sweep the leg

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=452199 "The CFL apparently has a counter-proposal prepared for the players - different from the reported $100,000 yearly salary cap increase over the life of a new eight-year CBA - but will not reveal the new bottom line unless the players abandon any revenue-sharing model." Smart people saying stupid things. Why would the players agree to that?

Because when you're the best player in the world the bar is simply set higher. I agree that the way that team is built is flawed. Letang is a good offensive defenseman, but they really do need someone better in their 1D slot, someone who you can rely on to settle things down if need be and Letang just isn't good enough defensively. Perhaps some of their younger prospects can get there but they ain't there yet. Crosby and Malkin at centre is great, but they still need some wingers who are worth a damn for them to play with. Neal & Kunitz are fine in the top 6. Neal sucked in the playoffs, but he was one of the best players in the league over the last few seasons. Kunitz, Dupuis, & Crosby play well together. People say it's only b/c of Crosby, but nobody on their right wing wrapped themselves in glory once Dupuis went down for the season. Dupuis certainly isn't in their league offensively, but he's really fast & good defensively. I wished at the time that the Pens would have let Letang walk, or traded his rights for a pick, rather than sign that big deal. A guy like that is a luxury, not a necessity. Their pp worked just fine with Martin & Niskanen running it.

The issue here is lack of imagination. You'll get under a guy's skin more using creative trash talk rather than an outdated, vulgar slur. I'll declare victory in the trash talk if the other guy has to revert to that nonsense.

As it turns out he may get away with the QB glitch, but, in my view, I don't know that what he gained in Burris over Glenn was worthwhile, considering he could have had two FA starters for the money he paid Burris. But that's an old story. Desjardins may have got away with it, but then he did trade away a 1st rd. draft pick and the rights to another player for only a roster player, so does that start the talk that-he's-an-idiot on again? I wonder who he could have had from the Stamps in the expansion draft if they didn't take Glenn? Would that haul have been more impressive that Pruneau? Perhaps, but no real guarantee that Burris chooses Ottawa over Winnipeg. Glenn was assurance at the time. On the flip side, it allowed them to protect two extra Canadians. That is the area that would intrigue me most as to who they could have picked over J'Micheal Deane. I get why they took Glenn in the draft. I'm just wondering what they could have had instead.

As it turns out he may get away with the QB glitch, but, in my view, I don't know that what he gained in Burris over Glenn was worthwhile, considering he could have had two FA starters for the money he paid Burris. But that's an old story. Desjardins may have got away with it, but then he did trade away a 1st rd. draft pick and the rights to another player for only a roster player, so does that start the talk that-he's-an-idiot on again? I wonder who he could have had from the Stamps in the expansion draft if they didn't take Glenn? Would that haul have been more impressive that Pruneau?

That crosscheck he took in the back of the head from Staal should have been a suspension and he didn't even get a minor. He tears it up in the regular season b/c the refs adhere to the rulebook. When it's inexplicably tossed away in the playoffs he gets mugged and loses his cool. He's too emotional and doesn't play nearly as well when he's mad. The garbage he has to put up with is what makes me want the Pens to pick up somebody with a healthy dose of crazy in their game. Maybe the thought of playing against a guy who wouldn't think twice about putting Lundquist in the hospital would stop Staal from doing something stupid like that.

We got a starting cornerback/linebacker and our defacto starting QB out of those trades. That's some pretty heavy value for two NI's who have never been able to make a significant impact after 3 years. You are correct in that our lack of depth at NI receiver is likely to be exposed in the course of 18 games. Assuming that you're mybloodrunsgold from the EP, welcome to MBB.

I agree re grit. I'd like to see a headcase like Kassian or Steve Downie (who's a pending UFA) on the team to keep people honest. When we won in 2009 we were a borderline dirty team. We were definitely missing any hint of team toughness this season. The bottom 6 sucks. I'd like us to load up in FA on guys like Kulemin, Fiddler, Downie, Winnik, etc. Guys with some combination of grit, size, and/or defensive ability. Add my boy Hanzal & that bottom 6 becomes a strength, not a weakness. No more Taylor Pyatts... I think next season is the year they start using some of their young guys on D. Harrington & Dumoulin are probably both ready to play in the NHL. Hopefully one of them can take Scuderi's job.

