[Bye Week Thread: Complacency, Budget & Leadership,]

12 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Of course, the Bombers are dealing with the salary cap. Every team is. Why do you think 5 teams were over the cap last season? The cap needs to be higher. It's going up by 100,000 next season. Every year players want raises. Inflation eats up just about all of that. So, rosters are constantly in flux with players moving everywhere.

It's not just about Lawler. Chris Jones signed him for over $300,000 in 2022. He did the same with Eugene Lewis this past off season so that's what the market now pays. . What about teams overpaying Canadian OL beginning with what Ottawa is paying Desjarlais? Thanks to contracts to Zach Collaros & now Chad Kelly, elite CFL qbs will now make anywhere from $550-650,000. Dalton Schoen will want similar money to Lawler & Lewis. He'd be right in asking.

But do you actually think the league will do anything about rapidly rising salaries & a salary cap that is now too small?? Like raising the salary cap by a million dollars? Or allowing teams to sign one player like an elite qb to a separate contract outside of the salary cap so that a significant amount of salary isn't eating up the cap? Thus making it harder to sign other stars & keep them from moving to another team?  The league wil do nothing. The salary cap numbers are embedded into the Collective Agreement. To do so, would mean having to open up negotiations with the Players Association again which the BOG's don't want to do. Ambrosie is going around telling everyone that the league finally has long term stability with the Players. Opening up the Agreement would affect that stability. Not happening.

The Coaches & Management Cap is a real negative. Another dumb idea brought in & foisted on teams by Randy Ambrosie & the BOG's. trying to cheap out in this area negatively affects teams in so many ways. But it looks like the Cap isn't going away, unfortunately. So, being tired is just part of the job. Coaches & administraors will just have to get used to it. 

:"The Coaches & Management Cap is a real negative. "

it needs to change more than anything except maybe refereeing budget

 

[Bye Week Thread: Complacency, Budget & Leadership,]

BUDGET

Mike said " There are simply adjustments that aren’t being made and something needs to be done about it. We need the staff to have a long, hard look at what happens within their offices because I see so many deficiencies that are coming directly from our coaching staff. There’s not much that they’re doing right now that I care for - the preparation, execution and player management is all leaving a ton to be desired and they’re smart enough to realize it. How are they going to address it? "

One of the problems is Lawlers huge salary - - is it not somewheres around $200,000? With the league's new Chris Jones rules coaches and other support staff are included in the salary-cap. We could use additional help in the form of more positional coaches or better technical work in terms of film breakdown and other matters that the coaches are having to do themselves. They already worked night and day and having to do "your own typing" eventually wears them down. They can easily lose the ir sharpness over such tiny things.

I do believe budget is a real issue for the Blue right now. It's kind of lopsided at the moment and we just don't have the usual behind the scenes people that we hired so readily in yesteryear. I don't know this; I am just noticing and making an educated guess.

The league has to deal with its insane salary-cap on non-players. Will Miller step up?

[Bye Week Thread: Complacency, Budget & Leadership,]

16 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Well that explains why your takes are so poor. You can't see what the **** is going on.

thats very true ... I might as well be watching the radio

[Bye Week Thread: Complacency, Budget & Leadership,]

Budget

 

I am guessing that we do not have a budget problem but it sure feels that we do, sometimes. I  remember earlier in the season we were all clambering for the team to bring in another high-end defensive linemen or at least an experienced veteran. Ed Lemon was available for quite some time. But no moves. Was he too expensive or was it something about the next man up mentality?

in the past Kyle Walters has come up with key trades and also brought in a few good players midseason. We have passed the NFL cutdown date. Yes a lot of things have changed so signing some of these cuts is harder. Nonetheless there are still plenty of them and it seems our scouting team is able to identify who we really want.

Yes and I know it takes a while to fit in to a new   playbook and learn what your teammates are doing. But at least we could have them ready for next man up.

We brought in a new kick/punt returner. Would he be immediately ready? All that Parker did was catch the ball and go  two or three steps forward. Almost any competent returner could do that. A newbie could be instructed to do that and to keep his powder dry for the first game or t wo. Special-teams was a difference maker yesterday.

Do we  have the will to make key personnel changes?

Are we unwilling to experiment a little?

It is our our budget too tight to do what needs to be done?

Or is it pride: that we will not take a player from another organization because we “grow everything our own around here”?

Is anyone vetoing what Mr. Walters is trying to do?

