Blue-urns

Poblah has already contributed more than Banks has this season.
That said, I don't view acquiring Banks a mistake. The organization recognized they had a void in the locker room with the departure of many defensive veterans. He was viewed as a guy to fill that void. A bridge for the short term. Nothing more. Signing Banks shouldn't be viewed as a failure .. other players have stepped up and performed (so far) and the team looks quite composed. Could Banks be on his way out? Maybe. But I don't fault Walters for trying to add a steadying influence to a unit that was anything but steady last season.

I'm more so thrilled that Walters and others managed to bring in new talent that could immediately make the club and surpass a CFL vet like Banks.    

You're mixing the message again.
 
The bonus was part of the signing. In fact, I don't even remember the bonus. 
Acquiring an veteran asset, at that time, was seen as a good move. 
That was one transaction.
 
Now, that asset is viewed in a different light and they're trying to make a move on him.
Separate transaction.
 
If successful with a trade, good. If not, cut him, move on, part of football.
 
It's part of Walter's term and has nothing to do with previous regimes.
 
As 'tute' moves go, nobody's blowing Walter's horn more than is warranted. 
 
I just see that this current GM is working to provide his HC with the best possible roster, and if he makes mistakes along the way…so be it.

The thing to take away from all of this, and it's actually quite a good thing: the best players will play. Period. It doesn't matter your contract, how you were acquired or why. If someone is better than you, you'll be on the bench or be given your apple and road map. It's quite refreshing.

No way. Mike O'Shea said the Bomber fans deserved this win and we did.
I'm milking this all the way 'til next week when questions and doubt rear their ugly head, in my gut, at opening kick off.

Hey we're all excited about what we saw on opening night, but we're also bomber fans, we should all be aware that it can all go to hell in the span of a week. 

I was impressed with O'Sheas HCing calls... We all know Tim Burke would have messed up that call when O'Shea declined the offside because it was change of possession... Actually I'm pretty sure Burkes head would have exploded from confusion.

It was after the play in the back of the endzone on Argo 3rd down where Washington got called for unnecessary roughness but they called the penalty as occurring after the change of possession, giving the Bombers the ball -15 yards.
 
It was Murray Clarke calling it as the back judge, he does owe us a few dozen calls.

Soooo happy we didn't get Burris. Thank you Mr. Dinglenuts GM in Ottawa, you did us a great favour.

what I like about Willy the most in terms of his mobility is that he doesn't just tuck the ball and run, he actually keeps his eyes downfield and moves around to buy time to make a pass. 

Just to hopefully eliminate any and all confusion going forward:
 
January 29 - Collaros released by Toronto.
January 30 - Collaros signs with Hamilton
January 30 - Burris released by Hamilton
February 4 - Burris signs with Ottawa
February 6 - Winnipeg trades for Willy's negotiating rights ahead of the February 15 free agency period
 
Not only were these 3 QBs not available at the same time, not even 2 of them were available at the same time.  They were pursued in the chronological order they came available, not in order of preference.
 
For some people to assume that Burris being released was obvious months ahead of it happening and was "the Bomber's second choice" is absurd.  Burris was property of Hamilton up until the moment they signed Collaros and chose to release Burris.  For the people who assume the Bombers would have ignored Collaros and Burris if Willy was their first choice, that is absurd.  That would be terrible management.  Willy re-signing with Saskatchewan or going to another team was always a possibility, and one that the Bombers had no control over.  For the Bombers to have done anything other than what they did would have been an offence worthy of Walters' unemployment.
 
That is not to say that it may not also have been in order of preference; only the Bomber braintrust will ever know for certain.
 
My take is that the Bombers wanted 2 of these guys and their preference was one of them to be Willy.  Burris' $ ask made that impossible.

If it's true then WOW.  Did not see that coming.  Banks has done everything you want from a vet since they signed him.  Sounds like Wally was right yet again.  I can't see any team giving up anything for Banks.  Too bad about the signing bonus.  That's gone for good.  Don't care about losing Kito.  He wasn't producing anyway.

I love this move. Leadership is literally the only thing that Banks gives us at this point. I don't want Sears off the field and frankly, Dunn is better than him at this point. I suppose injury "depth" is nice to have but would he want to be in that role? Doubtful.

Chalk this one up as an "oops" if this is true and we can't get anything for him. Poblah & the cash are sunken costs though, so we can't keep him just b/c of what he cost us.

So much to love from this game.  Offense has schemes that look solid.  Put Willy in position to succeed often.  The defense was more impressive than I thought it would be.  Lots of speed, and really loved Leggett out there.  A few missed tackles so hopefully we can get past those.  Special teams was solid but coverage was iffy.  O'Shea is going to despise that 13-man call and the big returns.
 
Post game highlight: "Glenn Suitor is wrong" - Mike O'Shea (referring to Banks' injury vs healthy scratch)
 
At the very least there is a lot to indicate we are in for a fun season.  It will still have a lot of bumps and falls, but it should be exciting to see this team grow and develop.
 
Its been a long time since I've wanted someone to succeed for the Bombers on not only a professional level, but personal as well.  I find myself rooting for O'Shea now both because he is the head coach of my favourite team, but also because I just want the guy to do well.

