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

I was watching highlights of that cornerback we took and I was thinking he looked ... okay but he was also the biggest (non-lineman) guy on the field ... then I read he's 5'9" .......

I don’t see this as a big issue. 

3 hours ago, Booch said:

YEAH that is kinda funny...from what I know/hear..players can't get out of there fast enough when the season is over...or during a by week.

I actually think Winnipeg probably has to, or is close to be the city with the most post/carer players who stick around..American and Canadian...or it sure appears that way

Calgary used to have outstanding opportunities in the O & G industry before Trudeau & the Liberals killed it off. I know of more than a few players who became millionaires after they finished playing for the Stamps. 

4 hours ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

I’m considering taking a sick day to watch the Mexican Draft.  Riveting.

I had to take a sick day after having Mexican draft once .. wait .. what?

37 minutes ago, Jpan85 said:

I don’t see this as big issue. 

It just seems a bit asinine and reckless when there are more important issues to deal with domestically.

This league needs to grow revenues they are pretty much tapped out in Canada. If a Mexican network pays for the rights to broadcast CFL games in Mexico lets say for 5 million dollars that's 500,000 k in each teams pocket.

I am wondering if there will be any tourist deals for going to Mexico and seeing a game and catching some sun.  And then in the future catching some sun for two weeks and a grey cup game in mexico might be a pretty sweet vacation.

If anyone knows how development of international football can work its Jeff Reinbold.

 

1 hour ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Calgary used to have outstanding opportunities in the O & G industry before Trudeau & the Liberals killed it off. I know of more than a few players who became millionaires after they finished playing for the Stamps. 

 

1 hour ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Calgary used to have outstanding opportunities in the O & G industry before Trudeau & the Liberals killed it off. I know of more than a few players who became millionaires after they finished playing for the Stamps. 

Exactly how did Trudeau and the Liberals force down the international price of petroleum? It would be amazing if a country which produces less than 6% of world petroleum could do that.

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by Tracker

32 minutes ago, Tracker said:

 

Exactly how did Trudeau and the Liberals force down the international price of petroleum? It would be amazing if a country which produces less than 6% of world petroleum could do that.

The Liberals have killed pipelines. Alberta's lost about 20,000 oil-related jobs. 

Now...back to football please.

Ed Tait - @EdTaitWFC

The #Bombers select DB Sergio Schiaffino. Stands 5-9, weighs 175. Tempted to say here I’m shocked he fell this far in the draft and was still available. 😀

My favourite tweet on the subject.

Naylor reports that they're likely going to do another of these during the current off-season, but with Germany being the likely destination.......I just don't get it.....

Germany would have a deeper talent pool. 

I scoffed at the idea initially but I don't blame Ambrosie for looking outside the box here for potential revenue streams. 

10 minutes ago, Captain Blue said:

I scoffed at the idea initially but I don't blame Ambrosie for looking outside the box here for potential revenue streams. 

I think the main goal is to expand media rights, attendance at games has stagnated.

47 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Naylor reports that they're likely going to do another of these during the current off-season, but with Germany being the likely destination.......I just don't get it.....

What's not to get? It's about getting more eyes on the TV screens to generate revenue.

As an example, I know people who follow a specific soccer team (overseas somewhere) due to a winnipeger playing on said team. They watch the games, follow the social media outlets etc etc. They did none of those things before the Wpg player joined that team/league. Bringing in international players will draw international attention...how much $$ will be generated from it...who knows? But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

1 hour ago, blueingreenland said:

The Liberals have killed pipelines. Alberta's lost about 20,000 oil-related jobs. 

Now...back to football please.

More like over 100,000 oil related jobs.  Then there's Bill C69 in the Senate as well. That will prevent any future pipelines from being built. It's in the Senate now for study & could be seriously amended before being passed. Bottom line, the Stamps can't use the O & G industry now as a recruiting tool as in the past.

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by SpeedFlex27

2 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

What's not to get? It's about getting more eyes on the TV screens to generate revenue.

As an example, I know people who follow a specific soccer team (overseas somewhere) due to a winnipeger playing on said team. They watch the games, follow the social media outlets etc etc. They did none of those things before the Wpg player joined that team/league. Bringing in international players will draw international attention...how much $$ will be generated from it...who knows? But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

How many Mexicans or Germans know of Winnipeg? 

Just now, SpeedFlex27 said:

How many Mexicans or Germans know of Winnipeg? 

That's the point. They aren't going to know just...cause. They need a reason to tune in....like a local player joining the league perhaps.

5 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Bill C69 in the senate as well. 

Doesn't that thing have to pass 3rd reading in the house to become law...So many changes I just can't see it being implemented in it's present form...IF it is the oil industry better be prepared to exit as an economic driver in this country...

 

With regard to the Mexican adventure????Seems a stretch if it becomes a winner for the CFL....I remember only to well a big adventure when we had American teams and the thing went sideways...But I'll go with nothing ventured nothing........well you know???

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by Stickem

1 minute ago, Bigblue204 said:

That's the point. They aren't going to know just...cause. They need a reason to tune in....like a local player joining the league perhaps.

So, one or 2  local German players are going to arouse interest? Seems to me the CFL has to do that itself by getting games televised in Europe & educating fans about the wide open Canadian 3 down game.  Then playing exhibition games over there. Sadly, the CFL barely promotes the game in Canada let alone in Mexico or Germany. Teams shut down for months in winter with hardly any news for local fans. If we can't promote in our own cities then why would the CFL promote in other countries. Call me skeptical. 

I would argue that every team and the league is very active on social media through the off season.

I'm not surprised to see that Reinebold tweets in all-caps.

3 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

So, one or 2  local German players are going to arouse interest? Seems to me the CFL has to do that itself by getting games televised in Europe & educating fans about the wide open Canadian 3 down game.  Then playing exhibition games over there. Sadly, the CFL barely promotes the game in Canada let alone in Mexico or Germany. Teams shut down for months in winter with hardly any news for local fans. If we can't promote in our own cities then why would the CFL promote in other countries. Call me skeptical. 

Ideally, yes one or 2 players could generate a lot of interest. Ideally, they will become stars and dominate for a few seasons. Realistically that's obviously not likely. But the league has had plenty of attempts at getting more interest from within Canada with varying degrees of success. ("our league" "Diversity is strength" "what we're made of" "bring it in" etc etc etc) But at the end of the day, there's only so much revenue that can come from Canadians. 
 

I honestly have a hard time seeing the downside to these types of initiatives. If it works, more exposure for the league which should translate into more $$. If it doesn't work...they lose out on the $$ spent (which is likely minimal) to set up the combines/drafts etc. But there's no teams failing, there's no need to pull out of cities etc. Is it where I would have started? Maybe not. But I'm not privy to the info the league execs are. The potential success of this type of thing heavily out weighs the potential risks.