Do we really have the will to be champion again?

BTW for those who asked I use a large font because my eyesight has become so poor. I will font it down.

[Bye Week Thread: Complacency, Budget & Leadership,]

 Leadership

 

One of the hugest problems  great leaders have is trying to duplicate past successes. If it worked then it will work even better now.

Team culture it seems to me has been the biggest reason we have been such a wonderful team. Everybody has been sacrificing for each other. Everybody has been patiently waiting their “turn”. Roster changes were rare. It was when an injury occurred that you might finally get in. Stick to the season opener lineup and then play  next man up. It really worked wonderfully. But is it still?

The reason it’s so hard to duplicate success is the new situations are seldom the same as the past situations. A true leader will see what has shifted and deploys his army accordingly. The average leader just keeps pounding away at past solutions; he’s not coming up with new deployment schemes specific to his changing personnel. In that case people aren’t always playing to their strengths and are too often being asked to be a square peg in a round hole.

From the beginning of the game yesterday I could tell something was just not right. I do not know what it was but I could feel it very strongly. Has it become “ho-hum, let’s go do it again!” Or is it something else?

I am not questioning anybody’s attitude; it seems praiseworthy. I believe some kind of elephant has just shown up in the parlor…

Who is in charge of the diagnosis?

[Bye Week Thread: Complacency, Budget & Leadership,]

Complacency

I  started my post last week by saying the Bombers were professionals. They would get it done. It was other things I was worried about. I still feel that way. And, we are good. What I am saying is that some of the players are trying to do too much, especially our leaders. We get people criticizing Biggie for losing a step but I really feel like he is trying to compensate for under skilled players around him like at linebacker and defensive end. It’s like that with certain other players trying to do too much.

On the other side of the ball, many of our opponents are preparing for the Brady Oliveira show by scheming with some kind of fill the box positioning patterns. Yesterday, Hamilton did something very specific and it kept Brady well under 100 yards

Why do we not regularly game plan to take advantage of the expected fill the box defenses that we see so often. Counter plays and receiver reverses seem to have been working very well; but they are salt-and-pepper not the main course. There must be a whole set of receiving patterns that would take advantage of these lopsided defensive schemes.

Is it our coaches relying on our big boys are better than your big boys? Is strategy not all about detecting the enemy’s weaknesses and running the whole army through it? I remember Lapo too often running straight up the middle into the teeth of that tight box.

Why can’t Richie  Hall have a surprise attack early in the game. Why does he stick to plain-vanilla and stick to it tightly  before deciding what adjustments to make? We seem to be stuck on bend don't break. Then the defensive calls change as they get near the red zone. That has been working. Yesterday it did not work at all.

Special teams: who is our special teams coordinator? I never hear his name. Is it still Michael O’Shea? Is this not were we should see his pride bursting out? Yes we might have a trick player or two.  But it looks like special teams has become the most problematic part of our game. What is Moss doing about it?

 

[Bye Week Thread: Complacency, Budget & Leadership,]

 

Remember Swaggerville?

I think that was the most fun year for me, ever, watching our Big Blue. I don’t think we’ve ever come close to duplicating that kind of magnitude on defence. It spread to the whole team, all three phases of the game: special-teams and   offense’s rose to the occasion game after game but it was the talent and special pride on defence that carried the day, week after week after week.

Any idea why we could not get that back now or in the near future?

[Bombers at Ticats early chat]

14 hours ago, Booch said:

"throwing a guy out there for "defensive coverage" and throwing a guy out there who actually belongs out there are 2 different things...have you not watched his defensive coverage? it's brutal for the pro level ... and not to burst bubbles...but jumbo packages and lead blocks are not hard to plug and play guys into...sorry..... its just an utter waste"|

 

So Booch you obviously don't think Jackson is a Martey McSorley guarding Wayne Gretsky ... you think that whatever character/leadership ability he has  is completely negated by a tiny lack of football skill and experience

You have obviously thought about this personnel decision an amazing amount ... what do you imagine is behind MOS's reasoning and gut hunch? We know O'sShea is the opposite of incompetent... can you speculate on MOS's whys and wherefores?

 

 

[Bombers at Ticats early chat]

19 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Oh puh-lease...pulling out the victim card now? You sat on a Bomber forum and called the team a bunch of wussies for not reacting to violence with violence. Then when members disagreed with your take you went onto some weird tangent about how you were concerned about player safety and that is why they should bash each others heads in..so it will stop. 

