If there is anything that deserves a thread of its own its this Tuesdays looming bidding wars.

Lets start with 3Down Nation's top 5 negotiations for our Blue:

http://3downnation.com/2017/02/12/top-five-free-agent-targets-bombers/

1. DL Jabar Westerman, B.C. Lions

2. LB Winston Venable, Montreal Alouettes

3. RB Kienan Lafrance, Ottawa Redblacks

4. DL Drake Nevis, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

5. DB Jovon Johnson, Montreal Alouettes

I like the idea of what a 2nd Westerman would do for our D_line for years to come. Getting Venerable could mean a road to the Grey Cup so I would break the bank with whatever we have left and spend it on those two.

Dunk is saying riders signed Dennis for $170K+10K bonus for 3 years.  for most outstanding linemen and a LT thats a pretty good deal for them.

Still Perfectly happy to have Stanley Bryant, but wondering what the price difference is

Honestly, I can't see how anyone who watched Lafrance last year would say "he's only had one good game". That's just not true. He had one monster game in the playoffs yes...but he played good football all year long. Just never got the touches.

I honestly believe he's got what it takes to be a solid player. Will likely go to waste behind that Swiss cheese Oline in shitsville though.

4 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

Honestly, I can't see how anyone who watched Lafrance last year would say "he's only had one good game". That's just not true. He had one monster game in the playoffs yes...but he played good football all year long. Just never got the touches.

I honestly believe he's got what it takes to be a solid player. Will likely go to waste behind that Swiss cheese Oline in shitsville though.

LaFrance had an excellent OL in Ottawa to play behind. He won't have that in Saskatchewan. The RedBlacks offense has way more talent & pieces in place than the Riders.

5 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

LaFrance had an excellent OL in Ottawa to play behind. He won't have that in Saskatchewan. The RedBlacks offense has way more talent & pieces in place than the Riders.

Thats the truth, look at how andrew harris did early last year before we sorted out the ol. His ypc was like 3.8 and no tds till week 6. 

206 yards 3.88 ypc  41.2 rushing yards per game. 0 rushing tds. First 5

449 yards 4.98 ypc  89.8 rushing yards per game and 4 rushing tds. Next 5

Edited February 15, 20178 yr by wbbfan

1 hour ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

If signing LaFrance means Sask. won't go after Shakir Bell, I'll take it.  Hard to believe Bell hasn't been signed yet.

Bell is a guy poised for a break out. But i dont see him getting the touches he needs here. I do like that he can catch the ball out of the back field and return a bit if you need. He needs a chance to start. 

49 minutes ago, Taynted_Fayth said:

Dunk is saying riders signed Dennis for $170K+10K bonus for 3 years.  for most outstanding linemen and a LT thats a pretty good deal for them.

Still Perfectly happy to have Stanley Bryant, but wondering what the price difference is

Recollection is Bryant signed for 160k per season originally. 

3 hours ago, Booch said:

yes good career choice for him,,,would have been bad business choice by the Bombers.

It would be ridiculous to get into a bidding war over a backup RB.  Once the price crossed the upper limit of what we can spend on that position (including the NI premium) we have to walk away.

Opening up the wallet for a starter can make sense.  Doing it for a backup just hamstrings our ability to put a complete team together.

2 hours ago, Taynted_Fayth said:

It would be great for LaFrance to spend a year or 2 actually starting/playing to get that necessary in game experience to prove himself.  Not a chance he would get the reps here in Winnipeg behind Harris as he will likely get in Sask.  Let's hope he does well (but not vs us) and when his contract is up,  he comes home in a few years and takes over for Harris.  Could end up being a win win

First Demski, then LaFrance. I like the idea of having a farm team just to the west of us. At least it will make the Riders good for something.

1 minute ago, Fred C Dobbs said:

First Demski, then LaFrance. I like the idea of having a farm team just to the west of us. At least it will make the Riders good for something.

I haven't seen many players coming back this way from the Riders so the farm team idea while clever isn't really a reality.

3 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

I haven't seen many players coming back this way from the Riders so the farm team idea while clever isn't really a reality.

Dressler Smith Neufeld Hurl... there's been a few. Demski probably 1 day. 

2 minutes ago, Goalie said:

Dressler Smith Neufeld Hurl... there's been a few. Demski probably 1 day. 

I meant Winnipeg or Manitoba born players. Sorry, I should have been more clear.

14 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

I meant Winnipeg or Manitoba born players. Sorry, I should have been more clear.

Not many of them around 

45 minutes ago, Goalie said:

Not many of them around 

No there isn't, especially when we're narrowing that down to Manitoba born players who've played for the Riders.

LaFrance's best game in the regular season was 11  - 52 yards... hardly a world beater.      The guy is unproven and Saskatchewan is taking a gamble.   

 

9 hours ago, Atomic said:

Who is signing players in Toronto?  The COO or President or something?

He's the assistant GM.

Edited February 15, 20178 yr by Jacquie

I wonder what's in store for the Bombers in Day 2.

Matt Black (rumored yesterday) maybe ? Who else? 

Good for Lafrance.  Better save that money.  Jones and Murphy aren't very patient.

13 minutes ago, M.O.A.B. said:

I wonder what's in store for the Bombers in Day 2.

Matt Black (rumored yesterday) maybe ? Who else? 

The more I think about it... I would really like if we signed Matt Black... he'd be a reliable, veteran back up to Loffler and a quality special teamer... he's got a few miles on him at 31 years old, but he should still have another year or two...

24 minutes ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

Good for Lafrance.  Better save that money.  Jones and Murphy aren't very patient.

They signed another Canadian RB. Obviously a position they intend to go Canadian at.

1 minute ago, Kluchk said:

They signed another Canadian RB. Obviously a position they intend to go Canadian at.

Milton isn't a RB, he's a FB. At least he has been in the past. But yeah, pretty clear LaFrance is going to be in the running for the starting job.

 

Good for Lafrance if he can keep the job.

6 minutes ago, Mike said:

Milton isn't a RB, he's a FB. At least he has been in the past. But yeah, pretty clear LaFrance is going to be in the running for the starting job.

 

I'm still not impressed with him. Hasn't done much, however, he is young and has time to get better. Just a good indication that spot is all Canadian.

10 hours ago, Taynted_Fayth said:

Dunk is saying riders signed Dennis for $170K+10K bonus for 3 years.  for most outstanding linemen and a LT thats a pretty good deal for them.

Still Perfectly happy to have Stanley Bryant, but wondering what the price difference is

An article from 3downnation says Bryant is getting $160k per. Some guy on Riderfans said he's getting $210k this year, but didn't respond when I asked where he got that number from. So, pending further information, that number appears to have come out of his butt.

John Hodge of 3downnation says the extension of Chungh is the only thing that kept FA from being a "disaster" for the Bombers. That seems strong...