than half that cost....and if you are good in scouting at entry level And for what BO can do and really make hay...inside the 10...we almost everytime go away from him and someone else scavanges the TD....If you have a back making 300k and are 1st and 10 inside the 10...or 5 yard line then he should be able to hit paydirt repeatedly with 3 shots at it....and he rarely gets 3 shots at it...may times he doesnt even get 1....so all that money...and you dont use him...make that make sense thats exactly what we need...A violent....active and athletic dline that just gets after it...play after play....7 to 8 solid guys just goin to town...hmmmm sounds like 2019...2021....we won then eh? Look what Philly did to K,C last yr.....T.O to us in

It's because he's Canadian

Any other RB's getting 290K? Nope, not even close. Any other receivers getting 270K? Yup.

Such a raise off a down year is pretty wild. His production has been going straight down the last 2 years as well. And again, Hogan plus the last year of Buck was brutal. Our ol the year before last was brutal too. Our passing game was atrocious. I don't blame Brady for the drop-off. Paying him an increase after 2 drop-off years is something that almost never happens. A good part of that is the appearance that teams will use the cap increase to fatten the biggest contracts. Part of that is desperation on our end. At the end of the day, we've overpaid a RB, one of the last positions you overpay, when he's coming off an injury and 2 down years, when he is 28 and will be 29 before the end of next year, and yeah, given a rb qb money. Part of me is happy that Brady will be here for the future. Another part of me is happy for him; he's a great person as well as a player, and all the local kid stuff. A lot of dirtbags have made bank in this league, and are currently. Brady is a great ambassador of our game, league, city/province. It would really suck to see him in another jersey. Harris was bad enough, but he was never the guy Brady is. Another part of me is saying, OK, Walters better find a way to dig our ass out of the hole this deal puts us in. I've been the biggest defender of Walters lately. He needs to have one of the best league free agency periods of his career this year. He needs to churn out another ROTY-calibre kid this year, and he needs the guys poised for progress to take the next step forward.

I would say they stand out because they're not out standinding. Koaaala, You missed rebusrankin's point entirely. All he's saying is the Als are paying top dollar for Tyson Philpott who is a receiver who never stays healthy & is on the IR list for a big chunk of games every season. Maybe he's thrown to 5 or 6 times a game on average yet he's the highest paid Canadian receiver in the CFL who has never been a thousand yard receiver. Oliveira is a stud running back with over 5000 career rushing yards who has also spent time on the IR but he has proven his worth 10 times over as he handles the ball 10-20 times a game. That's what ol' Reebus is talking about. Doesn't matter if you're talking receiver or running back. It's the overall worth of a player to his team.

The market is adjusting. You amateur GMs who think you know the way the money is doled out really know nothing. Although you think you do. I think half you guys are still living in 2019 pre pandemic. when the salary cap was at $5 million. That receivers & running backs should only be paid $100,000 a year. Defensive Ends $80-90,000 etc. We don't know what the market is for older free agents like Jefferson or Gauthier yet until they hit the street running with their agents checking out offers from other teams. We also don't know what the new salary cap will be. However, I think with the deals being handed out to Philpott, Alexander, Oliveira, Hatcher & the majority of players eligible to switch teams in February as free agents with their contracts expired, I believe we may have another off season where the cap rises significantly. Until all these things fall into place, the angst some of you show about overpaying players may be unnecessary.

Some .might say that Jake and koala are just out standing there doing nothing...

If Brady was a free agent, BC would have thrown a Brink's truck at Oliveira. We have no succession plan at qb. We're flying by the seat of our pants on that one. Brady is in his prime at 28. there is no one on our roster that is ready to step up as a starter like Oliveira did when Harris left.

I'd have been happy to find out. No CFL RB is worth the money we're paying Brady especially after overpaying Collaros.

I only list Oliveira, Demski and Castillo as my must have. Bryant and Jefferson on a discounted price, maybe.

Brady signing is a terrible albatross boat anchor of a contract. I hate the $ and length. Putrid. On the bright side I am happy to have Brady here and that this almost definitely means Hogan is out. If the contract is one third marketing money, or the SmS jumps by 30%, I can live with it, so I reserve the right to walk this back if that is the case. My issue is solely $ and a tiny bit length of contract (if there is guaranteed year 3 $) As it stands right now tho I don't believe this is a good contract. Love the player, hate the terms.

