bigg jay

Looks like we can thank Kent Austin for this guy coming up here. Hope he pans out. https://3downnation.com/2026/01/16/payton-thorne-winnipeg-blue-bombers-qb/

Flip side is the training and treatment athletes get these days can allow for them to play longer. A lot of guys didn't take care of themselves properly back then... at least not compared to today's standards.

Not late into their 40's but yes both were starting right up until retirement (1996 was the last season for both). Walby had turned 40 at the end of his last season so he only played a few games past that 40 mark while Gorrell had turned 41 at the end of his final season..

4 seasons. His 2001 season was ended by a back injury and that was pretty much the end of him being a full-time tackle - he did see some action there but he was mainly a center from that point on. He played until he was 39 so he had a fairly lengthy career & wasn't lasting a whole lot longer no matter what position he was in. By the time he was moved to center, he had played over a decade between the NFL, WLAF & CFL and had suffered some major injuries during that time (and in college).

Szott was their back-up last season and he's a pending FA as well they may have a few spots to fill.

Yeah he was out of the league for a long time after Winnipeg (1999-2011) but since he returned, he's coached almost exclusively for the TiCats. One season (2012) in Montreal, one in BC (2018) and now Ottawa - that's pretty stable for an assistant coach in the CFL. Definitely a lot of other coaches who have moved around just as much (if not more) or that same time period. BLM probably regretting his decision not to retire right about now... Hamilton Tiger-Cats sign Chris Kolankowski following release from Blue Bombers - 3DownNation

How many American players worth drafting would consider the CFL at that point in their career though? We often see guys sit on neg lists for years before they come up (if ever) because they have no interest in playing anywhere but the NFL. You already get that with a handful of players in the Canadian draft but a US draft would be absolutely full of this. If they can get enough American players to declare for a CFL draft then it could work but I don't see that happening or being successful. Maybe it might work in conjunction with the neg list (IE: keep the neg list but have a draft for some top rated/well known players who might get generate some buzz)?

Ottawa just got Brown to take a reduced contract (which wasn't that high to begin with)so they can go hard in FA - pretty sure they aren't wanting to pick up the huge contract that Zach or Kelly would bring.

This is the thing for me with an American draft and (imo) one of the reasons why there is so much turn over on the neg lists. If these guys get drafted and then say no thanks to playing in the CFL, what was the point of drafting them? As it is now, if the team holding neg list rights gets told the player has zero interest in the CFL, they can just drop him and add someone else.

He played 2 years with us and 3 with Hamilton so he falls just outside that 4 year period (we signed him in April 2021).

Not necessarily. After he signed his new deal, BLM said it may be a 2 year deal but he's still evaluating things yearly & could very well call it quits after this season. He just has a bit of security knowing he has a contract for 2027 should he decide to continue.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers make Evan Holm CFL's highest-paid American DB - 3DownNation $180,000 in hard money in 2026 with up to $6k in bonuses. in 2027, he gets $185,000 in hard money with $55,000 being guaranteed.

Nope, they can only vote/comment on their current team.

Was it not Patterson? I thought he was here for 5 years so 2021 would have been his 1st year with us.

Demski for sure but Clercius? He's been a bit nicked up at times but hasn't missed a game AFAIK?