MOBomberFan

Cornish

Some of us think Elliott was a good player, better than anything we currently have. Some of you disagree. I think if we kept Elliott as our starter and cut Buck lose in the offseason we would be in better shape than we are now. Sadly, we will never know. Seriously, if there were a pro-Elliott/anti-Elliott debate thread it would be 90 pages long, and would repeat itself over and over. Are we really going to do this again?

Typical Sun headline...hardly an exodus!....not so sure it is about the chaotic atmosphere...more like MONEY! The lack of winning and negative atmosphere plays as large a roll in attracting and retaining players as money does .. what incentive does a top tier free agent have to stay in (or come to) Winnipeg when there's little chance of making the playoffs (and making the extra coin associated with a post season birth)? If two contracts are being considered, both offering similar money, what would entice someone to join an organization that's constantly under the microscope and in a state of continual change? Loyalty, Commitment, We're in this together? Or is that a thing of the past. It's certainly a nice sentiment, and how much an individual values such things will vary from player to player. One thing is for sure though: these guys aren't signing with any team out of the kindness of their hearts. They need to get paid, and making the playoffs is a big part of maximizing your earning potential. Fact is, as long as the Bombers are in a tailspin they'll have a harder time attracting (or retaining) quality players with options. That has really nothing to do with Loyalty and Commitment. Because if it did what you're suggesting by making this statement (and even with your remark it varies) is that well-compensated professional athletes place loyalty and commitment very low on their priority list which is simply not true. Some, and I repeat some professional athletes and the organizations they represent achieve the best of both worlds (compensation and loyalty/commitment). With the Bombers, hard to say how it's going with this. I try to remain optimistic that we have the right people in places (or are looking for them) to build this type of culture. And to add one more thing, for the people who think winning solves all of this are dead wrong. Because losing also shows a lot about a person's character and if their first reaction is to jump ship then I say need a boost . . . Certainly loyalty and commitment and so on factor in to every players decision to choose where to play. So do other things such as 'can I realistically be a starter?', or 'does this team have a terrible coaching staff?' or 'does this team have a hope in hell of making the playoffs?'. We agree that those factors play a role, we disagree on how important they are to the vast majority of players, American or otherise. Money talks, and there is a direct corrolation between a teams success on the field and an individual players earning potential. Did Philip Hunt display a lack of loyalty to the Bombers by signing in the NFL for more money? Would Akeem Foster have chosen to come to Winnipeg if he wasn't traded here first? I bet he's choked up that he's all but lost a playoff pay cheque, and all the positive thinking in the world won't replace those dollar bills.

I'm sure I've said as much while watching college teams I know nothing about play. I mean... it's football, what more do you want? Of course, it's a lot more fun to watch your team win than lose.

I had a tough time convincing someone to come to the game with me after my wife opted to sit this one out. Most of my 'casual fan' buddies have already sworn not to attend another Bomber game til sanity is restored. Interest in the Bombers may be at an all time low... people don't even jingle their keys at the people bailing at the end of the 3rd quarter... but I'll be there, as always.

Typical Sun headline...hardly an exodus!....not so sure it is about the chaotic atmosphere...more like MONEY! The lack of winning and negative atmosphere plays as large a roll in attracting and retaining players as money does .. what incentive does a top tier free agent have to stay in (or come to) Winnipeg when there's little chance of making the playoffs (and making the extra coin associated with a post season birth)? If two contracts are being considered, both offering similar money, what would entice someone to join an organization that's constantly under the microscope and in a state of continual change? Loyalty, Commitment, We're in this together? Or is that a thing of the past. It's certainly a nice sentiment, and how much an individual values such things will vary from player to player. One thing is for sure though: these guys aren't signing with any team out of the kindness of their hearts. They need to get paid, and making the playoffs is a big part of maximizing your earning potential. Fact is, as long as the Bombers are in a tailspin they'll have a harder time attracting (or retaining) quality players with options.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2013/09/25/the-stage-is-set-for-a-blue-bombers-exodus-after-this-season Yes, money talks, and I wouldn't blame anyone for wanting a shot at the NFL however unrealistic their chances.

