Okay, so the off season officially begins now that the Grey Cup is over. Lots of topics for discussion in the months to come with the Bombers & the League. A new CBA needs to be negotiated sooner rather than later.  Will there be an eventual agreement or a lockout? How much will the salary cap go up? Randy Ambrosie is on record that wants the cap to significantly go up so that is a positive.  Will Bo Levi Mitchell sign with an NFL or perhaps another CFL team? What about Mike Reilly & Trevor Harris who are also free agents? There's a new start up league called the  AAFL & there are legit concerns that it'll draw star CFL players away or hamper free agent signings with CFL teams. Coaching changes in BC & Toronto. The continuing evolving story of the expansion Halifax Schooners & possible exhibition games in Mexico. 

Edited November 27, 20187 yr by SpeedFlex27

4 minutes ago, Floyd said:

Wow John Murphy out as Riders VP/Player Personnel...  guess there's no need for him - Jones is the complete package

That's an interesting move. I thought Murphy was a well regarded scout? 

16 minutes ago, JCon said:

That's an interesting move. I thought Murphy was a well regarded scout? 

He is....and this is a big loss for the Riders. Not only for his scouting but for the amount of GM work he was doing also. Jones, already sliced way too thin, now has to find a way to get the work done that he had Murphy doing.

Re Murphy's exit; I agree.

Holy geez, how much were they spending?! They've already cleared a bunch of salary. 

Quote

Kirk Penton‏ @PentonKirk 9m9 minutes ago

Just got an insider note about John Murphy’s departure from the #Roughriders: “It was due to his unwillingness to take a 10%+ pay cut under the newly imposed coaches’ cap. He agreed to a two-year deal and felt the Riders should live up to their obligation on that final year ...

Quote

So the question is: Are the Riders paying that final year? Or was it forfeited with him ‘stepping down?’” #CFL #Roughriders

 

Apparently he didn't want to take the same pay cut everyone else was taking.

 

What's the latest on the rumblings about Jones and his behavior?

The new era of Football Ops salary cap takes it’s first hit.  

So, what do the Riders do with all the money it has to spend now? They can't spend it on players or staff. 

Just now, JCon said:

So, what do the Riders do with all the money it has to spend now? They can't spend it on players or staff. 

Alcohol and weed to make them forget they live in Regina?

Just now, rebusrankin said:

Alcohol and weed to make them forget they live in Regina?

There's not enough weed and alcohol available for that. 

If keeping him wasn’t worth 10% of his salary he clearly wasn’t wanted.

Just now, JuranBoldenRules said:

If keeping him wasn’t worth 10% of his salary he clearly wasn’t wanted.

Part of it could have been the principle. Some people have already lost their jobs and Jones took a 10% cut. If Murphy doesn't maybe someone else loses their job too. 

Old enough to remember hiring was a "coup" for the Riders since he was the architect of the Stamps success.Guy is a stud player finder extraordinaire etc etc.

And now he scuffles off without a fight.

Murphy and the "database" have always been overrated.

 

He''ll fit in nicely in Montreal.

2 hours ago, JCon said:

So, what do the Riders do with all the money it has to spend now? They can't spend it on players or staff. 

Attorneys and bail surety are both expensive.

The Riders will miss Murphy. Yea...he's a bit over rated but he beats the crap out of O'Daisy at scouting.

5 hours ago, JCon said:

That's an interesting move. I thought Murphy was a well regarded scout? 

The salary cap for CFL team admins. He  was making a huge salary so he had to go.  I wonder if Jones takes a pay cut? I'm asking that tongue in cheek. 

3 hours ago, Zontar said:

Old enough to remember hiring was a "coup" for the Riders since he was the architect of the Stamps success.Guy is a stud player finder extraordinaire etc etc.

And now he scuffles off without a fight.

Well, when you have Jones, what more do the Riders need? 

17 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

The salary cap for CFL team admins. He  was making a huge salary so he had to go.  I wonder if Jones takes a pay cut? I'm asking that tongue in cheek. 

He took a 10% cut. 

Just now, JCon said:

He took a 10% cut. 

Quite the sacrifice considering he was making something like half a million a year as Chief Cook & Bottle Washer with the Riders. 

2 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Quite the sacrifice considering he was making something like half a million a year as Chief Cook & Bottle Washer with the Riders. 

He makes very good money but he wears many hats. Imagine if you has to cook and wash dishes for the entire team and the second (and possibly third) team that they keep hidden away. 

I enjoy seeing the Rider suffer b/c of it... but I still think the coaching/mgmt staff salary cap is stupid...

don't understand that cap either...but thought I heard somewhere it was something that was brought up by the teams and something they were lobbying for...no?

I believe the cap was brought in as a preemptive defense in the upcoming CBA negotiations so players can’t point to some of the excess being spent by some teams and wanting a bigger piece of the pie.  

That and to allow the weaker financial teams to remain competitive and not spend beyond their means.