When that remarkably twisted logic went over like a lead balloon, you tried to appoint yourself the forum leader and lectured us all on how we can be better..presumably by not disagreeing with your far out takes. That even came complete with your resume attached.

That was followed by me calling your entire approach horseshit. Too harsh..maybe..insulting...probably. DESERVED..hell yea. Put on your big boy pants if you are going to come on here to lecture us on how we could be better. I'm not here to honor your opinion, I will respect it when it starts making sense.

just can't stop can you?

[Bombers at Ticats early chat]

On 2023-09-13 at 7:38 AM, GCn20 said:

You think getting mad on a football forum is getting the league's attention and you think WE are taking ourselves a little too seriously? Nope just you. I'm all for lightening things up, but we are happy the way we are here and don't share your sentiment that we need improvement. Thanks, for the end run of condescension though. Sometimes you should read what you type before you hit post and ask yourself, "Am I coming off like a ******?" Just a suggestion.

Last week you were on here making outlandish complaints about the Bombers showing discipline and not starting a bench clearing brawl. You were widely criticized for your take. This week, you suggestion is that this forum and it's members need attitude adjustments and fixing. 

You didn't need to post your autobiography, we already knew who you were based on your commentary thus far.

"You think getting mad on a football forum is getting the league's attention"

I do not think that any more than you do ... When I want to give  them feedback I write them ... I have done this a bunch and a number of times they have modified what they do ... it takes time and usually its no sooner than the league meetings the next spring ... what I want is some allies who share my views ... much insight can be gained and helps me modify my opinion ... I end up with a stronger more accurate position

"taking ourselves a little too seriously?" yes, when a person is attacked instead of the viewpoint presented ... the latter leads to neat discussion, the former is destructive

"Just a suggestion." not after what you just said assertively and insultingly ... the opposite of respect

"not starting a bench clearing brawl": I believe such a brawl would have led to an  immediate league crisis and eventual action to diligently protect our QBs ... such a brawl would have gone viral and league leaders would have to take the right action per force ... foot dragging would be over

I would sacrifice the game in order to achieve QB safety... they make up the biggest cost in the budget ... just a reality of a low-ish salary cap ... our team needs Collaros healthy if we want to win the Grey Cup ... Brown would be a big letdown

To fill our stadiums we need to keep the franchise players upright .... our current policies shoot ourselves in the foot ... concerts sell out because of a high quality product

"members need attitude adjustments and fixing" ... yes some few do ... they go looking for a verbal fistfight that they think they can win by bullying and judging peers unworthy of any opinion not theirs

these fistfights is the reason we are a good site but not a great site .... respect leads to excellent discussion and eventually the best opinions and perhaps the truth of the matter

"we already knew who you were" ... speak for your self ... you might guess at the opinion of a few but I highly doubt you the minds of all the posters and all the readers

Be responsible for your self - make an "I" statement and show who you are

The lost comment was an outright attack, inflamatory and unbridled ... so do not lecture about self discipline, whether the Bombers or your own

the site is not an emotional dumping ground

If there was a little more consideration and respect, a little more disagreeing without being disagreeable, then we would see participation grow ... more people feeling safe enough to express their opinion

the words being exchanged on page 4 is why I decided to post this .... its awful

so (1) arguing and bully-trolling or (2) opinion debate & fact finding in an encouraging way ... its our collective and individual choice

 

[Bombers at Ticats early chat]

31 minutes ago, Wanna-B-Fanboy said:

Said everyone  when you first started posting!

 

😀

That eas a very long time ago

[Bombers at Ticats early chat]

2 hours ago, Pepper_Brooks said:

What is the meaning behind this madness? Who are you?

Thank you Pepper_Brooks.

 I also want to think Kelowna for posting Jamie Nye’s prediction “But can I mention what happened last year following the Bombers putting the boots to the Roughriders in the LD Weekend Rematch? They went into Hamilton and had an emotional let down. Last week was highly emotional for the Bombers. A lot of carry over from the Labour Day Classic against Saskatchewan and I’m curious to see if we see a repeat emotional let down.”

 I was unaware of this forecast when I posted my comment earlier. I am in total disagreement with Nye. In fact, I was just trying to say in a joking manner the total opposite. If being satirical is “madness” I am sorry.