Yeesh. Andrew Harris.

Kindly take the boycott talk to the Winnipeg Sun comment section.

I'm having a very tough time deciding my picks. I think this is the week I slide to second or worse...

Thanks Goltz and Cornish for getting us all off to a great start... I'll take Jerome Messam

See http://www.morningbigblue.com/community/blog/4/entry-21-game-11-blue-bombers-at-edmonton-eskimos/

Welcome back, Simeon Rottier!

I may be an SOB, but I'm YOUR SOB

G-G-G-G-Goltz

You said last, not me. And hey, if he WINS, then there can't really be any debate, can there? this is MBB. There will always be debate.

You're crazy.

Perhaps TBURG just pointed out where I've misunderstood. I thought it was 1+1 from the start, and Hammy tried foisting 'another +1' on him following his rookie season... but if he signed a 2 year deal plus an option (2013) from the start, then tough titties Chris Williams. Bottom line, I hope Chris Williams has a comfy couch.

where is this coming from? This was still his first contract right? 2+1 as opposed to 1+1 no? One of us is misunderstanding those docs I linked to (I'm assuming you at least glanced at them) My understanding is the following, somebody please correct me if I'm wrong (because I read that turd from start to finish and would hate to be talking out my ass): 1) Williams signed a 1+1 from the start 2) Hamilton was obligated to confirm in writing that they were exercising his option (the +1 in a 1+1) 3) In the process of doing so, Hamilton referred him to another part of the document asking him to sign for receipt of 'my 2013 option letter', followed by a poorly worded offer to extend his contract by a year. 4) The court agreed that while the language of the contract could be construed as an agreement by Williams to add a third year to his existing 2 year contract, the document was confusing in part and in whole. 5) The court agreed that it made little sense for a skillful player like Williams to knowingly and willingly give up a full year of opportunity to pursue the NFL, citing risk of injury due to his 'small stature', the fact that the average career length of a CFL footballer is only 3 years, and the massive difference in salary. So that's where it comes from. The article is linked, it's all there. I just wanted to get the whole story for my own interest, but the frikken thing is in legalese. My opinion will change if in fact Williams signed a 3 year deal from the very start. But I don't think that's what happened.

This, too. Don't get me wrong, obviously Williams is looking out for his best interests, it says as much in the court documents I linked to. But I just can't accept that he would knowingly and willingly accept an extension from 2 years (the initial 1+1) to 3 years after his breakout rookie season without even asking for a raise in year 3. That makes no sense, and is a clear indicator that something about this 'sign to confirm receipt of my 2013 extension letter' bit was fishy and misleading. At the very least, there was a bad mis-communication, and the onus to ensure things are done on the up and up falls to management, not the individual. An arbitrator saw things one way, the courts saw it the other. Rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, court beats arbitrator.

Or, this wasn't actually the standard letter that Hamilton uses, and they did in fact try to pull a fast one on Williams and his unregistered agent. It's easier for me to believe the Ti-Cats are shifty swindlers than it is for me to believe every single one of their contracts is faulty and have been since 2011.

That's rough, I didn't know that. Things go from bad to worse for Williams. You're probably right, this time next year some team will be lucky to scoop him up.

There is only one victim in this story, and his name is Chris Williams.

I only call the third year bogus because Hamilton, through some shady and evidently improper methods, tried to have a third year tacked on to his contract following Chris Willams' Rookie of the Year season. If Williams knowingly agreed to a 3 year contract before he ever set foot on the field, then I'd agree with everyone who says he welching on a deal and is a puke and yadda yadda harrumph. But that's just not what happened! In what world would Chris Williams, coming off his rookie of the year season, have agreed to a third season without so much as a raise?

If he doesn't get a sniff from the NFL there will be CFL teams lining up to sign him. Exactly. With his talent, the CFL will wait for him. I'm a bit disappointed but ultimately not surprised that people on this board would begrudge the guy for chasing his NFL dream. The window is narrow and slams shut pretty quickly. I don't blame Williams for fighting tooth and nail to get out of this bogus third year at rookie wages. Too bad for him it took as long as it did to wrap up; he is missing valuable training camp time, so this may be all for naught.