1 hour ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

It does but the Riders are the team to beat in the West until someone else does. Watch out for the Lions. That passing offense is going to be something.

Lions gotta be the team to beat.

4 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Bruce deserved more. That's an insult. But it's the best he's going to get.

No amount of money is going to restore a quality of life to him.

Winnipegger Tachinski gets shot as receiver with Bombers

Paul Friesen

Jackson Tachinski walked onto the field at Blue Bomber training camp on Tuesday and recalled his greatest moment as the quarterback of the University of Manitoba Bisons.

“I broke my passing record and we beat Calgary in a shootout. I think it was like 35-31, or something like that,” the 24-year-old Winnipegger recalled. “That's definitely one of my favourite games here. That'd be my last game as a Bison, and having that kind of epic comeback and epic ending, that definitely stands out to me.”

What stands out watching Tachinski these days: he's a receiver.

The transition began at last year's CFL combine, when somebody suggested he try it.

“Obviously not every quarterback wants to hear that,” he said. “But I try to put my ego aside. These coaches want the best for you. They're really smart. So I just believed in them and I took a shot.”

As out of place as Tachinski first felt, there was something very much in place, too.

At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, he definitely had the size. But there was more: a knack for making plays.

“I hadn't done it before,” he said. “And I made a few plays. So they just said that I could probably flourish at that spot in my pro career.”

With that, he officially traded his arm for a set of hands at Edmonton's training camp last year.

Returning to quarterback the Bisons in one final U Sports season, he left that position behind for good, it seems, for another shot with the Elks this spring.

When they cut him loose, the Bombers pounced.

“He's a hell of an athlete,” head coach Mike O'Shea said. “We get the benefit of knowing him personally and having him been here before. He's a great add. He obviously can still sling the ball, too. He gives you a couple different things you can look at. He's a great kid. A hardworking guy.”

And a guy thrilled to get a shot on a field and in a city that feels like home.

“It's awesome,” Tachinski said. “It's really cool to be here. Hometown team, hometown stadium... just a blessing. Obviously it sucks to get cut. But at the end of the day you've got to have a positive outlook on it. And I just saw it as a door closing but another one's going to open. So I'm happy this one opened.”

Entering the Bombers locker-room on Tuesday, he felt even more at home, running into former Bisons teammates Collin Kornelson and Kaleb Mackie-McLeod, the latter also just signed by Winnipeg.

There was also Bisons quarterback Cole Anseewu, taking part in the same internship program that Tachinski participated in a couple years back.

“It's cool just being with them again,” Tachinski said. “Because you play that last game with them and in the back of your head you're thinking I'm never going to play football with these guys again. And you walk in the locker-room and you see them and you're like, 'Oh, maybe I was wrong.'”

Where this will lead, who knows?

As a receiver, Tachinski is already miles ahead of that first day at the combine. Back then he actually had to think about his steps while running a route.

“I was literally thinking about my footwork in the route, like right-left-right, or left-right-left,” he said. “That's probably the biggest difference, is I'm not really thinking about my technique but I'm more thinking about the stuff around me.”

Stuff like what the defence is doing, and where he is in the quarterback's progressions: the first, second, third or fourth read.

Being the guy at the other end of those those throws for so long gives Tachinski a perspective other receivers don't have.

His brother was a university receiver, too, so he's helped.

The only thing he felt out of place about on Tuesday was the play book. But he was going to dive into that at night, come back on Wednesday and start showing he can not just handle the physical stuff, but initiate it.

While he marvels at some of the Canadian quarterbacks in the CFL today, including Winnipeg rookie Taylor Elgersma, who's trying to become the next one, Tachinski is set on his new path, undeterred by the switch he had to make to continue playing the game he loves.

“I'll literally do whatever the coaches want,” he said. “Because I love being part of this atmosphere, being part of a football locker-room and working with those coaches. I can't really describe it. It's a different feeling that people wouldn't know about. And I just want to be part of that. I love the camaraderie. I love just being with those people, and just working out every day.

“That's something that really draws me to it.”

2 hours ago, Stickem said:

  2 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

WhatThe plan of hoping and praying that Schoen can make a miracle return to improve our WR room seems sadly likely.

