Fatty Liver

Explains the delay, Bob was probably away on vacation. No press conference??? They're missing a great promotional opportunity if they don't have one.

Speaking of foot soldiers I wonder if Pontbriand makes the club this year, he's getting pretty near to the end of his rope.

Stamps has not been the same player since Washington flattened him breaking his ribs in the end zone early in 2014.

It's not still Ritz Foods, is it?

Messam is in much better game condition now than he was two years ago, faster too. I think in the last two years he's begin to take his career more seriously and realizes the pay cheques won't last for long. He might be one of these "nasty characters" that Leggett said was missing from the Bombers makeup at the end of last season.

Missed this one earlier, kind of slipped under the radar. Demonstrates European policy makers are willing to stand up for the rights of their citizens to set policy in their own national interest and will not allow multi-national corps. to have a veto over changes to policy. In Canada this isn't even a debate. Typical political bullshit, Adam Taylor helps negotiate the deal, then quickly jumps ship to receive his rewards from a lobbyist company funded by corporate interests. EU quietly asks Canada to rework trade deal's thorny investment clause European Union officials quietly approached Justin Trudeau's new government last fall with a request to revisit the controversial investment protection clause in the Canada-EU trade deal. Negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) were supposed to have concluded in the summer of 2014 — the former Conservative government led by Stephen Harper had trumpeted success since an agreement in principle in 2013. But nothing was signed then. Or since. "The debate over whether ISDS provisions should be in trade agreements is over," said Adam Taylor, now with Ensight Canada, who worked for former Conservative minister Ed Fast during the negotiations. "There is strong consensus that they are good, they protect businesses and they should be part of these ambitious, 21st-century trade agreements," he told CBC News. But critics point to how expensive things can get for taxpayers when corporations sue governments for interfering with trade. Now, stoked by fears of setting a bad precedent for trade talks with the United States, well-organized dissent in Europe has taken hold. It risks a humiliating defeat on a ratification vote expected at the EU's parliament in Brussels this fall, unless a compromise can be reached to appease moderate opponents. "Both parties don't want to re-open negotiations," said Marie-Anne Coninsx, the EU's ambassador to Canada. But: "there might be some legal adjustments that would be necessary to the clause and we have indications from both sides that there's willingness to do this," she told CBC News. Negotiators have been meeting weekly by video conference, as a legal process to "scrub", or vet, the text and check 23 language translations drags on. The EU believes this section can be reworked as part of the "scrub." International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters in Montreal last week that both she and Prime Minister Trudeau are holding talks and she's confident they will get a deal soon. "I'm not going to give you specific timelines because we're negotiating now, and sort of — negotiating is the wrong word — we're getting through with the Europeans, across that final mile to the finish line," the minister said Anti-American suspicions The investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism Canada negotiated on CETA was consistent with other deals. As with Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), businesses are protected from arbitrary government decision-making. The opportunity for corporations to recover damages aims to force governments to fulfil the trade deals they sign, or be held accountable. Americans have proven particularly skilled at winning, or dragging out, these disputes. And that's the problem. "Everything started when we began negotiations with the U.S.," Coninsx told CBC News. While CETA would have been transparent and preserved a state's right to regulate, she said, applying its ISDS to a bigger trading partner changed things. "Dealing with the U.S. sometimes raises other concerns than dealing with Canada," she said. Anti-American suspicions have fuelled an anti-trade movement that draws hundreds of thousands of protesters — and the attention of politicians — in key countries like Germany and France. Can't pass without changes "A creative solution is needed," Taylor said, using a trade negotiator's term for a negotiated compromise, lest ISDS become a "poison pill that derails the deal altogether." If ISDS is a no-go, or red line, for certain EU legislators, it's prudent for Canada to find a solution, he said. Veteran campaigner Maude Barlow from the Council of Canadians has been in Europe trying to mobilize opposition. "I don't think it could pass the European Parliament as it stands now," she said. Europeans now see things as a two-part North American deal: part one is CETA with Canada, and its passage sets up part two with the U.S. Even if part two fails, American corporations with branch plants in Canada could still take aim at European policies, she's argued. Facing these political headwinds, the EU proposed a new Investment Court System (ICS) this fall. Unlike the case-by-case ad hoc tribunals that adjudicate in North America, this suggests permanently-appointed judges, a formal court of appeal and clear rules to make things fair, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. But Barlow's collaborators believe the compromise might be worse, formalizing rights for foreign corporations that domestic companies would not have in the new court. They'd prefer to defeat the deal as is. "I'm sure if the government is going to do it, it would like to do it as quietly as possible, but it will be impossible to keep it quiet," Barlow said. Americans left 'pissed off'? Americans aren't receptive to the new court idea. Neither, at least fully, is Canada. In an article written for a Polish newspaper last week and translated for Maclean's magazine by Canada's embassy in Warsaw, Canada's lead negotiator, Steve Verheul, candidly admits that the opposition to ISDS comes as a "significant surprise." (Ambassador Coninsx told CBC News her side didn't foresee it either.) Speaking to the Polish audience, Verheul tips Canada's hand: "Canada can agree to some of the changes," the translation reads, but we have concerns that the [proposed court] is significantly more complicated and expensive. It also does not guarantee that a case will be heard by the most appropriate panel of judges." "We think it will bring more assurances for some, but not more costs," Coninsx told CBC. Trade lawyer Mark Warner, part of Ontario's legal team during the CETA talks, agrees with Verheul that while NAFTA's ad hoc tribunals are composed of recognized experts, the kind of generalist judges named to this permanent court could lack tailored expertise. It all puts Freeland in a tight spot if she takes seriously her mandate letter marching orders to proceed with ratification as quickly as possible. "I think the Americans will be pretty pissed off at us," Warner told CBC News. If Canada agrees to a compromise the U.S. doesn't want, "it's like throwing a finger into their eye. And I thought Justin Trudeau said he was going to have better relations with [Washington.]" A side deal could be "a nice little talking point" that sets the Liberals apart, similar to what the Chrétien government did with its side deals on labour and the environment when NAFTA came in, Warner said. "They could say 'see, we're not doing Stephen Harper's bidding, we got this from the Europeans,'" — but they'd be left with both diplomatic and "architectural" issues later if CETA isn't consistent with other North American deals, including the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership deal of 12 Pacific Rim countries. "We do most of our trade with the Americans, not with Europe," Warner said. "I wouldn't do it."

