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

11 minutes ago, JCon said:

Travis Lulay: Reflections as I retire from the CFL

 

Lulay has retired rather than being subjected to Regina or Montreal. 

I always enjoyed watching him play. Smart, smart QB. He was great for the league. 

 

Just now, HardCoreBlue said:

I always enjoyed watching him play. Smart, smart QB. He was great for the league. 

 

No drama sort of guy. Have to respect that. 

Travis Lulay is a #1 QB playing with a #2 type body. Who knows the QB situation in the league if he could have stayed more healthy. 

I hate that ******* ginger with a fiery passion for all he did to us over the years..............but............I respect the hell out of him as a CFL QB. 

Woe.

3DownNation@3DownNation

Former #CalStampeders playmaker Roy Finch arrested, charged with kidnapping and domestic abuse https://3downnation.com/2019/02/28/former-stampeders-playmaker-roy-finch-arrested-charged-with-kidnapping-and-domestic-abuse/ … #Calgary #CFL #Oklahoma #OKC

15 hours ago, johnzo said:

no way. the league was completely up front about how Manziel's participation had a bunch of contingencies. Reed knew the risks when he pulled the trigger on the worst deal in modern CFL history.

That deal is now Reed trading two first rounders and a canuck starter for an import tackle.  It's staggering how bad that turned out, and everyone saw it coming but Reed or whoever ordered him to do the deal.

I wouldn't be surprised if the OK for that trade came from ownership... bring in the big name, sell some jerseys and tickets.... hence why Reed still has a job...

10 minutes ago, bearpants said:

I wouldn't be surprised if the OK for that trade came from ownership... bring in the big name, sell some jerseys and tickets.... hence why Reed still has a job...

I get why they traded for him. Potential upside, butts in seats, and rock star coverage. 

Dickinson on Roy Finch, when discussing his April 2018 arrest:

“Roy has to be proactive. He’s texted with (running backs coach) Marc Mueller and he’s called him. I really enjoy talking to him. To me, he’s not a violent man at all."

This quote from January 9th, 2019... the same week Finch allegedly kidnapped and punched this woman in his motel room.

Finch. What a hero 🙄

2 hours ago, Floyd said:

We all know who will end up as 'interim GM' in that gong show...

Who?

Just now, SpeedFlex27 said:

Who?

Joe Mack. 

8 minutes ago, JCon said:

Joe Mack. 

He might be an alright GM by now.  His main problem in Winnipeg is he had been away from the league for too long. If he's learned from his mistakes he was pretty good at finding talent south of the line. 

9 minutes ago, JCon said:

Joe Mack. 

Oh yeah.  Well, no one should get a pass if they screw up. And Reed did that with gusto. 

1 minute ago, Colin Unger said:

He might be an alright GM by now.  His main problem in Winnipeg is he had been away from the league for too long. If he's learned from his mistakes he was pretty good at finding talent south of the line. 

Okay Wetenhall. It's your money. 

Re: Manziel -- looks like he missed meetings with people whose job it was to "keep him on the straight and narrow"

https://3downnation.com/2019/02/28/johnny-manziel-skipped-meetings-required-by-the-cfl-sources/

3 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Re: Manziel -- looks like he missed meetings with people whose job it was to "keep him on the straight and narrow"

https://3downnation.com/2019/02/28/johnny-manziel-skipped-meetings-required-by-the-cfl-sources/

I'm no Manziel fan, although I liked watching him play at T A&M, but he seemed to keep his nose clean since he arrived in the CFL a year ago. I'm surprised he missed these meetings and, I guess, the CFL does have a reason to permanently suspend him. 

 

I wonder if Montreal wanted him gone and got the league to do the dirty work? That seems like a bit of a stretch. 

Edited February 28, 20196 yr by JCon

1 minute ago, JCon said:

I'm no Manziel fan, although I liked watching him play at T A&M, but he seemed to keep his nose clean since he arrived in the CFL a year ago. I'm surprised he missed these meetings and, I guess, the CFL does have a reason to permanently suspend him. 

 

I wonder if Montreal wanted him gone and got the league to do the dirty work? That seems like a bit of a stretch. 

I will echo what others have implied... Manziel wants to play in the AAF and took the easiest out available to him.  I'm not surprised he missed the meetings at all, he likely did it on purpose so that he could have his way and be able to go play in the other league.  I guess time will tell weather he actually signs down there, but it seems awfully convenient for him that things went down the way they did.

Good for Lulay getting out before being to beat up,   a real good guy and definitely the type of QB that the league needs more of. 

8 minutes ago, Brandon said:

Good for Lulay getting out before being to beat up,   a real good guy and definitely the type of QB that the league needs more of. 

Lulay is 100% beat up...

 

29 minutes ago, Brandon said:

Good for Lulay getting out before being to beat up,   a real good guy and definitely the type of QB that the league needs more of. 

Lulay is getting a lot of accolades and messages from all over the league, and he deserves them. It’s just too bad he is so beat up because he brings a lot to the CFL huddle.

2 hours ago, Sard said:

I will echo what others have implied... Manziel wants to play in the AAF and took the easiest out available to him.  I'm not surprised he missed the meetings at all, he likely did it on purpose so that he could have his way and be able to go play in the other league.  I guess time will tell weather he actually signs down there, but it seems awfully convenient for him that things went down the way they did.

 

2 minutes ago, Jacquie said:

 

Poor Riley. 

Along with his approach to life, it just seems to be JM  might be getting some bad advice on this but that's my bias in being a huge CFL fan.

As far as I know, a few QB's have carved out pretty nice careers in the CFL.

Not to say that he has the talent/mindset to do it but geez give it the old college try man.

 

 

“Most people aren’t labour relations experts, but the way the process actually works is that the players will give us a notice to bargain. So the ball is in the players’ court. That’s just the way labour works,” Ambrosie said in late January.

5 hours ago, Colin Unger said:

He might be an alright GM by now.  His main problem in Winnipeg is he had been away from the league for too long. If he's learned from his mistakes he was pretty good at finding talent south of the line. 

He failed to understand, appreciate and properly evaluate Canadian talent.

8 hours ago, JCon said:

Travis Lulay: Reflections as I retire from the CFL

 

Lulay has retired rather than being subjected to Regina or Montreal. 

Fractured his wrist writing that, btw.