TBURGESS

You're right, the best way to market the team to the public is just to send out a mass e-mail about the hiring of a new coach. Maybe they can just include it as a hidden message in the wanted ads next week. You think a presser to announce the hiring of Hall would help market the team? Really? The only folks who watch the pressers are the rabid fans who you don't need to sell the Bombers to. The 'news' papers would certainly carry the story. That's where the non-rabid fans get their info anyway.

It is pretty funny. One or two folks want an official notice that we have a DC signed and a bunch of folks get upset about it, call it 'entitlement' and make up 'reasons' why it may not have happened yet. Personally i'd take an official text from the club. No need for a presser on this one. What are they going to say? Hall's only choice for a DC job was Winnipeg and once Benevides turned us and Regina down, there was no one else with experience even in the running.

The way I see it... Chamblin wants a different type of defense than Hall runs, so he ended up taking more and more control during the season. Neither Hall nor Chamblin is going to change the way they think, so it's best for everyone if Hall isn't there anymore. That doesn't make Hall a bad DC, just one who prefers a different style of defense from his HC. Benevides runs defenses the way Chamblin likes, so he'd be a better fit, but he doesn't want the job. That leaves a newcomer as DC to run Chamblin's defense and Regina picked Quick. It remains to be seen if this is a good or bad choice. We likely won't know for sure until late next season. As for Hall in Winnipeg... His defenses need serious pressure from the front 4/7 to be effective. We don't have the players to make that happen so I expect to see changes in our front 7 right away. We'll get a bend don't break, wait for the other team to make mistakes type of defense. Not as exciting as an attack defense (My preference), but played well, it should be effective. Certainly more effective than Etch's.

It is my preference to formulate strongly-held opinions with as little real information as possible, including who the Bombers ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT EXCEPTION MUST DRAFT AT NUMBER TWO OR THEY ARE RUINING THE FRANCHISE!!! (trademark pending), and will vehemently shout down anyone who offers an opinion contrary to mine, so if you don't mind, your so-called "knowlege" has no place here. Harumph. Did 17 hack your profile?

I'm not a Brohm fan, but I think the Bombers will try and re-sign him. I doubt any other CFL team would be interested unless it's at a fire sale price.

That's too bad. I'd have loved to watch a Benevides defense in Winnipeg.

I like aggressive systems, which is why I prefer Benevides. Consensus? Around here? Never. Not even among the smart guys.

Assuming that you're talking about me... Check back in the threads and you'll find that Cortez was my #1 choice for OC and Washington was my #1 choice for DC.

Nice to see that Benevides is still in the running.

It's foolish and insane because he is one of our best DBs. He's better than Leggett, closer to Randle than you seem to think he is. Yeah He's one of the best players on the team. If we didn't have him you'd notice he was missing. Agree to disagree and without the name calling.

Doug Brown seems to be pretty impossible to replace We could have drafted several since he left, but we didn't.

$140K bonus!? WOW. I've never heard of a CFL bonus worth that much before. Smart of Taman to get rid of Picard before he had to pay it. $195K a season sounds about right to me.

BC's got a very good group of coaches so far. Tedford's a bit of surprise, but Cortez and Washington are top notch coordinators.

The Bombers aren't paying down the full loan, they're just paying down the $85 million. The $10M loan from CIBC has nothing to do with the taxpayers (other than potential impact on the Bombers ability to repay the $85M), and any interest paid on the $85M isn't a taxpayer cost - the Province lent $85M to the Bombers, not $85 + interest. No one said the Bombers are paying down the full loan. The $10 mil CIBC loan means the $85 Mil repayment gets pushed back which means accruing extra interest. $85 million over 45 years at 4% compounded semi-annually, one payment per year is about 4.9 Mil per year. If the Bombers weren't paying interest, then the payment would be less than $2 Mil (1.889 * 45 = 85) per year, so no they didn't get an interest free loan. It doesn't matter which level of government is paying the interest on the rest of the money, it's still a taxpayer cost.

Let it go 17. You're the one who made up the story that I didn't like him because of his fumbles. Washington's a pretty good DB, not a great one and would be replaceable if he didn't sign with us. It's not like he's Randle or Leggett or even Sears. He's pretty small (5'09", 176). He gets picked on quite a lot. You like him, so he's some kind of god in your eyes and everyone else is 'foolish and insane'.

Wild was one of our very few impact players last year. He'll be missed on D and as a long snapper. Not impossible to replace. No one is, but he'll be very hard to replace.

Reading between the lines: The Bombers weren't as happy with Morley's play at center last year as a lot of the fans on these sites were and they don't think Goossen is ready to be the starting center next year.

Sucks to hear the Wild has an NFL contract. Good to hear that the Bombers will release him early to take advantage of it. Good luck to Wild.

January isn't signed yet and I think that Daniels out played him late last year. He may not be signed this year, unless his price goes down IMO. Neufeld hasn't been healthy and mostly played guard for us. I don't see him as the starting tackle this year. Morley's expensive, to high for the 6th guy and I'd like to see an up and comer as our 6th. Morley's not a top O lineman, especially as a guard. My take: LT - Daniels LG - Greaves C - Picard RG - Goossen/Neufeld RT - New Import 6th - Neufeld/Goossen #2 pick takes Hinse's spot

I like this signing. Our NI O lineman got a bit better today.

You sir are a liar. Washington is one of the biggest playmakers on this team and re-signing him is a HUGE positive. Or are you still all salty about some of the fumbles on punt returns? Get over it, the guy is a great defensive back. You sir are an obnoxious idiot. (Not sure why we need the name calling, but I like to reply to folks the way they post.) Are you planning to comment negatively on every post I make? You need to ignore Washington's downside to make him a 'Must Have', which you can't do. It's like saying Watson's a 'Must Have' receiver, if you ignore the fact that he's always injured. Washington would get offers from other teams if we didn't sign him, but that's not the same as a 'Must Have' either. Wild's the only one left on our list that I'd put in the 'Must Have' list.

Interest is a taxpayer cost. The Bombers aren't paying any to the Govt. until the $10 Mil CIBC loan is paid. The $1.2 Mil the Bombers have paid goes directly to the principle, if I read things right. Interest is charged on the entire loan, not just the Bombers part of it. 4.65% on a mortgage loan is too high. 4% is more likely. With $4.5 Mil yearly payments, the interest on the total loan won't be covered, let alone paying down any principle.

To me the question is simple... Is Picard an upgrade over Morley at center this year? The answer in my mind is yes. It doesn't matter if he'll be better for more than one year because Gossen is the heir apparent at center. Sign him for 2 years and cut him in the second year if Gossen is ready. Morley is a poor guard. I'd rather see Gossen start there next year if he isn't ready for the center spot. Morley is too expensive to be the 6th O lineman. I'd rather use our 1st round pick. Morley OR Picard? I'll take Picard.

Washington's an OK signing. Not one of the "must haves". Welcome back.

Actually, they made the right call then picked up the flag and didn't announce why. One of the worst reffing jobs I've seen.