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

not "in the league"   but, no mention of former Bomber alumni, and almost thought of at least once or twice in an act of desperation as a potential backup, ahh but maybe he just never got the right opportunity.... but was drafted ahead of Tom Brady.  #1 in your hearts, and never quite made it to many programs..... Kliff Kingsbury!

I know... you all thought I was talking about Stefan LeFors!    sorry

 

What a story!  Never knew he went straight into coaching after his stint with the Blue & Gold.  His time up here must have played into the style he chose to coach!   Interesting stuff!

 

https://3downnation.com/2019/01/08/kliff-kingsbury-goes-from-third-string-cfl-qb-to-nfl-head-coach/

Edited January 9, 20197 yr by trueBlue83

On 2019-01-03 at 10:26 AM, Zontar said:

This is the city that rejected hosting the Commonwealth Games and tore down a statue of its founder . The people behind the bid might have their ducks in row with nice pictures and charts but it's the politicians  who control the money.

I agree. The single most important factor is a stadium, and nothing has been built or promised.

Until that happens, they're no closer to a team than 5 years ago.

7 hours ago, trueBlue83 said:

 

What a story!  Never knew he went straight into coaching after his stint with the Blue & Gold.  His time up here must have played into the style he chose to coach!   Interesting stuff!

I remember watching him once at practice and was puzzled at why he never saw any game time,  he had a decent arm was able to throw accurate deep passes.

Our 2007 Grey Cup QB's are all high level coaches.  Dinwiddie in the CFL, Kingsbury already been head coach in NCAA and now NFL, Zac Taylor has been an OC and QB coach in the NCAA and NFL and was interviewed for NFL head coaching jobs this year.

So, I was mocked & chastised in late December when I voiced my frustrations about negotiations not starting on a new CBA. Relax, people said. It's Christmas & the 2 sides deserve a chance to rest after the season.  Hey, they talk once a month so what's the big deal some of you said. They'll get at it in January. Well, in an interview with TSN's Dave Naylor this week, Randy Ambrosie told him that no negotiations have started  & won't until late Febuary or early March which just about  guarantees a deal won't get signed until sometimes in May just before training camps open, if then.  Meanwhile our Commish worries more about Mexico & now freaking China while Rome burns around him.

Edited January 11, 20197 yr by SpeedFlex27

Like any negotiation everyone is looking for leverage.  The league knows the players were last paid in a November and the longer and slower it goes the less money they have left from the season.....historically this is exactly how it has gone.....squeeze the players until they are broke.

41 minutes ago, DR. CFL said:

Like any negotiation everyone is looking for leverage.  The league knows the players were last paid in a November and the longer and slower it goes the less money they have left from the season.....historically this is exactly how it has gone.....squeeze the players until they are broke.

Well, the situation the league is in... this is a Fool's Game by Ambrosie & BOG's.. The CFL seems to become less & less relevant with Canadians with every passing year which should of a huge concern to them. Stalled negotiations won't help. Instead of starving the players out, negotiations should be done in good faith on both sides.

Edited January 11, 20197 yr by SpeedFlex27

They just had the league meeting in Quebec. Commish said they'll have paperwork from the PA mid-late Jan, and they'll be able to go to the bargaining table around March 1 (as of this afternoon that was the word). Now, my question is: What does that do to FA Day on Feb 15? 

3 minutes ago, Noeller said:

They just had the league meeting in Quebec. Commish said they'll have paperwork from the PA mid-late Jan, and they'll be able to go to the bargaining table around March 1 (as of this afternoon that was the word). Now, my question is: What does that do to FA Day on Feb 15? 

How can Walters offer a contract to a free agent when he won't know the salary cap figure, can't pay bonuses or if there'll even be a training camp? That's why this March 1st paperwork thing is bullshit. If they think it'll take 2 months to hammer an agreement then why not start now & get it done in mid March??? That only makes sense but not for either side.

10 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

How can Walters offer a contract to a free agent when he won't know the salary cap figure, can't pay bonuses or if there'll even be a training camp? That's why this March 1st paperwork thing is bullshit. If they think it'll take 2 months to hammer an agreement then why not start now & get it done in mid March??? That only makes sense but not for either side.

The same way he is doing now I suppose. The lack of a CBA certainly hasn't stopped players who were going to be FAs from re-signing with their teams. 

12 minutes ago, Jacquie said:

The same way he is doing now I suppose. The lack of a CBA certainly hasn't stopped players who were going to be FAs from re-signing with their teams. 

Medlock's the biggest name player who has signed so far. The top players, their agents, and the GM's are all waiting to see how much the SMS is going to be. I agree with SpeedFlex on this one... this negotiation should have already started in earnest. I'd like to have seen it done before FA day on February 15.

Does it not take two side to negotiate why is it all on the league for March start?

5 minutes ago, Jpan85 said:

Does it not take two side to negotiate why is it all on the league for March start?

Sure it takes 2 sides to negotiate, but they both have to sit down together to get anything done. Those meetings are usually called by the folks with the money who make an offer, not the union.

you have to remeber as well...both sides have already most likely have several scenarios and offer/counter offers already approved by their respective sides..so it's not like when actual sit down talks start that they are starting from nothing...once initiated pretty certain it will move along fairly quick

1 hour ago, Jacquie said:

The same way he is doing now I suppose. The lack of a CBA certainly hasn't stopped players who were going to be FAs from re-signing with their teams. 

Not major players. Canadian backups or specialists for the most part. The guys that want the big paydays won't sign till a CBA is in place.

some will I think....with a caveat written in their contract that what ever percent the CBA increases...so shall their deal to a certain degree...

I hope this season doesn't end up like what happened to the Expos so many years ago...... they were so close to having a chance to win it all that year....... this year is ours so I really, really hope negotiations don't  de-rail the whole thing.....

2 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Not major players. Canadian backups or specialists for the most part. The guys that want the big paydays won't sign till a CBA is in place.

Jamarcus Hardrick and Joel Figueroa are not major player? Stanley Bryant is "extended in principle" as well.

Edited January 11, 20197 yr by Jacquie

2 hours ago, Jpan85 said:

Does it not take two side to negotiate why is it all on the league for March start?

I have some experience with CB. Usually the employer side responds to emplyee offer.  The league probably wants their next move to be a response to whatever the players’ complete list of demands is. Eventually they will give them a fraction of that. 

It is called posturing.....why is there an expectation that this process will be any different than past negotiations.....it won’t. Like it or not it is the way it is.

10 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

I have some experience with CB. Usually the employer side responds to emplyee offer.  The league probably wants their next move to be a response to whatever the players’ complete list of demands is. Eventually they will give them a fraction of that. 

As have I. From both sides of the table.  Here's a primer for people to help them understand how this stuff works:

 

8 hours ago, Booch said:

you have to remeber as well...both sides have already most likely have several scenarios and offer/counter offers already approved by their respective sides..so it's not like when actual sit down talks start that they are starting from nothing...once initiated pretty certain it will move along fairly quick

With the CFL & the CFLPA who knows Booch? I know some players on their twitter accounts are starting to get impatient for the negotiations to start & aren't happy both sides aren't going hard at it now. 

7 hours ago, DR. CFL said:

It is called posturing.....why is there an expectation that this process will be any different than past negotiations.....it won’t. Like it or not it is the way it is.

Yup. The last one was settled in May - can’t imagine this one being much different. 

The Mother of all CBA's is coming. The NHL. We all know with Bettman & Fehr, there'll be another lockout. The CFL's CBA is lunch money to those two guys.

Welp........... 

https://3downnation.com/2019/01/11/riders-expected-to-make-strong-play-for-mike-reilly-sources/