I heard rumour of a sad little man in a green jersey and trench coat canvassing vendors along Brookside Blvd. asking if they would throw in a life-time of free panini sandwiches and soup if he moved to Winnipeg. Apparently all he's received so far is half off a patty-melt at subway and a voucher for a free truck wash.

Some wanted him back then and some didn't, probably the same as today. One thing for sure, he has been a thorn in the Bombers side since he came out West.

Yessam. Should have signed him 2 years ago after Mtl. cut him.

With one year contracts now being the standard, it's difficult to see how throwing big money at a player with NFL ambitions or best in position is a smart solution to any problems. Receive one year of production and face the same problem retaining or filling the hole they leave behind the next year. With half the players testing free agency, retaining the best is a difficult task as long as there are a few desperate teams looking for a rebuild every year that are willing to throw money around. Westerman, should be watching the bidding war for Laurent with his eyes wide open this year as he has the opportunity to become the highest paid D-lineman in the CFL by next year.

I can see Mtl. keeping Glenn, Crompton and Cato, They're going to have a hard time convincing any of the remaining QB's to go back on the P.R. so expect Lefevour, Bridges and Boone will probably find spots as #2 or #3 QB's around the league.

Thanks for the link, I kind of thought there was more to it.

gary lawless Verified account ‏@garylawless obtained @cfl document released by @Commish13 now in effect in regard to coaching tampering. Sent out this week ✔ @garylawless key element in new @cfl policy regarding of hiring coaches under contract to a new club, compensation must be agreed upon prior to hiring 2:47 PM - 22 Jan 2016

Depends on the audience. Those stubble jumpers couldn't make the leap to "Smith and Weston", lot's of head scratching and blank stares all around. Hard enough to restrain them from bringing their shotguns to the stadium to keep them from taking pot shots at Gainer.

I'd think if it is down to the Stamps or the Bombers, Dressler would be paying a visit for some face to face with Walters. Any sightings of short guys at the airport?

It would kill rampant speculation on football forums and diminish the fun not having any facts adds to the debate. Bad for business in a sense.

Pity, this video is so short. Hope they make an extended dance version soon.

Moron could have gotten out easily if he would have used gravity and backed down the hill instead of trying to fight up it.

You also have to consider the enhanced marketing opportunities of acquiring a "marquee name" like Dressler. Wade Miller is looking for a bone that he can sell to the masses.

Maybe waiting for Henoc to finalize the details of a cross-country tour???

True, but he never really grew up much.

You make a very good point. The rookie players that pick up the nuances of the CFL quickly may not turn out to be the best players in the long-run but they demonstrate that they're the smartest rookies in camp within a very short time frame. Slow learners need not apply.

Hopefully Walters holds his ground and doesn't fall for any of Dressler's agents shenanigans. Signing him would be great but not at any cost.

Good god man, come to your senses. She's 50 something and has had 6 children! She's held together by a raft of infrastructure designed by the Army Corps of Engineers to look good in one dimension on a flat screen. The only nailing I'd like to do to her is to hammer the last nail in her coffin.

I believe the Riders already had to pay Durant a $150,000 bonus for this season, there was no way to avoid it as he was injured and can't be cut.