blueandgoldguy

The majority of NFL players are fringe players too.  Only 24 starters per team plus some rotational players but there are 53 players dressing for the game and a tonne of practice roster players.  Most of these guys barely see the field or don't see it at all.  Several of these players bounce around for a few years before leaving the game or coming to the CFL to hopefully earn a paycheque.  The younger players they are replaced with are not necessarily better, but there is a hope they will be.  
There is also the question of veteran status that factors into the decision to keep a player.  Once a player reaches a certain number of games or seasons in the NFL, they receive a minimum salary per the collective bargaining agreement.  This can lead to the release of the player for someone younger though not necessarily better.  
 
Remember Derrick Armstrong?  Started his career as an all star with Saskatchewan, went to the NFL and played for Houston for 3 years starting several games.  I think he was a number 4,5,6 receiver for the duration of this stay.  When he was released/not signed was he all of a sudden not good enough to play in the NFL?  Unlikely.  What is more likely is that he reached a point at which, given his veteran NFL status, he would have to be signed to a higher minimum salary.  Houston and other NFL teams chose not to sign him in favour of younger players with perceived higher upside and cheaper. 
 
Armstrong then had a choice to retire or return to the CFL.  He came here and played 2.5 pretty good seasons, though it should be noted he was not even the #1 receiver on the team despite playing in the greatest league in the world.  
 
The NFL is filled with hundreds of Derrick Armstrongs playing different positions - brief starters, backups, backups to backups, practice roster players.  These make up the majority of players...in and out of the NFL within a few years.  Most of these are comparable to the typical CFL player.
 

The majority of NFL players are fringe players too.  Only 24 starters per team plus some rotational players but there are 53 players dressing for the game and a tonne of practice roster players.  Most of these guys barely see the field or don't see it at all.  Several of these players bounce around for a few years before leaving the game or coming to the CFL to hopefully earn a paycheque.  The younger players they are replaced with are not necessarily better, but there is a hope they will be.  
There is also the question of veteran status that factors into the decision to keep a player.  Once a player reaches a certain number of games or seasons in the NFL, they receive a minimum salary per the collective bargaining agreement.  This can lead to the release of the player for someone younger though not necessarily better.  
 
Remember Derrick Armstrong?  Started his career as an all star with Saskatchewan, went to the NFL and played for Houston for 3 years starting several games.  I think he was a number 4,5,6 receiver for the duration of this stay.  When he was released/not signed was he all of a sudden not good enough to play in the NFL?  Unlikely.  What is more likely is that he reached a point at which, given his veteran NFL status, he would have to be signed to a higher minimum salary.  Houston and other NFL teams chose not to sign him in favour of younger players with perceived higher upside and cheaper. 
 
Armstrong then had a choice to retire or return to the CFL.  He came here and played 2.5 pretty good seasons, though it should be noted he was not even the #1 receiver on the team despite playing in the greatest league in the world.  
 
The NFL is filled with hundreds of Derrick Armstrongs playing different positions - brief starters, backups, backups to backups, practice roster players.  These make up the majority of players...in and out of the NFL within a few years.  Most of these are comparable to the typical CFL player.
 

I think the Bombers have a family season ticket package and family single game packages that work out to $15 for each child.  That is a pretty good deal.

I think the Bombers have a family season ticket package and family single game packages that work out to $15 for each child.  That is a pretty good deal.

Think teams are starting to realize they have to start being much more affordable. Esk are giving free admission to kids 17 and under.
 

If Collaros played we would have scored 45 points and won the game!!!
-Riderfans

If Collaros played we would have scored 45 points and won the game!!!
-Riderfans

If Collaros played we would have scored 45 points and won the game!!!
-Riderfans

If Collaros played we would have scored 45 points and won the game!!!
-Riderfans

If Collaros played we would have scored 45 points and won the game!!!
-Riderfans

If Collaros played we would have scored 45 points and won the game!!!
-Riderfans

Nichols' play the last season+ probably is playing a role in lower than expected attendance.  Barely any games over 27,000 last season despite the team making the playoffs and having a combined record 10 games over .500 in 2016 and 2017 - the previous two seasons..  People were losing faith last year as to whether he could win a playoff game let alone the Grey Cup.  Things reached a crisis point at the Banjo Bowl.  Fortunately for Nichols, the defense, special teams, o-line and Andrew Harris picked up the slack for his mediocre play in the final third of 2018.  Basically Nichols managed most games.  Rarely, if ever, did we have a game in which Nichols was great.  Not what the fans like to see in a nearly $500K QB.