Not sure why people continue to claim that Willy was the third choice for the Bombers out of the three available quarterbacks. Collaros and Burris were pursued first because they were available first. It was well publicized that ideally we wanted both Willy and Burris but obviously that didn't pan out with the ridiculous contract he signed in Ottawa. The team is on record as saying Willy is the player they coveted most. No it's not because he's the one we ended up with but rather because he is simply the best quarterback of the three (what a novel concept), and I would have said that before last night as well without hesitation.

He looked really composed tonight, very accurate and showed good decision making.  From my vantage point up top it looked like the one big error was staring down the receiver on his pick.  Seemed to feel the pressure well.  I'm excited.  It is one game though.  I just want to see continual growth. Contrary to what the fans in the bathrooms were shouting, I will not buy my Grey Cup ticket yet.

That was definitely a game plan put together for Burke's defence, and with not a lot of pressure on the QB from the front four, that defence collapses and is prone to getting burned by the deep ball, or any ball really with no pressure.  
 
Even the turnover was a good play for the Bombers.  Essentially a 45 yard punt, and also a 50-50 INT/Denmark catch for touchdown ball.
 
Toronto's offence was off-balance all night, Ray had no idea where to go with the ball from what the D showed pre-snap, leading to a lot of double-clutching and settling for 2 yard passes with a defender coming downhill at the guy catching the ball, when our defence got to the ball and didn't let Owens, Durie or Chiles get any YAC, they had nothing.  One might wonder why the Argos didn't try to establish any kind of run game, even though they got behind early, there was lots of time and they completely abandoned the run.  The Argos had a terrible night, penalties like crazy, a couple of their DB's looked terrible in man coverage, #4 especially.  Even on a lot of the deep bals the Bombers completed, he could have easily and probably should have been flagged for PI.
 
It's nice having a quarterback with an arm and a brain, who isn't getting scraped off the turf whenever he gets hit.

What a great game to watch if your a Bomber fan!  
 
Opening drive of the season's a TD.  When was the last time we did that?
Willy had time.  Threw some great balls.  Looked more like Ray than Ray.  Only blemish was the Int.
Etch's defense looked spectacular tonight.  I don't think it will last game to game, but it sure was great to see tonight.
Kelly had a career night.  Looked way better than I and many others thought he would.
Got the breaks and Toronto took way too many penalties.
Toronto's noname DB's looked horrible.  Mistake after mistake.
Our receivers look a lot better when the QB can get them the ball in stride.
 
Best I've felt about a Bomber game in years.  Great job by all involved.

I haven't seen an ass whuppin' like this at home since Tom Clements was our qb & Willard Reaves was tearing it up for 1,600 yards a season back in the mid 80's. Looooooooong time comin'. And against Ray & Millanovich. Priceless.

I felt kinda bad for him (not really). Problem here though wasn't the 'scheme', but the execution (not player execution). He's got  a lot of new players there and no one expected much (especially Burke). But......... TONE TONE TONE. Remember last year, on Our Bombers - I freaked first on the two loser QB's we brought in, then I freaked on our exhibition games. I mean, first game we went over half field what, three times? Getting ONE field goal - against backups and training camp fodder. Then the following week, before the game the exulted (eh unknown poster) Tim Burke boasts to the media how in the Hamilton game we'll be whipped. 52 to 0 in an exhibition match is a joke. Nice tone to set sir!
 
So lets fast forward to this year - what was/has/is Mike O'Shea saying? Any concerns? NO . Who's starting? THEY'RE ALL STARTERS. What's keeping you up at night? NOTHING
Tim Burke
"Our defense is a work in progress?" 

Tell me - who would you go to the wall for? Who inspires confidence in you? So yes, a lot of new players. Bombers have a lot of new players. The coach (and coordinators) are paid to 'lead' them. Burke leads his players to the bus, and puts them under it. And that's what we saw tonight - a defense who didn't believe in themselves because their coach doesn't. You need to remember people, the guys you see on the field - they have been playing ball all their lives. These aren't guys off the street. They need organisation and leadership first and foremost. If they don't have that - they don't stand a chance no matter how talented they are. 
 
On the flip side, we saw a confident group of Bomber players who even when something bad happened (like the Willy INT) they bounced right back. 
 
So Tim Burke, you got exactly what you deserved tonight, just like you got exactly what you deserved last year. 

Assuming he actually wanted the job.....

I feel sorry for Tim Burke. It is clear that Toronto has not provided him with the talent he needs.

I'm more unsure than ever.

don't.
 
this is the dawn of the rebuild that the Bombers should have begun several years ago. the Wade/Kyle/Osh thing needs a year to gain traction and momentum. yeah, i know you've heard that refrain several times over the last 2 decades... and that the emotional stamina required to willingly get on the same roller coaster that has made you nauseous over and over is immense (i am a Leaf fan after all)... but the aggregate of the Bomber's moves since Miller came on board (and put Walters in place, and hired O'Shea and allowed him to have a dozen other coaches) has got to have you looking at the team's trajectory and believing in it. (heck... i do)