Armchair GM

Can we talk about working out again? Seems more important...

Agree that Myddleton wasn't the answer. I'd actually consider him an average-to-below-average guard across the league. I'm still not sold that missing out on Craig Butler meant we missed out on a big fish. We signed his backup, whom many are saying could be ready to start. We've also got Sofa, who underperformed massively last year. A determined offseason could bring him back hungry to compete and contribute. I'm grading it a B; because we got Chris Randle (starting HB), Nick Moore (27-yr old with high ceiling who has displayed ability to play SB at high level), Graig Newman (could start at S for us, but his floor is that he's an ST demon), and brought Kohlert back into the fold (2nd NI WR). We're also changing the culture by letting Jovon and BStew walk. If we're including Willy and Banks, it's a B+. An A+ would have meant Josh Bourke, and that didn't happen, but Ted Laurent and/or the return of Chris Matthews could make it an A.

Relax... Neufeld, Swiston, and Pencer are waiting in the wings. A good O-Line coach (heck even a different one from Del Monaco) could very well make them into long-term starters. Just because we don't have 5 bonafide 5-year starters on our line doesn't mean we're hooped.

Morley has already proven himself to be a poor guard. Why would we put him beside "his buddy" January? Is that going to magically make him a serviceable player? This is just contingency planning in the event Ottawa takes Lavertu. If Lavertu is drafted and earns the spot, Morley's a pretty easy transition to 6th or 7th OL, given his experience everywhere on the line.

Pretty good comparison. I just remember watching Greg Carr thinking that outside of his pair of stilts, I thought he was terribly average. I'm far more comfortable putting the extra $15k out there on Nick Moore than I would be on Greg Carr.

Hate this line of thinking for IMP WR's. They have no idea how to play the waggle effectively at the pro level until they come up here. IMP RB's though... the OL figures in too much to invest large $$ in the RB.

Everything Walters is initiating on culture change would be negated by releasing TEdwards right now.

Butler, no doubt. But if we're out on him (as I suspect we are) then I would have to say the guys I'd really like to see us take a shot at would be Ted Laurent (when/if he starts listening to CFL offers), Swayze Waters and Jock Sanders. Would he really be the biggest impact remaining FA for the Bombers if Graig Newman is ready to start, as some are saying? One would think Butler's impact would be lessened by the presence of Newman and Sofa already here and startable (although Sofa might not be the best safety on the Rifles). I'd say Laurent and Sanders are very interesting.

The 3rd best receiver in the CFL doesn't sign with the Bombers at 27-yrs old. 27-yr old top 5 receivers don't reach free agency. Walters is taking a calculated risk on a top 10-15 guy that can make the leap with more balls thrown his way. Love the Nick Moore signing in this light.

MSW/Kelly?

Is there something about Tanner Marsh's QB play we should be excited about? All I saw was Goltz 2.0.

I think you do need to if you don't have that #1 guy in house. Willy needs dependable weapons. Moore as many point out does not have that reputation yet... but if you wait for the guy's resume to fill out... you usually miss out on him during his prime. That's why I like the idea of acquiring Moore now.

Kirk Penton ‏@PentonKirk now Graig Newman's agent confirms the #Bombers have signed his client.

Gah... Montreal was just toying with us. Oh well... enjoy the suckitude that is coming Montreal's way now that Calvillo has retired.

LOL. Didn't even know he was still coaching in the CFL. One of the few guys that can hold a candle to Burke.

With Ondrej Pavelec?

With how big the new regime appears to be on leadership, Emry's got a good chance to suit up for the Blue and Gold. Would love him and Bourke; but I'd take Laurent in a pinch if Bourke is re-signed. The more I think about it though, the more I like the idea of our secondary getting a makeover. Hefney left last year, Jovon and Stewart look to be on the outs now. Suber, Washington, and Sears were gamers. If we were to throw Banks and Pat Watkins in there, the young guys could make a big improvement. Butler would help too... but not as much of an impact as Watkins would make.

Pushing 30 doesn't mean anything. A lot of WR's in the CFL hit their prime around 30. Doubt the Riders will be disappointed starting Taj Smith, Geroy, Getzlaf, and Bagg, with some new import taking the last job; and Etienne, Sisco, and McHenry filling out the backup slots.

Dough Alert could have a very good 2014 in Winnipeg, especially if him re-signing here is accompanied by an upgrade to the OL. 4th or 5th option type with great hands and ability to get into space.

Wiecek is a total piece of garbage. Can't wait til Banks sets him in his place. To be honest, I think it's a matter of time before O'Shea does it. He's probably trying to keep things positive to help change the culture of Bomberland, but good leaders usually have a way of respectably putting detractors in their place. O'Shea and Banks are cut from the same cloth though. I can't think of a Bomber the past 3 years that is a similar leader type.

Agreed. I think that Walters should have nipped the questions in the bud when the first one came up about Burris/Collaros/"Plan C" though. A simple "This is Drew's presser as our new starting QB... not questions for me regarding free agency" would have sufficed. Willy doesn't deserve a feeding frenzy of comparison to a CFL HOFer like Burris in his first presser. He has not so much as thrown a pass in practice yet.

Jovon might be right that he's got lots of football left... but what the last 2 years has proven is that that football should be at dimeback or safety. The guy can still play, but he's not a cover corner anymore.

Don't get all the Dan West hate. Good NI special teams guy that can play safety in a pinch. So he decapitated Watson in practice. Big deal. Things happen, and we all get over them.

Fairly cautious comments, given that Detain is from Sask. Could be that Detain is telling Taman the same thing Willy told him: Wherever I sign... I want to start. Probably a low-round pick changes hands as a contingency if Detain doesn't sign. I'd deal a 6th or 7th for Willy's right all day.

Mike's dead right. College RB's are rock stars in college, so much so that there's a glut of them. More guys that want to keep playing than NFL roster spots available. Supply and command Ricky... It was one of the things Mack had right. Don't ever pay market for an RB. Too bad he applied that philosophy to every spot on the roster.