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

Lets all just enjoy the fact that the CBA got worked out and that TC starts this week! Best news all year. 

 

19 minutes ago, Mike said:

i want to hear more about this thing about an incentive to starting veteran Americans.

I was told by a player(who is very knowledgeable in the negotiations)this morning that the league is wanting to make any American player who has been in the league for over 3 years count as a Canadian for the ratio.  He said this will directly make 9 Americans on the bombers as nationals right off the hop. 

Maybe if you start enough veteran americans you can dress an additional DI for a Canadian.  Doesn't technically affect the ratio. Or maybe a percentage of these vet's salaries won't count against the cap?

2 minutes ago, Albertabomberguy said:

I was told by a player(who is very knowledgeable in the negotiations)this morning that the league is wanting to make any American player who has been in the league for over 3 years count as a Canadian for the ratio.  He said this will directly make 9 Americans on the bombers as nationals right off the hop. 

I would hope that it would have to be 3 years with the same team.  Or else this is a bit nuts. 

Edited May 15, 20196 yr by Colin Unger

Sounds like that isn’t at all what it is - teams required to have 3 Americans with 3 years team service or 4 years league service in starting lineup 

 

 

 

 

6 minutes ago, voodoochylde said:

 

 

 

 

These are some pretty awesome changes. 

5 minutes ago, voodoochylde said:

 

 

 

 

Ok.. And what happens if a bunch of them get injured?  And how exactly is the Canadian QB in the ratio?  Im assuming they have to actually be on the field to provide any ratio benefits?

I'm missing the part where this is such a 'bad deal' for the players...

Watch every team suddenly have a 3rd Cdn QB by 2021

Just now, Colin Unger said:

Ok.. And what happens if a bunch of them get injured?  And how exactly is the Canadian QB in the ratio?  Im assuming they have to actually be on the field to provide any ratio benefits?

I would imagine you either get a fine or sign some cast off to roster for the ratio. We've seen worse nucks dredged up in the past for ratio then this will cause to be recirculated. 

I would think either, a NI starting qb now counts to the ratio (which is tough) maybe a back up NI qb will give you an extra DI (thatd be awesome) 

2 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I would imagine you either get a fine or sign some cast off to roster for the ratio. We've seen worse nucks dredged up in the past for ratio then this will cause to be recirculated. 

I would think either, a NI starting qb now counts to the ratio (which is tough) maybe a back up NI qb will give you an extra DI (thatd be awesome) 

The problem with rewarding teams for having a Canadian backup is with 3 qbs on the roster every team is going to dress the equipment managers as the 3rd string qb.  It should be a case where if you play a Canadain qb while he is in the game you can insert a DI for a different Canadian.

13 minutes ago, Mike said:

Sounds like that isn’t at all what it is - teams required to have 3 Americans with 3 years team service or 4 years league service in starting lineup 

Brutal 

Just now, Colin Unger said:

The problem with rewarding teams for having a Canadian backup is with 3 qbs on the roster every team is going to dress the equipment managers as the 3rd string qb.  It should be a case where if you play a Canadain qb while he is in the game you can insert a DI for a different Canadian.

Weve seen teams down to 3rd string too frequently for that imo. Itd be a calculated risk. And yes I think several teams would take the chance. And I dont think thats bad. The 3rd qb would probably be the holder too. 

I think thatd be a great idea. Counting a starting NI qb to the ratio isnt going to see a spree of NI qbs, youd need a strong back up ni qb too. And the league just doesnt have those. 

So right now the Bombers are covered by Adams, Bryant, Hardrick, Nevis, Bighill, Jefferson, Fenner, Gaitor, Medlock... maybe Alexander and Wilson too?

Not too concerned

3 minutes ago, Colin Unger said:

The problem with rewarding teams for having a Canadian backup is with 3 qbs on the roster every team is going to dress the equipment managers as the 3rd string qb.  It should be a case where if you play a Canadain qb while he is in the game you can insert a DI for a different Canadian.

Or maybe CDN QBs will develop into starters eventually... and teams will actually put time and effort into that instead of just trying to skirt the rules...  hmm.

1 minute ago, Floyd said:

So right now the Bombers are covered by Adams, Bryant, Hardrick, Nevis, Bighill, Jefferson, Fenner, Gaitor, Medlock... maybe Alexander and Wilson too?

Not too concerned

If a team doesnt have 3 guys with 3-4 years of service thats more an issue it self. 

3 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

If a team doesnt have 3 guys with 3-4 years of service thats more an issue it self. 

Jason Gregor is reporting that for these players a certain percentage of their salary won't count against the cap.  So it could be a case that the more you have the more you save.

Let’s make it harder for young players to break into the league than it already is. 

Just now, AKAChip said:

Let’s make it harder for young players to break into the league than it already is. 

So, you'd rather not have skill be the deciding factor.   I'd rather a guy get beat because the next guy was better, not "good enough and cheaper"

3 minutes ago, AKAChip said:

Let’s make it harder for young players to break into the league than it already is. 

Thanks Debbie Downer...

Or maybe this is a way to pay players a competitive salary and keep them from jumping ship after 1-2 years

4 minutes ago, AKAChip said:

Let’s make it harder for young players to break into the league than it already is. 

You can't really give to one without taking from the other in this regard.

Does this mean we can bring Denmark back again?

3 minutes ago, AKAChip said:

Let’s make it harder for young players to break into the league than it already is. 

Yeah its interesting. Most leagues like this (like minor and un affiliated baseball) cap how many vets you can have to keep new talent flowing into the league and getting a chance. I hope that min imp vet thing has a hard cap for cap saving. 

1 hour ago, WBBFanWest said:

So, you'd rather not have skill be the deciding factor.   I'd rather a guy get beat because the next guy was better, not "good enough and cheaper"

This league is already extremely veteran heavy. Most teams will start more than enough veterans even without this rule. It’s just stupid that a guy may get a spot solely because he’s a veteran. If that comes into play even once, it’s a stupid rule. 

Edited May 15, 20196 yr by AKAChip

3 minutes ago, Colin Unger said:

You can't really give to one without taking from the other in this regard.

You could do nothing and not make a rule actively worse?