Kris Robertson better be healed up then. Any word on if Stephen Alli is coming up for camp? Or is that just another Mack write-off pick? Robertson is healthy and will be in camp. Alli is still hurt & won't be.

The coach has to go, but I wouldn't do much to the core. Malkin should stay put. TSN was talking about how the Pens should trade him, but how do you get equal value back for a guy like that? The only big move I'd make with the core would be to trade Fleury. The loss wasn't his fault, but he still needs to go. It will take an excuse away from the team. Send him to Vancouver for Lack & Kassian. Get Elliott in FA and that would be a pretty good 1A-1B duo to have. I'd also let Orpik & Niskanen walk. Orpik is becoming beaten down thanks to his style of play & Niskanen will want too much money. They'll probably try to trade for Kesler again in the offseason, but I'd rather they make a pitch for Hanzal from Phoenix. He's younger, bigger, cheaper, & nasty. He's exactly what they need IMO.

If we can get a pick & a NI player we would be. I like Mike's idea of #5 & Haidara. We would need something that good to make it worthwhile.

That's certainly not as exciting as Lawrence would have been.

What the league is offering is ridiculous, but the players certainly don't deserve 50% of the increased revenue. They're also getting a little crazy with their demands on min. salary. I agree with JBR on that issue. Like 17to85 said, the league needs stability. The league has been so chaotic in it's history that I can't blame the owners for finally wanting to make some actual money.

Penton said it's not him.

Why would the Leafs want Pavelec? They've got a legit #1 goalie, so they probably don't want a backup making close to $4m/yr.

Parker must be b/c of his health. Maybe he isn't fully healed?

Holy moly

He should just go back to the CFL. Walters have should an extra $100k now to top others bid for him. TBieber, any NFL interest for Laurent ? I believe teams can go over the cap in the offseason, as long as they are compliant at the end of the year when calculations are done. So this doesn't necessarily mean we have $100k in new money. Wouldn't every team be over the cap right now when they have 75 players signed?

His cap hit would be the highest, but I have to believe Phaneuf is untradeable unless the Leafs eat part of his salary. If they ate $2M of his salary it would work out budget wise. We're not a cap team so we'd have room for him in that respect. Having said that, I'll believe it when I see it.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/bombers/down-set-ka-ching-258733511.html "Stadium repayment will never reach the mythical number of $4.5 million per year touted by the Bombers board when the project and its financing was originally announced, but that's a red herring where Miller and the Bombers of today are concerned. The negotiated repayment stipulations are quite simple. The Bombers are obligated to pay down their stadium debt of $85 million plus interest after they've paid the entertainment taxes and facility fees, as well as set aside $500,000 to be put in their own operating reserve, which is to be capped at $5 million. Any money left over after these streams are served will then go to repaying the province."

gary lawless ‏@garylawless 1m Saturday column in @WinnipegNews reveals #bombers will announce profit of $3 million for 2013 #cfl

Funny timing... I was watching last night's Daily Show on pvr and their was a segment on New York's state senate. One senator tried to pass a bill making yogurt the official state snack. Another senator tried to kill it b/c she said some New Yorkers are lactose intolerant, http://www.mediaite.com/tv/jon-stewart-cant-stop-watching-amazing-ny-debate-over-yogurt/

I dont care if you drink milk, get cancer and die. I dont know you But hey, if you disagree with me, just insult me! lol Let's not play the hurt feelings game. Saying you don't care if somebody gets cancer and dies was my basis for calling you angry. If you're not angry it must mean you're just an ***hole.

And if you do….be aware of your cycle. If your nutritionist really tells you that, please do everyone here a favour and give us her name/business location so no one else makes the mistake of seeing that quack. I'll refer her to this message board so she can find out the "facts". I choose not to accept medical advice from an angry guy on the internet who compares milk to crack.

Playing big in a small body gets you hurt.