Noeller

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the ratio is EXTREMELY important to me. I'd rather watch a team of all Canadians than a team of all Americans. The NFL can have all Americans....I want a league that's about MY country and people who were born and raised and went to school here!!

******* kids today.....

I'm betting a number of guys are playing very injured....leaders do at this time of the year.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/cfl-cflpa-meet-first-collective-bargaining-session/ TORONTO — For Jeff Keeping and the CFL Players’ Association, it was a good opening day. The players and CFL held their first collective bargaining session Monday. The two sides are scheduled to meet again Tuesday. "It was a good day, it was productive," said Keeping, the CFLPA president. "We had a very thorough discussion. "This was more about introducing the two groups and laying the groundwork for how we’re going to move forward." The present agreement is scheduled to expire in May before the start of training camp. That leaves the two sides with roughly two months to reach a deal. "Yeah, we have enough time," Keeping said. "We just need to get the groups together and keep working." Senior advisor Ken Georgetti and executive director Brian Ramsay led the union into Monday’s talks as chair and vice-chair, respectively. Keeping, second vice-president Solomon Elimimian, third vice-president Rolly Lumbala, treasurer Peter Dyakowski and player reps John Bowman (Montreal Alouettes), Bear Woods (Toronto Argonauts) and Chad Rempel (Winnipeg Blue Bombers) rounded out the CFLPA’s unit. Ramsay said it’s important active players be involved in bargaining. "This is an agreement that’s a player’s agreement," he said. "The more players are a part of that, I think that’s a better thing for everybody involved and we’re going to continue to approach it that way." The CFL’s bargaining team is again led by Stephen Shamie, the league’s general counsel. Shamie was an integral figure in the 2014 talks with then commissioner Mark Cohon. CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie is expected to participate in the opening bargaining sessions. Rounding out the league’s player-relations committee are: Scott Mitchell (CEO, Hamilton Tiger-Cats); Roger Greenberg (co-owner, Ottawa Redblacks); Rick LeLacheur (B.C. Lions president); and Wade Miller (Winnipeg Blue Bombers president/CEO). League representatives didn’t speak after Monday’s session. Neither Keeping nor Ramsay would divulge specific details regarding Monday’s discussion. All Ramsay said was the two sides spent time face-to-face as well as in their respective groups. "We won’t be going into any details," Ramsay said. "But the points we’ve talked about before (still) remain important to the players. "This was a productive start and we’re looking forward to coming back and talking (Tuesday). That’s a positive thing." The two sides will also determine Tuesday when and where talks will resume. The expectation is the next round of bargaining will shift to Vancouver. This marks Georgetti’s first collective bargaining experience with the CFLPA, which he joined in 2016. But Georgetti is a former president of the Canadian Labour Congress and has over 35 years of labour relations experience. Georgetti was elected vice-president of the British Columbia Federation of Labour in 1984 and two years later became the organization’s youngest-ever president. He’s an Order of Canada recipient and was the longest serving president in CLC history. Keeping is in his second CBA negotiation, participating in 2014 as a CFLPA executive member. Be it in football or labour talks, Keeping said past experience is always beneficial. "It was a good experience and I’ve learned from it and take some of that into this," he said. "You can learn from wins and losses." Keeping said Monday was also about the two sides trying to establish lines of communication. "We’ve got two groups that are extremely passionate about our game and who both feel a shared responsibility to get a fair agreement," he said. "That (communication) is something we’ve been working on as an Association with Randy since he’s come into his position, just improving and keeping lines of communication. "I think that will help as we go through bargaining."

following up: 'I would rather have a real good defence than an avg. offence than the other way around. Finally #RNation is bringing back the defence & they're going to be scary good on that side of the ball. They're going to win games & be Top 2 in the East.." - @AJonSports #CFL via @TSN1200

so the RedBlacks PBP guy had this to say on Twitter (which I stole via CFL News)......thoughts? When you talk to people around the #CFL. The one thing that the #Redblacks still have are, and maybe the best group of any team in the league, and this matters, is Canadians. They kept all of their key Canadians. They've even added more depth." - @AJonSports #CFL via @TSN1200

the entire Brier was complete garbage.....**** everything about the entire week. Hopefully the next couple of Slams leave a better taste.

One of the hot topics that will be interesting to follow, is demand by PA for more coverage while recovering from long term injuries. Right now they get financial coverage for one year from the time of injury. They're looking a lot more than that and I feel it'll play a fairly large role in negotiations...

Absolutely disgusting... I repeat: **** everything about this year's Brier....

**** everything about this year's Brier....

I just think they're really missing Buff and Morrissey and still trying to figure out new line combos right now. They'll be up and down for a bit, but as long as they're healthy for playoffs, they'll be fine. Keep the faith...

Hey guys..... Memmer when you thought Carolina was gonna pump the Jets?? Memmer that?

Jokes aside, the mid winter Bombers specials last year were absolutely fantastic. I am beyond stoked for this..

Shush.... Poor Chris Elliott sullying his good reputation with that terribly unfunny nonsense.

Listen to the podcast version afterward. It's worth it.

Surprised no love for old man Mo Elwonibi ....But no question this is John Bonk's award...

Not competing for the same spot...

Dom Wooganowski

I'm not sure if Simonise is good enough to be a starter, but I really want to see him given the chance to succeed or fail of his own accord, because on PAPER, he looks more than good enough to start for pretty much anyone...

My hope is that the Stamps are going to be the shits and not make the game, so there'll be a pile available on the cheap...

I'll be going to the various parties during the week, but I won't go to the game unless the Bombers are in it. If the Bombers are in the game, I'll pay pretty much whatever, but the parties (to me) are much more important. Spirit of Edmonton and TD MB Social are absolute "Can't Miss" events...

ehhhh....it's content.....I'm desperate for anything. #IsItJuneYet

https://www.tsn.ca/a-closer-look-at-the-key-issues-as-cfl-cflpa-head-to-the-bargaining-table-1.1268816?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

https://www.bluebombers.com/2019/03/04/two-months-draft-day/?utm_source=dlvr.it