God has invoked the "mercy rule" for the Argos.

Nichols' play the last season+ probably is playing a role in lower than expected attendance.  Barely any games over 27,000 last season despite the team making the playoffs and having a combined record 10 games over .500 in 2016 and 2017 - the previous two seasons..  People were losing faith last year as to whether he could win a playoff game let alone the Grey Cup.  Things reached a crisis point at the Banjo Bowl.  Fortunately for Nichols, the defense, special teams, o-line and Andrew Harris picked up the slack for his mediocre play in the final third of 2018.  Basically Nichols managed most games.  Rarely, if ever, did we have a game in which Nichols was great.  Not what the fans like to see in a nearly $500K QB.

The first team to win a regular season game at the New Mosaic Field: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The first team to win a playoff game at the New Mosaic Field: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Forever a part of history.

Nichols' play the last season+ probably is playing a role in lower than expected attendance.  Barely any games over 27,000 last season despite the team making the playoffs and having a combined record 10 games over .500 in 2016 and 2017 - the previous two seasons..  People were losing faith last year as to whether he could win a playoff game let alone the Grey Cup.  Things reached a crisis point at the Banjo Bowl.  Fortunately for Nichols, the defense, special teams, o-line and Andrew Harris picked up the slack for his mediocre play in the final third of 2018.  Basically Nichols managed most games.  Rarely, if ever, did we have a game in which Nichols was great.  Not what the fans like to see in a nearly $500K QB.

Nichols' play the last season+ probably is playing a role in lower than expected attendance.  Barely any games over 27,000 last season despite the team making the playoffs and having a combined record 10 games over .500 in 2016 and 2017 - the previous two seasons..  People were losing faith last year as to whether he could win a playoff game let alone the Grey Cup.  Things reached a crisis point at the Banjo Bowl.  Fortunately for Nichols, the defense, special teams, o-line and Andrew Harris picked up the slack for his mediocre play in the final third of 2018.  Basically Nichols managed most games.  Rarely, if ever, did we have a game in which Nichols was great.  Not what the fans like to see in a nearly $500K QB.

You’re making false equivalencies. 

Mitchell, Reilly, Masoli, Harris

Absolutely. Bad gameplan, without a doubt. And Lapo never strays from his plan which is his second worst quality behind the way he calls a game with a two touchdown lead. However, there were plays to be made in that game and Nichols completed 46% of his passes  on 32 throws. That’s pathetic and not on Lapo. Guarantee you that having Nichols as his QB makes Lapo terrified to make a gameplan that doesn’t heavily feature Harris. 

Is anybody saying wins are a bad thing? Obviously not.  Winning is always good.
But if Nichols' play does not improve then the Bombers won't keep winning - or rather, at least not win the most important games.  The Bombers are a really well built team and look like they'll be in contention late in the season. They'll win games and have won plenty the past few years. They have obviously been a very successful organization that just hasn't been able to break through for the big one. They need the QB play elevated for that to happen, in my opinion.

It's statements like this that I have a problem with.... "He" took us to the Western Finals??  No.... that win in Regina was a lot of good defensive play, and adequate offensive production against a team that couldn't put up any points.   What did "He" proceed to do in the Western Final??  Have about 75 yards passing through 3 quarters of play, and show that when the chips are on the table, he couldn't get it done. 

I'm talking strictly about Nichols play over the last 1  1/2 + seasons now.... not team play.  There is nothing wrong with the team play.  I just feel that this team isn't going to reach it's full potential with Nichols behind centre if he continues the way he's been playing the last 30 or so games.

The differences in fan viewpoints in my opinion are just linked to how we interpret the process leading to a result. You can get a good result from a bad process, which is what happened on Thursday, when we are discussing Nichols.
Wins are always good, but how you get there matters.  Nichols had a few really great throws and then a bunch of awful ones. If Lucky Whitehead isn't the fastest person on the field, the Bombers likely lose and Nichols' stats are even worse. The idea that Nichols and Whitehead share equal credit for Whitehead's second TD, for example, is why advanced stats have made such a big impact in the NFL - we know which player deserved more credit on that play.  
In a league where offensive success is so closely linked to victory, it should be concerning that Nichols and the offense struggled to find consistency. I don't think this is really that unreasonable. You should be able to both praise and criticize the team after wins and losses, not just saving the positivity for good outcomes and negativity for bad ones.

I think Nichols would of helped his image had he been able to put together a few drives in the 4th quarter and if he wasn't so easy to turtle up and shut down with the slightest pressure.