From what I have heard, Fredrickson has all the tools, but needs polishing. May he will be the next Shoen, but younger and more durable.

Winnipeg Blue Bomber CHATTER 🏈

Brad H. Arrison  ·   ·

Above and beyond: Blue Bombers’ hopeful gives new life to six-year-old stranger

Paul Friesen

Growing up in Tucson, Ariz., Stevie Rocker, Jr., never thought he’d be playing college football in Montana or trying out for a pro team in Manitoba.

Those are mere footnotes compared to the impact the Winnipeg Blue Bombers hopeful is having on a young boy in Argentina.

Just over a year ago, the 23-year-old running back donated bone marrow to save the life of a kid he’s never met.

“I was told I was helping a kid who had a really bad bone problem, and I’m pretty much his last hope,” Rocker said in a chat with the Winnipeg Sun on Monday. “If nothing goes through, he’s going to have to live in a hospital for the rest of his life, which wasn’t very long.”

Rocker had signed up for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) at the University of Montana.

It began with a simple cheek swab, putting him into a database that connects him with potential matches. A blood test to find a true match was next.

“Ninety percent of people, when they do it, they’re blood (stem cell) donations,” he said. “And blood donations for older people. So you expect that when you’re going in. But they were telling me, ‘You’re part of the 10 percent. You’re doing a bone-marrow donation.”

That meant more of a surgical procedure, being put under instead of simply being hooked up to an IV.

After completing reams of paperwork and having more blood drawn, Rocker and his girlfriend flew to Kansas City, where he had more blood draws the day before hitting the operating table.

Doctors were to drill into and extract the marrow from the hip bones in his lower back.

“They were telling me it was a 30- to 45-minute procedure,” he recalled. “And it ended up being two-and-a-half hours. Because they didn’t know that I was an athlete, my bone density is a little harder. So it took a lot longer for them to drill into the back.”

Rocker will never forget the date: April 26.

The pain – he compared it to being hit in the back without pads on – went away in a week or two.

The feeling in his heart isn’t going anywhere.

“This kid’s six years old,” Rocker said. “He hasn’t really had a chance to even see the world, have an opportunity to even live out his own dreams. I play football. I’ll deal with the back pain if it’s a chance to give this kid an opportunity to live, have a life, and not worry about having procedures and being in the hospital.

“Just an opportunity for him and his family to be together and get out of there.”

So far, the only thing Rocker knows about the boy is his age and that he’s from Argentina. He may eventually be told a little more.

“That’s all I’m hoping,” he said. “Just one day, I can at least reach out just to know they’re doing alright.”

Meeting his donor recipient would be the ultimate.

As for living his own dream, Rocker got that call four days before the Bombers opened rookie camp.

He knew the Canadian game had bigger end zones with goal posts in the front and an extra man on the field, and that was about it.

He was as naive about the country in general.

“When I was leaving Arizona, we were in the 90s already,” he said. “I come out here and I seen snow the first day of rookie camp. I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ Canada was something I always thought would be a visiting destination, not a place I’d end up living for a while.”

Rocker not only survived the three-day rookie camp, but he also hit Day 9 of main camp on Monday.

“And here I am. It’s an awesome opportunity,” he said. “Just feeling appreciated, knowing that somebody’s looking at you in a different light.”

Coaches will, of course, be looking to see how good the 6-foot-0, 220-pounder is as a running back, receiver, blocker and potential special-teams player.

Hearing his backstory, they’ll immediately get a handle on him as a person.

“We try to fill our room with good people,” head coach Mike O’Shea said. “That would obviously be the sign of being a great person.”

Asked about the origin of his willingness to go the extra mile to help someone he doesn’t even know, Rocker pointed to his upbringing in Tucson.

“You just learn about being kind to people in general,” is how he put it. “God always gives you an opportunity just to show the kind of person you are, regardless of how big or small. You never want to pass up that opportunity, because you never know how that’ll reach somebody else.

“Saying my story may reach out to somebody else who’s on the fence of wanting to do it.”

