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

31 minutes ago, TBURGESS said:

If it's so easy and the Union will just take whatever they are given, then why wasn't it done and dusted in January? It would be better for all involved to go into free agency knowing what the SMS number will be.

I don't know. You should ask the CFLPA why they suggested starting in March.

If they were unhappy with the lack of negotiations, the CFLPA would be in the media saying so. The only thing they've said so far is they would like to start in March.

Edited February 8, 20196 yr by Bigblue204

1 minute ago, Bigblue204 said:

I don't know. You should ask the CFLPA why they suggested starting in March.

I'll get right on that.🙄

11 minutes ago, TBURGESS said:

I'll get right on that.🙄

Good, maybe you'll stop asking questions you know damn well no one here has the answers to.

1 minute ago, Bigblue204 said:

Good, maybe you'll stop asking questions you know damn well no one here has the answers to.

And maybe you'll stop making things up and pretending that they are 'reasons' things are happening.

7 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

Good, maybe you'll stop asking questions you know damn well no one here has the answers to.

 

5 minutes ago, TBURGESS said:

And maybe you'll stop making things up and pretending that they are 'reasons' things are happening.

You know it's the middle of the off-season when...

 

C'mon guys let's not devolve into rideresque behaviour. 😀😁😁

Edited February 8, 20196 yr by wanna-b-fanboy

17 minutes ago, wanna-b-fanboy said:

 

You know it's the middle of the off-season when...

 

C'mon guys let's not devolve into rideresque behaviour. 😀😁😁

Talking about Rider news: (From 3downnation)

Canadian defensive tackle and Rider draft pick David Onyemata has been arrested and issued a misdemeanour citation for illegal possession of marijuana according to a report by the New Orleans Advocate.

6 minutes ago, Tracker said:

Talking about Rider news: (From 3downnation)

Canadian defensive tackle and Rider draft pick David Onyemata has been arrested and issued a misdemeanour citation for illegal possession of marijuana according to a report by the New Orleans Advocate.

Well that's shitty. I hope that gets tossed out.

 

 

I think ... 
Reilly goes to BC
Harris goes to EDM

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

I think ... 
Reilly goes to BC
Harris goes to EDM

Reilly to BC

Franklin to EDM

Harris to TO

?? Everyone heads to their rookie team?? *shrugs*

Reilly BC

Harris EDM

BLM Toronto

Pipkin to Calgary!!

Franklin to Sask

Jennings lands in Ottawa

Might be fun for the league to see a wholesale change in QBs across the league, like that....

3 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Might be fun for the league to see a wholesale change in QBs across the league, like that....

Even more so if it means the Riders end up with nothing but garbage behind centre.

1 minute ago, blue_gold_84 said:

Even more so if it means the Riders end up with nothing but garbage behind centre.

I'm hoping they get a combo of Collaros and Jennings when it's all said and done. Just a giant **** sandwich...

35 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Reilly to BC

Franklin to EDM

Harris to TO

?? Everyone heads to their rookie team?? *shrugs*

Willy or Glen to SSK ? 😁

Edited February 8, 20196 yr by M.O.A.B.

11 minutes ago, Floyd said:

Reilly BC

Harris EDM

BLM Toronto

Pipkin to Calgary!!

Franklin to Sask

Jennings lands in Ottawa

Now that I think about it, that is likely a damn near certainty considering how "fortunate" the argos are at grabbing big name players via FA or trade.

Like wow.... This could start the dominos falling!!  https://3downnation.com/2019/02/08/eskimos-give-mike-reilly-permission-to-speak-with-lions-before-free-agency/

Edited February 9, 20196 yr by SpeedFlex27

2 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Like wow.... This could start the dominos falling!!  https://3downnation.com/2019/02/08/eskimos-give-mike-reilly-permission-to-speak-with-lions-before-free-agency/

Esks want BC to make an offer so they can beat it - I guess

25 minutes ago, Floyd said:

Esks want BC to make an offer so they can beat it - I guess

If Reilly wants out then he's gone no matter what the Esks offer. If they lose Reilly they'll pursue Bo Levi Mitchell, I'd bet.  Hufnagel does not like to overpay for players in free agency so we'll see what happens, I guess.

Prediction: Riders settle for Plans B, C at qb.

"They didnt reject us. Mitchell and Reilly WANTED to come here but they know WE put too much pressure on them because we're so passionate and knowledgeable." 

Edited February 9, 20196 yr by Zontar

https://3downnation.com/2019/02/08/by-hiring-shivers-the-riders-continue-their-march-towards-continuity/

Riders are geniuses for not being able to find anyone outside of the organization to hire...  its all about stability.  All part of 'the plan'.

Lemme guess "Shivers is ready" ?

I dont see how new G.M..new H.C..new D.C..new D.B coach is a march to continuity just because they promoted guys. If anything it's called settling or reserving yourself to the fact that you couldn't improve your staff.

Factor in possibly a new QB one of which is 99 percent again going to be settling for scraps..I dont see a whole lot of progression/positive things there.

Now if they resign Collaros..well theres some continuity..but continuity from the scraps they were forced to settle with last year

In my real life, I've negotiated many union contracts on behalf of my company.   Some have been here in Winnipeg, and some out in B.C.   Some negotiations dragged on for months, and some got settled quite quickly.    Generally speaking, if both sides come in with reasonable positions, and listen to each other's concerns, solutions can be found quickly.   At the end of the day, both parties have more in common than have in opposition to each other.    The difficulties lie when someone's ego takes over, or they dig in their heals to "win" the argument regardless of the long term result.   So long as they stay focused on the big picture of growing the game, attracting fans, and putting a quality product on the field, while remaining fiscally prudent, they will get it done.    If it boggs down into "More for me and less for you", then their will be problems.

Some of the best results, for both sides, have been reached in contracts that we've settled in 1-2 days.   It is folly to think that longer negotiations really achieve more in the long run.   That being said, each negotiation is unique, and I fully appreciate that there can be sticky issues that need to be resolved.

Delete!!!!!

Edited February 9, 20196 yr by Bigblue204
Delete

5 hours ago, Zontar said:

Prediction: Riders settle for Plans B, C at qb.

"They didnt reject us. Mitchell and Reilly WANTED to come here but they know WE put too much pressure on them because we're so passionate and knowledgeable." 

"Collaros is better anyways!"