 I was just amused at how this site has gone from (1) absolute handwringing after losing on  the head-but on our MOP, to (2) complete exuberance after our blowup victory in the Banjo Bowl. I find it funny at the shifts in human behaviour as we go from emotional highs to lows.

As to who I am, I started attending Blue Bomber games in 1961 when I was eight years old. My whole family are Bomber freaks; it is the main way that I related to my dad and now to my brothers and sisters. There was no stronger flag waiver than my mother.

 I came over to Morning Big Blue when it migrated from another Bomber hosting site. I was a frequent poster in those days. In my comments I sang everything Blue. These days however I am just too busy with business.

 I’ve spent the bulk of my career managing high-risk money, directly and indirectly. In fact I spent six of my 12 years with the Bank of Montréal as a Senior VP managing tens of millions of dollars. I later moved on to consulting and organizational health. I have also done lots of recruiting. Right now I am teaching people how not to lose their shirts in the stock market. That is vital work, protecting people's life time savings and pensions.

 I have seven years of University in various types of applied psychology. I have an MBA in leadership and a doctoral certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. So I do have a little background for what I do, say & write... (I also have an eyesight problem which is why am given to bigger fonts)

 I am a very strong believer in the CFL and the possibility of it becoming a great niche for the Canadian sports mind. I really want to see it blossom and prosper. I do think it can be done if we do the right things and those things are not that hard.

 I was over the top last week on the head-but. I do not apologize for that. I would like to get someone’s attention about the need to better protect the quality of our game in the form of our most valuable assets, our quarterbacks. Without our starting QB’s the quality of the on-field product is totally compromised for the fans. The NFL has done a decent job of protecting its quarterbacks; I think we can do better than that. I just want to do what I can to shake us out of our lethargy of accepting the status quo without thought. If I have to get a little dramatic, so be it. I would like to get the league’s attention.

 As to my “madness” satire, I was just trying to express my sense of humour. And excuse me if I want to mock TSN a little bit. I love the passion on the site but I also think we might be taking  ourselves a little bit too seriously. So forgive me if I just wanted to lighten things up, just a touch.

 We have a great group of posters here, probably the best in Canada. But me, I am always looking for improvement and I do think this site can get better.

 So now you know who I am and why I am “mad”.

 

[Bombers at Ticats early chat]

48 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Last week you were telling us the Bombers were a bunch of cowards for not standing up for Collaros. That you wanted blood. Now you're concerned about fans being overconfident?  Fans that don't play the game. You're all over the place. I think the babble you spew hurts your brain. 

or your brain ... why are you so hostile?

I was just being sarcastic ... can you recognize a joke when its made?

[Bombers at Ticats early chat]

I am concerned about overconfidence. After a big victory it's just too easy to do... It's not the players I am concerned about, nor the coaches… They are professionals. They are true blue!

What I'm concerned about is this board. Wild predictions of another easy game… No moans, no groans, no complaints...
I have not heard a single piece of advice given out towards Michael O'Shea. No innuendos about Walters or Miller. No demands about lineup changes... sheesh!

This headi-ness can have very bad results. It can warp the over and under. TSN spies will pass on information so the broadcast on TV will be totally off base. This in turn can warp the Hamilton crowd. And you know what that will lead to: another overtime tie. And it will all be the result of what happens on this board. Come on team, let's get nasty! The outcome of the next game may depend on it...
 

[Banjo Bowl early thread]

17 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

lol you're acting like this is Friday night lights or something lol. That's not the way pro sports work anymore. So you're "Long term" gain is to potentially get one of our starters on O suspended, ON TOP of potentially losing our star QB (at that time, no one knew how bad the injury was/wasn't) for a game against a western rival who is still in the hunt for playoff spot? 

I'm not sure if you're trolling at this point or not, but your points are dumb. You make the kind of points I tell my son complete ******* idiots make. I'm not saying you are either...just that idiots think a lot like you. People who play the game, the way you are suggesting are ******* stupid and usually have a short and mediocre career.

I have said my thing ... Gordo's video from Pascucci says it all and nothing further needs to be said .... just action taken

I have said all I need to say... it takes consensus to bring about real and effective change... so we find the change or we won't

You don't get it and you never will

When you trot out the "troll" word I know its your pride talking and that's a shame ... your judgment has been shown to be excellent judging by your Pick'em score but go mock somebody else ...

people are nearly always guilty of what they accuse another of and that includes trolling  and mocking

[Banjo Bowl early thread]

1 minute ago, Bigblue204 said:

I personally think @BigBlue should go be a real man and walk into Bombers practice and explain to the entire O why they're pansies. Lead by example right?

