ShyGuy

Looks like he has the physical measurements but not the athleticism? Most of the highlights I am seeing are him making contested receptions, no separation but he prides himself on his work ethic and his route running. Also looks like he had compartment syndrome his last year and lost a chunk of the year due to surgery from that? Could be someone like Wolitarski without the right passport I guess?

This is one of the interesting bits. Someone talked about wasting a draft asset (the Bombers got from playing Canadian players anyways so might as well YOLO this one) but the Riders took Rourke, who is two years older, has 2 more surgically repaired knees, and has already fulfilled one year of his ELC sitting on the 49ers injured list. Elgersma could have signed here after he got cut from GB, tolled a year of his contract and tried again in the NFL window, but now he is looking at 3 years of the national minimum before potentially hitting paydirt. This whole thing feels like fool's gold for Elgersma, but being a bit contrarian is it really the worst thing for his development? It's not like he needs to learn the Canadian game, it's all he has ever played. Glancing at the CFL CBA there really isn't much opportunity for the team to do anything with him until Rookie Camp opens... which would be after week 6 of the UFL schedule. Surely there could be worse things a potential QB3 could be doing with their time than hanging out on a "pro" roster for 6 weeks. In theory he could decide that the visa isn't coming at that point and turn tail up here and make it in time for camp?

Elgersma listed as inactive unsurprisingly. Has missed 20% of the UFL season waiting for his visa.

Elgersma watch continues. Depth chart for Week two has him at QB2 and Hiers at QB3. No news of his visa status or what happened to the QB the Stallions signed for Week 1. Is he actually allowed to play or is UFL being bush League and not checking things against real life? I guess we'll find out Sunday

Why are we assuming the QB2 spot is being held for Elgersma? Sure he could compete for it but how often do USports QBs show up and immediately got slotted into backup QB? Bombers will have Bryce Perkins who won the UFL MVP last year and Payton Throne who had a reasonable NCAA career and was an NFL camp cut last year and then obviously Terry Wilson as the guy with actual CFL experience.. who by the way has played about as much as Powell has the last two seasons. Realistically if Elgersma were to show up it would be Perkins or Wilson as QB2 and Elgersma as 3... If he did end up QB2 that would mean he was more or less worth the wait

Are you seeing snap counts differently than what I can find? NFL lists him as only having 3 games played in 2023. Pro football reference has him with 32 ST snaps in those 3 games but then practice roster / reserve list for 2024 and 2025. Sounds like he was just someone they liked having on scout team and was a nice guy to be around

Elgersma barely being ahead of a QB who spent the better part of 2 years on the Riders practice squad doesn't inspire a tonne of confidence tbh

Are we talking spring football or just the UFL, which is in it's third year? Liam Dobson couldn't get work permit in 2021 and came north. Sage Doxtater played 5 games in the XFL in 2023. He was signed in 2024 when his team moved over to the UFL but didn't end up playing due to an injury so that one is... inconclusive. Are Canadians not playing in the UFL because they can't get a work permit, or because it's a dead end?

The Stallions just signed another QB so that means that one of Hiers and Elgersma will be the odd man out. Hiers just spent the better part of two years on the Riders practice squad but he has 4-down experience

This is from last year but I imagine its more of the same for this year https://3downnation.com/2025/04/04/winnipeg-blue-bombers-contributed-930000-to-amateur-football-in-2024/ I generally see those types of articles "Bombers donated $X worth of helmets". They also run the try football camps all the time... usually 4-5 sessions that are free of cost and draw around 100 kids. I sign my kids up for so many Bomber activities I don't even have to spend any money at Save-On-Foods anymore, they just keep giving them gift cards that I use.

What about Powell screams 7-8 year starter? He had a fairly unremarkable rookie season. Did well in the one game in 2024 before leaving the field in an ambulance due to a concussion and has thrown 12 passes since.

Football highlights are usually needlessly cruel https://imgur.com/a/jefferson-long-td-vs-atl-EEKhxb8 Alford is not the guy you want on JJ 1:1, he obviously thought he was releasing him to a safety, realized there was no one behind him so he hauled back and instincts took over and he want to the corner instead of the middle of the field

Is there a team in the CFL that is known for developing quarterbacks? It seems like more often than not the recipe for success is to pluck a backup off another team and then ride them until the wheels come off. What are the home grown QB success stories this century? Ricky Ray, Bo, Lulay, Rourke, Darian Durant? Seems more like lucking into a guy than any protracted strategy.

Seeing "Haters hate to hear this" all I could think about was this Hulk Hogan tweet

Mauldin played for Hamilton in 2021 and had 5 sacks in 6 games in the COVID shortened season. He signed with Ottawa and wasn't among the top 10 highest paid defensive ends. He won MODP in 2022, and his contract was 200K in 2023 after he re-signed and he was the second highest paid defensive end. He was also 30 at this point. He did sign before the window opened (Jan 18th)... maybe Calgary would have signed him to replace Orimolade, maybe the Argos could have signed him instead of Orimolade. But you can't get much higher paid than the second most salary at your position. He had a down year in 2023 and his salary in 2024 reflected that, but he was still top 10 paid. He bounced backed in 2024 and was almost 200K again in 2025 and that didn't go super great for all involved. If he wanted a better shot at winning a championship, it would been in the East, the Bombers didn't have room on those teams (as constructed) for another 30+ year old d-lineman making 200k, I don't think he would have pushed any of the West teams over the Bombers. Maybe he could have taken a deep discount to get onto another team but that is not a thing that happens very much tbh. The problem really was that he broke out at the time where he was on the wrong end of the aging curve... and really his production showed that and teams aren't dumb so good call. You can point to Willie Jefferson as an argument against the DE aging curve... but he has a very specific skill that makes him a bit of a unicorn and the Bombers deploy him as such