Rocker would love nothing more than to make this team and get to know Winnipeg a little better. He likes the little taste he’s had.

If he’s cut, though, he’ll take some invaluable things with him, like lessons he’s already learned from star tailback Brady Oliveira, along with tips from other players and coaches.

Something else he carries with him wherever he goes is a reminder of the selfless decision he made, an act he’ll hold closer to his heart than any football.

“I’ve got two little scars on my back,” he said. “I’ll have those forever.”

Oy! Looks like we are down to scraping the bottom of the barrel again. Barring more injuries, we look to be ok but not dominant in the NI category. Anyone have Kamau Peterson's phone number?

4 hours ago, Mike said:

It’s starting to feel like, a week in, it’s business as usual and we haven’t learned much. Still looks like we’re getting ready to trot out 8-9 Canadians for no reason and value experience above everything. It’s hard for these rookie Americans to get experience because irs a revolving door for them by design - we don’t give them experience and then fault them for not having experience.

There’s genuinely no reason someone like Gavin Cobb or Joey Corcoran should be taking meaningful reps with the first team at this point in camp. If you can’t find an American rookie that can perform better than 2* Canadian prospects, what’s the scouting department even doing? And the lot default “they’re all starters and the Canadian provides roster flexibility” thing is so hollow, we don’t need the flexibility. We don’t even use the flexibility we currently give ourselves.

Because O'Shea.

2 hours ago, 17to85 said:

I don't get that from him to be honest... when he's had to play rookies before it's been no problem. With Osh it's more of a "once you have secured your spot you don't lose it" kind of thing.

From what I could see, much of O'Shea's success was in the talent Walters handed to him, but in the last 2-3 years, it seems that Walters backed off and O'Shea had near-total control and the team suffered for it. We don't show who we really are when things are going well- we show our real identities when things around us are really struggling.

12 hours ago, Brandon said:

I could see playing a guy who is "cold" and who has shown flashes of brilliance and trying to let the guy dig himself out of a rut. What annoys me is playing a guy who at best is a "C" level player and who is doing absolutely zilch on the field and refusing to give the next man up a legit chance to shine. O'Shea likes to give the next man up a "chance" on the last drive of the game when we are taking a knee or losing a game that is completely out of reach where the opposition is just dicking around.

This is what concerns me about all the new bodies coming in. I think that if these have been forced onto O'Shea, he will go onto passive- aggressive mode and and put them out in situations where they will have little chance of showing well. Then he can smirk and go into "ahtodeso" routine.

O'Shea's favouritism is not restricted to homegrown players. we have recently has several imports who clearly didn't belong here but were kept around- a certain Marine being one of them.

1 hour ago, 17to85 said:

My money is on Tony Jones being an untouchable lock at MLB and the other spot Wilson with a chance Santos l halper beats him out...

1 hour ago, 17to85 said:

My money is on Tony Jones being an untouchable lock at MLB and the other spot Wilson with a chance Santos l halper beats him out...

I fear you may be right. Jones seems to have become a favourite of O'Shea and we all know what that means.

53 minutes ago, BBlink said:

Loved it when, on the first play, he absolutely trucked the d-back for a few yards, then threw him aside effortlessly and caught the ball.

1 hour ago, johnzo said:

So I was thinking about peak Collaros vs. 1992-1994 Dunigan and for me, it's Zach because peak Zach was much more durable and more clutch. Matty had teams good enough to win Grey Cups, but in 1992 the Calgary D owned him and 1993 he had an Achilles tear.

Thinking about durability, though -- if you look at games before the 2000s, there was very little official protection for the QBs. Pass rushers would routinely torpedo a QB two or three steps after he delivered the ball, no flag. It's astonishing to see some of the hits that old-school QBs would pop up from. So it's kind of a function of the era that makes Zach more durable ... tho Zach doesn't seek contact like Matty did.

Matty paid and is still paying the price.

On 2026-05-05 at 1:15 PM, Booch said:

I would be shocked if the 3 aren't ZC...Wilson and Perkins....as can we really go into the season with ZC and a CIS rookie and a American ..yes with experience but none in the CFL?

