M.Silverback

It does. And the Bombers have an out mid January without any cap implications. It's going to be a tough decision. Likely easier if we poop the bed in the playoffs.

Exactly. Bighill definitely confirms this. The thing that surprised me a bit in the podcast was the perspective some coaches (he mentions Sean Payton) have towards special teams players. Basically, some teams don't place a value on a high performing special teams player, versus dressing your "best 53 players". So, you could have a LB who is great on special teams who doesn't make the game day roster because a DB or WR is considered one of the best 53 players, even if they are not as good on specials. I suppose special teams are less important in the NFL given most kick offs are touch backs, and most punts aren't returned.

Duke would be an awesome addition for any CFL team. I have a feeling though that he may stick around the NFL this year, even if it's on a practice roster. Zylstra I think is on his last chance in the NFL. He's talented enough, I just think that if he can't crack the roster this year and actually play (he only had one reception last season, and played special teams), I think the Vikings will move on from him and keep one of the players they drafted low in his place. Related to that, I highly recommend listening to Adam Bighill on the 3downnation podcast talking about CFL players trying to make NFL teams. In short, it's an uphill battle for so many reasons that don't necessarily have to do with talent.

Zylstra is on the bubble in Minnesota. Hope for his sake he makes the roster, but, he's high on my Bomber wish list, even with our improved receiver depth.

You make a good point about the Insiders columns coming across as disingenuous quotes from front office personnel and coaches who have some type of gripe. However, I have to admit, I enjoy reading it each week. Gives me a bit of glimpse behind the curtain, in the locker room. To me it's a welcome change from the bland coverage we get from team beat writers, who basically select from a menu of coach and player quotes each week, and provide very few insight, analysis or opinion pieces.

Well put. John Hodge, or anyone, suggesting that we should re-stock the Canadian OL shelf with one of the first round picks makes perfect sense. We did lose two Canadian all star OL. And, because of Kyle Walters' strategy of drafting OL, it looks like we will have capable players stepping into those spots. But, you should never stop drafting quality Canadians on the OL. Particularly if the CFL does change the ratio from 7 to 5 nationals. The two US players potentially stepping into the line up are not likely to be OL. CFL teams will always think OL first in terms of the ratio. Foolish not to.

The CFL draft is the toughest to predict in all of pro sports. So many factors to consider that other leagues just don't have because you are rarely picking the best player available. You're picking the best player available who will actually end up playing in the CFL. And even if they do, the question is when will they? I think Hodge does an excellent job of covering CFL prospects and the draft. Also found his comments interesting about the Bombers not starting a national running back beyond Andrew Harris. As great has Harris is, in a ratio breaking position, it's a bit of a tough balancing act when you start a national running back. Chances are your back up is American, meaning you have adjust your ratio elsewhere if you have an injury. Not sure I'd want that problem as a GM or coach. Might be easier to have a stable of cheap US born running backs on my roster and practice roster. We'll have to see if that type of thinking impacts where this excellent group of national running backs eligible for the draft get picked.

Interesting with the big salaries for Mitchell and Reilly, I think the CFL is getting closer to the point the NFL is at right now, where the most valuable commodity is a low or reasonably priced, very good QB. Players like Mahomes, Goff, are gold compared to dishing out $20 million per year for Kirk Cousins or Matt Ryan. The CFL doesn't get rookie QB's of that caliber, but, I think it's going to be more important in the next few seasons to find and develop quality, low priced QB's - like Streveler hopefully becomes. I'd rather have Streveler develop, pay him his next contract at abound $400 K per season over two or three years, then have to get into a $800 K per year bidding war for the top QB's. Plus, I love Mike Reilly, but his team missed the playoffs last year.

I think you have to let Streveler compete for the starting job next year. He’s gone the year after if he’s just a back up again. If he succeeds as a starter maybe he sticks around the CFL for starter money. I really think we have to move on from Nichols

O’Shea? Maybe. His son plays at u of Guelph now. Might be interested in the Argos job. But he’s under contract isn’t he?

The playoff win in Sask bought this coaching regime another season, like it or not. Given the expiring CBA, massive free agency on every team, the AAF impact, it’s going to be a very interesting off season and 2019.

Yes. But, we did have chances

It will definitely be a huge challenge for him. There are so many new drafted and UDFA running backs in the NFL each year. Be interesting to see if he gets an NFL Combine invitation. Long shot I think. More likely has a UND pro day, maybe skips the CFL Combine. I'd like to see him do the CFL Combine. As others have stated, I think he'd be a beast from a testing perspective. As a Winnipegger, I'd love to see him get an NFL shot, but, I'd also love to see him on the Blue.

He definitely looks like a talent, and having another Oak Park grad running back on the Blue would be cool. Looks like he's going to give the NFL a shot first though. Not sure he'll be drafted in the NFL, but, any CFL team will likely have to wait until after he explores the UDFA market in the NFL. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/amateur/fighting-hawk-has-eye-on-nfl-493358271.html

Athletes typically get one of the extraordinary ability visas. https://usimmigrationlaw.net/athletes-2/

Agree with all of this. The other factor is overall competitiveness. Agents and NFL talent evaluators are going to have to wait and see what the talent and competition level is like in the AAF. I think they’ve got a good sense of the CFL level and how that translates to the NFL. The AAF is a complete unknown. Could turn out to be a bush league or a hidden gem talent league like the USFL. Either way CFL better do something in response

Definitely. And they have a decent TV deal with CBS, we’ll connected football types running it. Hate to say it but if I was an agent for a mid level talent US player convincing me to choose the CFL over the AAF at this point would be tough. I think the elite players, like QB’s, will stay in the CFL. They get paid well, are treated like stars and likely don’t want to hold a clipboard in the NFL

Hope so. His national status means he’s valuable in the CFL and should get paid. My worry is I think he has the same Minneapolis based agent as Zylstra and Thielen. Might get talked into giving the AAF a shot as a step towards an NFL look. But, I have no idea how US agents view the AAF. Some well connected football types running it though

Thanks for putting this list together. It will be interesting to see how the AAF impacts CFL free agency. I predict some surprises for all teams. I think CFL teams are going to lose more talent than you normally would see. Wouldn’t be shocked to see Wolitarsky, Santos-Knox and Jeffcoat look at signing in the AAF.

I'm with you on hoping that this resurgence of the D doesn't give the team a false sense of where we're at overall. Hate being a Debbie Downer, but, overall, the team has been pretty mediocre for five seasons. Kudos to the D for playing great against Edmonton, but if we go one and done in the playoffs (if we make it), my biggest fear is management rides with the exact same coaching staff, scheme, starting QB, import WR's next season thinking we're trending upwards. We're not in the big picture.

Tremendous performance by the D. I’m baffled as to where this came from. Hall is suddenly a decent DC? Or, have we all not put enough onus on the players? Not saying Hall is great, but, we have talent, maybe they just need to execute better. Bighill should be dominating every game, like he did.

It’s been 5 seasons of mediocrity. That’s enough. This regime has been given an adequate chance to raise the level. Changes need to happen. There have to be consequences (Kavis, 2013).

I like that plan. Wolitarsky is likely a better slot receiver - good hands and size. I think they’re under utilizing Simonise. Size, speed, he’s definitely a match up problem at boundary. Makes so much sense it’ll never happen