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

7 minutes ago, Brandon said:

So what is stopping teams from signing a guy for a low salary,   only for a  local business to instantly hire the player as a spokesperson and pay him an extra big chunk of change during the off season? 

Nothing. This already happens all the time. 

18 hours ago, Floyd said:

Has to be damaged goods...  no way they release a healthy Saunders before TC

Damaged knee ligaments, will not be healthy until labour day.  I can see him getting a lot of attention once healthy.

48 minutes ago, Brandon said:

So what is stopping teams from signing a guy for a low salary,   only for a  local business to instantly hire the player as a spokesperson and pay him an extra big chunk of change during the off season? 

Well I think that's the point ha...  I mean Bombers 'kind of' already did this with Bighill...

42 minutes ago, blue85gold said:

Nothing. This already happens all the time. 

Not in Saskatchewan apparently!

12 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

Not in Saskatchewan apparently!

only so many Western Pizza promo slots available. Maybe SolEl can sell real estate with Corinne? 

1 hour ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

Damaged knee ligaments, will not be healthy until labour day.  I can see him getting a lot of attention once healthy.

Too bad for him that he doesn't have enough years in the league to be even remotely Canuckish.

Edited May 16, 20196 yr by Pete Catan's Ghost

1 hour ago, Jimmy Pop said:

only so many Western Pizza promo slots available. Maybe SolEl can sell real estate with Corinne? 

Don't get me started on Corrine...with her puckish grin and ginger bob.

David William Naylor‏Verified account @TSNDaveNaylor 5m5 minutes ago

 

A few more details from the CFL’s new CBA (still yet to be ratified by players)

— Pending free agent players will be able to talk with any teams for 9 days in advance of opening of free agency.

— training camp padded practices ... was 10 in ‘18, 5 this year, 3 in 2020. 1/2

— global players ... 1 on each roster this season, 2 on each roster for 2020. 2/2

 

Edited May 16, 20196 yr by Throw Long Bannatyne

Bear Woods cut.... again

This is a guy I'd take a long look at as ST specialist - shoulder injury so he should be good

Not much $$ left or market for MLB...  could get him cheap

4 hours ago, blue85gold said:

Nothing. This already happens all the time. 

Yep, this actually used to be a much bigger thing then it is now. A lot of guys got cushy dealership type sales gigs on the side to supplement income back in the day.

1 hour ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

David William Naylor‏Verified account @TSNDaveNaylor 5m5 minutes ago

 

A few more details from the CFL’s new CBA (still yet to be ratified by players)

— Pending free agent players will be able to talk with any teams for 9 days in advance of opening of free agency.

— training camp padded practices ... was 10 in ‘18, 5 this year, 3 in 2020. 1/2

— global players ... 1 on each roster this season, 2 on each roster for 2020. 2/2

 

Love the talk time prior to FA. It recognizes the way things actually work and improve the situation. Id love to see more leagues do this.

Hate the reduction in padded practices. C

Is that active roster?

5 minutes ago, Floyd said:

Bear Woods cut.... again

This is a guy I'd take a long look at as ST specialist - shoulder injury so he should be good

Not much $$ left or market for MLB...  could get him cheap

I like bear woods. I dont think he'd mesh well next to bighill though.  Both are rangy, scrape to the ball carrier tackle box guys. But Bighill has an incredible range to take up the coverage duties too. Having both would make it impossible to run on us, but Id rather us scoop up one of the NFL cast offs when it happens, or find another young athletic guy who can blitz well.

 

I would also assume that woods is hurt. 

Edited May 16, 20196 yr by wbbfan

11 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I like bear woods. I dont think he'd mesh well next to bighill though.  Both are rangy, scrape to the ball carrier tackle box guys. But Bighill has an incredible range to take up the coverage duties too. Having both would make it impossible to run on us, but Id rather us scoop up one of the NFL cast offs when it happens, or find another young athletic guy who can blitz well.

 

I would also assume that woods is hurt. 

I would sign him as Bighill's backup - basically bounce one of the new LBs off the roster

Really would be another leadership signing - assuming we're cutting Hecht

Woods is beyond done and at a position we don’t need. 

Do we really need 2 global players on a roster when it appears that there aren't currently 9 deserving candidates?

2 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

Do we really need 2 global players on a roster when it appears that there aren't currently 9 deserving candidates?

Agree. Id say have them as a none counter on the PR and eventually a none counter on the active roster. Forcing teams to carry one then 2 just seems silly. Make it like an extra DI spot even. I dont get this global crap they are forcing down our throats. 

6 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Agree. Id say have them as a none counter on the PR and eventually a none counter on the active roster. Forcing teams to carry one then 2 just seems silly. Make it like an extra DI spot even. I dont get this global crap they are forcing down our throats. 

It's being forced down your throat? They created extra roster spots, so no one is being displaced, and you won't see these guys on the field except for maybe the odd special teams play. 

14 minutes ago, nate007 said:

It's being forced down your throat? They created extra roster spots, so no one is being displaced, and you won't see these guys on the field except for maybe the odd special teams play. 

They will displace someone in 2020

4 minutes ago, Floyd said:

They will displace someone in 2020

Maybe I misread, but I understood one new spot was being created this year, and two next year...

2 minutes ago, nate007 said:

Maybe I misread, but I understood one new spot was being created this year, and two next year...

I agree, that does seem to be implied, however, it isn't explicitly stated.

 

I'm waiting on the CFL to create a new spot for "leadership signings".  We could get Anwar Stewart pretty cheap.

1 hour ago, nate007 said:

It's being forced down your throat? They created extra roster spots, so no one is being displaced, and you won't see these guys on the field except for maybe the odd special teams play. 

Putting guys on the game day roster that would not other wise ever get a TC sniff, combined with all this off season draft n combine stuff for the world players yeah. Forcing them into the ratio. 

Bryant Mitchell signs with the Bucs..... 

2 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

Do we really need 2 global players on a roster when it appears that there aren't currently 9 deserving candidates?

$50,000 a year this season and $65,000 a year in 2020 to stand on the sideline.  If I were on the Practice Roster I'd be pissed.

Except there would be no difference in roster spots for either Americans or Canadians these spots are being added. Game roster will be be 3 QBs 21 Canadians 20 Americans 1 then 2 Globals.

1 hour ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

$50,000 a year this season and $65,000 a year in 2020 to stand on the sideline.  If I were on the Practice Roster I'd be pissed.

If I were a practice roster player. I'd be working harder.

Sssooo.... how long until the two Global spots are filled by North American players who were born in Spain or Germany and left when they were 2 years old...