Doublezero

Hoping McGuire can learn well under Collaros and succeed. Snagged one of McGuire's game-worn jerseys from the Grey Cup year just in case. (It was very clean, BTW)

What about playing regular CFL games down south for the 2021 season and just televising them back home? XFL is out of the picture this season. But CFL needs gate revenue. How can that happen when COVID restrictions are so tight and patchwork across Canada? So Bombers and CFLs other teams play in XFL stadiums this season in front of US fans. That way they can earn some ticket money at the gate as it would be a novelty for American football fans who aren't so COVID shy/restricted. I'd be OK with that. Of course I'd prefer to be sitting at IGF but somehow I don't think it'll happen this year - and so CFL plays 2021 season - just not in the usual places.

Looks like Eagles is getting most votes so far .... Excrement is not an option. Which is too bad because if it were, we could stack the vote. I bet even alot of Sask and Calgary fans would be on board.

The Edmonton Football Team says it has a shortlist of seven candidates for its new name. Elk, Evergreens, Evergolds, Eclipse, Elkhounds, Eagles and Elements are listed as possibilities on an online survey released Monday. The CFL team dropped the name Eskimos last year. It followed a similar decision by the NFL’s Washington team as pressure mounts on teams to eliminate racist or stereotypical names. https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/edmonton-football-team-asks-fans-to-vote-on-7-possible-names-1.5299846 I've got one more: The Edmonton Excrement

CFL in Japan

We lost JFG to free agency when he signed with Ottawa in 2018. He didn't do much there and was released last August. I remember him making a few clutch grabs for the Bombers when he was here. I agree with you on Petermann - hope we use him more! And then we've got Woli who re-upped.

I'd put Nichols on the same career trajectory as Travis Lulay: the injuries pile up and eventually you settle for backup status. If you compare Lulay's CFL stats to Nichols they're pretty similar. Both had multiple seasons where they missed a bunch of games due to injury. To me, Lulay was more mobile and effective with his feet and showed better escapability. Nichols TD to INT percentage looks to be slightly better, after all he is the Game Manager. But the comparison is pretty close. Suggests Nichols may have 2 more years in the CFL, depending on whether he can throw the ball at this level following his shoulder injury: https://www.cfl.ca/players/travis-lulay/114942/ https://www.cfl.ca/players/matt-nichols/157693/

Loved watching him play in Blue & Gold - such an exciting, dynamic player. Hope he gets a real chance to show his skills down south.

Answering my own question .... I guess Dave Dickenson was the last QB to start in the CFL and then get a nod from the NFL. His NFL stats: 2001 SD 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 2002 SEA 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 2002 MIA 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 2002 DET 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0

Who was the last QB to start his pro career in Canada and subsequently signed as a QB in the NFL? Jeff Garcia? Farhan Lalji says as many at 8 NFL teams interested in Chris Streveler, sounds like he's as good as gone: https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/nfl-workout-watch-qb-chris-streveler~1873125

Hope he's a factor.

What's the status of Nichols throwing shoulder, anyone? Is he throwing with velocity yet? To me, he's always had a bit of a noodle arm and now the shoulder is an unknown post-surgery QB shoulder. I thought I read somewhere he may not be ready for TC. Man, if we lose Strev to the NFL there are going to be lots of question marks around the QB prospects here in 2020. Might have to dust off Buck.

Chris Streveler named South Dakota's Sports Celebrity of the Year: https://rapidcityjournal.com/sports/chris-streveler-nash-hutmacher-among-the-state-s-top-ahtletes/article_3e85e6ed-56e7-5c5c-b190-10ade1e1524d.html

Very happy to see Johnny Augustine extended. Didn't think it would happen. Hopefully he gets to carry the rock plenty in 2020.

So, Collaros to Winnipeg and Nichols to Ottawa then? I'd be OK with that as long as we can get Streveler signed long-term here too. I'd also be OK with MBT and Strev TBH.

Dunk says Streveler could get NFL looks https://3downnation.com/2019/12/04/bombers-qb-chris-streveler-viewed-by-nfl-teams-as-having-taysom-hill-ability/

That's an interesting take but Willy was way over-rated as a QB and the early wins the team got with him at the helm were largely due to stellar ST and D. So it wasn't that Lapo ruined Willy - he just wasn't that good to begin with. Pure pocket passer with a crappy O-line is a recipe for failure. With Nichols, I think Lapo designed the offence around Nichols capabilities, which are average and journeyman at best. That's why the focus for us turned to the running attack. When Collaros came in we finally had a QB with some escapability and so you saw a more balanced attack and good distribution to all receivers getting more balls thrown their way. Comes down to Lapo tweaking things to match the talent level at the key QB postiion.

No one knows if Nichols is healthy enough to play football or if his shoulder injury will allow him to play at the necessary level. That uncertainty means no team will likely offer him the starting QB money he earned this year. Also, the only way Strev will re-sign here is with a big pay bump. So I guess if they split the QB pay envelope at $250-$300k each it is possible, as you say, that we will see Nichols-Streveler in 2020. Really hoping we get to see what McGuire has too. Big question mark if we go with Buck Pierce as OC though.

I could see Matt Nichols as Redblacks QB if he can still throw a football after that shoulder injury.

I'd be all over that https://imgur.com/a/kUpuBGX

Collaros coming for the final 4 games at QB, the most crucial position in football, gave us a real one-two punch. We were able to score points and chew up clock time - fewer 2-outs. Concurrent changes in the secondary: Mercy Maston, Nick Jones, Brandon Alexander at Safety, also huge. We were able to protect a lead and force turnovers. Neither of those elements were consistent until Week 18. So it was almost like the complete team only arrived by Week 18 and it continued to get better with each contest and finally peaked in the Grey Cup. Champions!

Can't a guy just bask in the glow of this fantastic Grey Cup win - and the amazing season that preceded it - without thinking about next season already? Although, it wasn't until we solidified the all-important QB position with Collaros that the Bombers were able to reach peak performance as a team. So I'd take Collaros back next year - gladly. And I really want Streveller here too. He is Dunigan2.

This team peaked at the right time, just got better over the last 4 games. I'll admit I lost faith after nasty meltdowns vs Argos and Montreal but it feels so great that this long Grey Cup drought is finally over. Joyful tonight for this special team that was able to bring it home for themselves, for our city and province, and for the W.

Streveler is a free agent at the end of this season so the window to realistically trade him is closed. Personally I hope we can convince him to re-sign here and that he gets some decent coaching under a new OC and QB coach so he can rise to his potential as a CFL starter here. Exciting, dynamic player with lots of physical attributes and great upside on this wide field.

Gotta be a bit uncomfortable in Regina right now, walking around with all those horseshoes stuffed up there. Liking our chances there next week.