That sure be leaving yer arse exposed. Now if Perkins comes in and shows that yes...he can run a CFL offence and looked good doing so, Mayybeee we go ZC...Perkins and Elgersma if Wilson totally craps the bed....But I know we really like Perkins and have been tracking him a while...and really him and Wilson are basically same age and if one is gonna be the future, or even the now if something was to happen god forbid...and Perkins shows he's a legit talent...Then I think Wilson is gonzo...He has to have a amazing brilliant camp and take 2 steps forward from last yr. But Perkins can make more happen with his legs as he's cutting his teeth and in the grand scheme..I think offers more if he shows anything

So long as every QB gets an equal chance to show his stuff, let the chips fall where they may. Wilson has had a decent shot but has not stepped up, so no favours for him.

7 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Main camp opens Sunday, I believe. I just hope it doesn't snow here or in Winnipeg.

Too late! Snow on the ground this morning.

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

These uniforms lasted 1 game :D

IMO: not as ugly in retrospect

2 hours ago, Noeller said:

This is the key. Nobody on this board is the target demo because they've already got us for life (bastards...) But how do you get more of the passive fans on board? The guys who kinda watch CFL but mostly watch NFL...? Try some weird **** and see how it goes.

Winnipeg, and to an extent Saskatchewan, are good working models on how to engage and retain CFL fans.

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

agree 100%. the league needs to be ready to adjust fast out of these changes and pivot. I very much worry that they won’t, but if they do maybe they can make some thing positive out of all this.

How long bad changes will remain would depend on the ego of the commissioner

3 hours ago, wbbfan said:

That is correct. But that also means we need to fill the dime db spot without another DI. Woodbey and the griffin dime spot is gonna be tight on the roster.

Hooper has a very good to chance to be a Hubert type fit.

But does he drive a Trans-Am?

1 minute ago, bigg jay said:

Some roster moves and a minor front office shuffle:

Added to roster:
National defensive lineman Carter Hooper (6-5, 265, South Dakota)
National linebacker Charles-Elliot Bouliane – 2026 CFL Canadian Draft selection
National receiver Joshua Jack – 2026 CFL Canadian Draft selection
National linebacker Brody Clark – 2026 CFL Canadian Draft selection
National tight end Dante Daniels – 2026 CFL Canadian Draft selection

Transferred to Retired:
American running back J.J. Taylor
American offensive lineman Ben Dooley

The club also announces title changes in the team’s personnel department, with Jim Jauch moving to Assistant General Manager, and Danny McManus shifting to Senior Assistant General Manager. Both individuals play crucial roles in scouting for the organization.

Blue Bombers transactions - April 30 - Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Hang down your head, Ben Dooley.

2 hours ago, bigg jay said:

Another great piece from Tait, on Dante Daniels. Hard not to root for a guy like this & it sounds like he'll bring some of the attitude we've been missing.

“My coach always says, ‘You’re one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, but you’re a dickhead on the field,”” Daniels laughed. “On the field, I’m a completely different person."

1st & 10 | Dante Daniels' long road to Winnipeg - Winnipeg Blue Bombers

This is one of the best feelgood stories I have heard in quite a while, and boy, am i gonna root for him to not only make the team but become a star.

Same here. YAAAAY!!

6 hours ago, wpgallday1960 said:

Other than the Daniels trade/pick, Bombers got generally +ve reviews for most of their picks. We’ll see if Cline comes here soon but I’m hopeful. If Daniels is the “**** kicking blocker” Walters claims then maybe I’ll view the pick more +vely than I do now.

The nature of pro sports is what was old gets revived again sooner or later. Daniels, if he pans out, could give the Bombers the old-fashioned tight end who could block on running plays and smoke d-backs on short/screen plays and be a threat as a receiver. A receiver of that size in full flight would cause many clenched sphincters among 170lb defenders.

3 hours ago, wbbfan said:

nuer gatkuoth

Not a testing demon, but he plays faster than he tested. the best player at our biggest position of need. should bring great value as an immediate rotational piece when done in with his nfl look.

He might improve significantly as well if he bulks up to be closer to 250-255

He's hella quick and relentless in pursuit.