I have said my thing ... some might want to become Rider fans 

 

7 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

How'd that work out long term for Garrett Marino.   He was feared because he was going to end someone's career not because he had an ounce of talent.

Maybe you should go cheer for the green guys if that's the style of play you are looking for.

You have it exactly backwards but congrats on the hi IQ

[Banjo Bowl early thread]

1 minute ago, bearpants said:

I agree... I think if the game was out of hand, either way... the response would've been much different

Again short term thinking ... I am after the long term gain ... I want to be a team to be feared and not just because of talent ... that might win us the grey cup ... but for now there is not enough pride in our selves

 

[Banjo Bowl early thread]

5 hours ago, MOBomberFan said:

I'd love for you to provide a single example of a football team retaliating against a player that emphasizes your point. Name one instance of a tough guy football team getting their star player messed with, followed by the team retaliating on the field, followed by 'earned respect' or their players otherwise no longer being messed with. Can you do that? I sincerely doubt it. Maybe you'll have to keep referring to an entirely different sport, and a player that retired a quarter-century ago.

Over the years I have seen a number of bench clearing brawls on the sports hilite shows .... but I believe they were mainly all college football games ... If we had a bench clearing brawl last Saturday maybe it would have woke a few people up like the league's governors and the zebras ... maybe the smugness would go away and actual change would be engineered by the powers that govern us ... QB &  player safety would happen immediately ... fan entertainment and not partisan advantage might take the forefront ... other knuckle dragging things might finally be addressed

"a player that retired a quarter-century ago" ... what does age have to do with manliness and being the family/team protector have to do with age? I would rather lose the Grey Cup than see Zach's career end on a cheap shot

Dignity is more important than discipline

Discipline without dignity is harlotry...

And if we had of lost because all 5 of our O-Linemen jumped on Robertson at once, reducing him to an ink spot, this Saturday  would have turned into the greatest most anticipated game of all time in Winnipeg history

[Banjo Bowl early thread]

1 hour ago, Bigblue204 said:

I disagree that it was maybe one of those times. It 100% wasn't. Away game, down a score being put into easy scoring position is never the time to take a penalty.

I was watching a montage of the late hits Zach has taken. And a perfect example of a good time to take that kind of penalty and absolutely try to get back at someone was the Simone hit when zach was in SSK. His OLINE should have ripped his head off. Early in the game/season.

Every time I hear or see Simone Lawrence I want to puke. I feel this way about very few players. IF I recall correctly, it was Simone that ended Zach's career with the Riders ... most expected he was done for ever. AND nobody I have seen has come back to "Gordie Howe" Robertson after. So I don't buy the discipline thing, Brady Olivera or not. If we really wanted to make a Robertson statement it should have rallied the Bombers that night .... spurred them on with unbelievable smash mouth football for the rest of the game. I do not know if the Blue was gassed by then [they should not have been] but I would rather have lost with smash mouth and not the wimper the team seemed  to carry on with... the rest of the game should have been all adrenaline- - win or lose ... we will see if pansies in the rematch ... maybe this can shake up the complacency and the grey cup entitlement mentality ... if not everyone takes care of their pocket book in free agency ... right now we will see if we are a team or not

[Banjo Bowl early thread]

1 minute ago, MOBomberFan said:

Channel the anger and frustration into beating the man in front of you and making them regret crossing the line. This is sport, not gang turf, we settle things on the scoreboard. Maybe we should be more like BC and meet them in the parking lot? Maybe we could be like TOR and go fight in the stands?

MOS syndrome? You mean, least penalized team in the league year in year out? Thats not weakness, that's net yardage, that's winning a game of inches. Discipline.

What do you think would happen if your gangster would head but Wayne Gretsky?