I like Brady and am happy he is back. Plus you have to keep your talent and he's our best offensive player and best Canadian.

Does this mean Hogan is officially gone?

They are working on it - both the league & CFLPA says they are open to discussions but we'll see what happens. CFL, Players' Association open to discussing public salary disclosure - 3DownNation

Would rather have seen one of Nichols or Holm re-upped first....and at best only 2 of the 3....so do we sign all 3 and screw our SMS where we dont need to?....as 3 guys in and over 140k in the defensive backfield is a huge over spend....and does this mean Kramdi is defacto starter according to Osh as per history even if he is not needed ratio wise or the best player?...as we currently have 3 guys on roster already who could do the job better and cheaper....paying premium for a guy who isnt top in his class is not good sms management....and playing him cause of what he is making even tho not best option...is poor rostering...who cares how smart he apparently is....doesn't make you good necessarily

I'd love to see the CFL publish salary information like every other sports league.

I'm very curious as to how much we stayed under the cap. It would make a lot of sense that we have been using a lot of this year's cap on these extensions. I'd love to know how much each team spends on starting, and candians as a whole in the sms.

Glad to see that the NATs are being secured.

Really. Solid signing there also. We need to improve our Canadian depth not let starters walk away. Kramdi is an above average cdn starter who is apparently smart and versatile. Another solid signing. just don’t follow these with Thomas kolo and the sorts. You can improve on them. I don’t think you can on Brady Lawson Kramdi Demski uhh who else we got…. Yeah. Drawing the blanks for legit Canadian starters. Clercius? Neufeld maybe. Maybe convert him to center tho ?? ya. Needs improvement

I thought kramdi would test fa and maybe end up back home. Very busy december for walters so far

I'd add to that list a stellar platinum level offensive line along with a violent effective dline to give us an identity as a team heading into 2026.

100% agree that deal screwed the market big time.

Yeah I dunno man if that's worth it..and with it garuanteed in yr 3...for a then 31 yr old back who plays a physical game...big risk...hes already shown last few hes injury susceptible As @TBURGESS said...million bucks in a QB in serious decline..and a back who could fall of a cliff in 2027...just dont know...if its half marketing id be ok..but man..when u could fill that spot at 80k and get just as good production...that other 210k would go a long way

I would think so. Hope we got a chunk of fake cap dollars too

It's a lot of money to be sure but it had to be done. I also expect the salary cap will be going up again this off season so there'll be wiggle room to afford Brady. Imagine the President, GM & HC all come back & Brady leaves? The optics would be so bad. I applaud Walters for getting it done. Credit where credit is due.

Demski next please. this is a great sign that change is occurring as Brady made it known that he wanted to win I mean $$$ but he wanted to win so him not even testing free agency like was rumoured, great sign change is happening.

I sure hope there is a ton of marketing money being used on that contract.

3 years. 290 k this upcoming year. Yeah it’s a lot but for one of the very best players in the league in the prime of his career and a home town hero to boot. It’s a no brainer, especially with the rising cap. I would take Brady at 290 over Keon Hatchers at 330k any day of the week.

I agree. Also, what sort of message when it send to other pending free-agents if the Bombers didn't re-sign Brady? Nice to see loyalty from the team towards a player that bleeds Blue and Gold.

Way too much for a RB. We've got a million bucks tied up in just two players. I don't want to hear any 'why can't we get big FA's again' whining this year.

That is alot of money....hopefully marketing money takes a bite outta it, but So far I like the signings two of the three have been CDN and the 3rd a young guy with tons of potential...

Not sure what the NFL per diem and payscale is for PR but I do know that restricting our NAT rookies to 80k a year for their first 3 years is just about the stupidest thing ever. Guys signing futures contracts might as well not sign anything. There is no bonus, no commitment from the NFL team, and very little chance of making the squad.

No idea how long he can go with out a deal financially. Kid is very talented and performed well in pre season. Hes deserving of a shot, but who knows if it’ll come. If he gets or time down south that’d be great for him. If he gets another nfl camp that too would be great for him. A camp here would be good, the ufl if they let him play would even be good between nfl tcs. Really as long as he is active and gets coaching and practice / tc he will be in good shape. I hope he doesn’t end up waiting for calls that don’t come. I also hope he is actively working with a great qb coach right now to continue his growth.