Saskatchewan is more aware of Zach's concussion history than any one... Any concussion can be a career ender for Collaros

Least penalized team, outscore them next game, exalt discipline over male protector role = pansy city, a lack of testosterone, and the absence of the right kind of  passion

lethargy is every where on our club, stand-pat  complacency is this year's theme, a total lack of urgency is killing us INSPITE of EXTREME TALENT

Pansy City I say ... its why we do not dominate anymore (unless the loser gives up and capitulates)

I am tired of having to come back from behind to win ... we are going to see talent migrate

 

[Banjo Bowl early thread]

7 hours ago, MOBomberFan said:

Exactly how many yards in retaliation penalties before you're acting like a real man? It's called discipline, something our team prides itself on. Best revenge is laying 50 points on them this weekend

Disagree ... there is time for un-disciplined team pride and support ... like when they go after your key man like your goalie or your QB or your Wayne Gretsky ... your thoughts are MOS syndrome   ... this has nothging to do with discipline

[Banjo Bowl early thread]

I believe the head butt had more impact than any body has stated so far ... how much ? A lot ... it is a confidence thing ... AND the lack of no one ripping apart said offender ... penalties be damned ... if it were the NHL that guy would have to stay off the ice for that and every subsequent game ie if he did not want to go back to the dressing room in a stretcher ... we are acting like pansies

AS to performance by Zach, he has the ghost of injuries past in his head now

Further any head shot is going to have an immediate effect ... the finesse disappears as one goes in to overcome mode

SHEESH !!! &^%$#$#%^&&*(

 

[Kicking ourselves in the bum!]

23 minutes ago, Nolby said:

Bathsalts

too big a bath .... our league can be a lot better fairly quickly

[Kicking ourselves in the bum!]

I never quite understand the CFL's board of governors. They seem overcautious and like to slough off responsibility on the Commissioner, even as they hog-tie him. And now, the new reality is that we live off TSN revenue, so they have a big silent paw in everything...

1. So who really is in charge of the decision-making in our league?

2. When we make up special rules to control Chris Jones having too many coaches, do we think about the subsequent consequences?

Yes the bean counters are trying to stay in control especially as attendance drops. But part of the reason attendance is dropping is the fan experience is not as good because high-quality coaching is no longer affordable. How many decision-makers have clarity on this?

3. What can be fixed immediately is rules application in terms of roughing the passer. The NFL has fixed their problem. We have not. The quality of the game is totally dependent on having the best possible quarterbacks on the field. Why can't our powers-that-be understand that?

Almost every quarter back injury I can think of is mostly coming from aggressive linebackers and "careless" linemen. If our zebras would just constantly throw the flag that would help, a lot. To tickle the quarterback with a feather should be 15 yards, no questions asked and no appeal. Defensive players should be in control as if they were approaching the quarterback in practice wearing that red jersey.

Does that turn us into pansies? You think TSN would be more concerned about high-quality games than occasionally having a highlight reel full of nasty hits on the most important player on the field. We have turned around the big hits on unprotected receivers in the middle of the field. It was just a matter of will.

What should we think as fans? If there is one roughing the passer, make it a 25 yard penalty. If there is a second roughing the passer, make it an automatic game ejection. Add follow-up fines. If we do this we wouldn't be using third string quarterbacks so frequently. Is this worth the cost?

4. Do we as fans use the power we have? I am not saying organize and revolt. I am saying that we don't even know we have power! Who wants to use it?

Then we might have a real Labor Day classic with both sides having a chance. I do not know anything about the Riders backups... This should be a real rivalry that would be if their starter was in. I love football and I want a lot more people feeling like I do about our fantastic  game!

[Proposed Annual CFL Schedule]

On 2023-07-31 at 7:59 PM, wbbfan said:

We won’t not with 3 weeks earlier start. We will lose guys for sure. It’s not about pr expansion it’s about timing it earlier enough for guys to get up to speed. 
 

if you want to be that new Canadian basketball league and watch the qbing and player quality plummet sure. 
 

You mean like rose, Sergio etc coming back from the nfl at the dead line? If that was really our methodology we’d have 1 gc not 2. 
 

It’s also not just about ringers. It’s about the top canadian drafted talent too. Guys like gray would’ve missed most of a year here easily instead of coming up. Push the season back 3 weeks and we will see even less of the top canadian talent. 

So just expand the roster size from mid August till the playoffs in mid October or even right into the Grey Cup ... this would nab the "Gray"s ... special rules will make sure we are still finding that talent ... further, with high priced returning talent, you can get in to the bidding war because there are only 6 or 7 weeks to pay for, not 18 weeks ... the big cost is sliced by  two thirds ... every body is talking about budget and that will help the cap ... especially if highly paid stars are sitting on the injury list ... that kind of evens out the unlucky injury situation

And then you work the returning players salary for the balance of the season ... then in the spring you do what you got to do