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

Within 5 years these spots will be filled by Europeans that have played at D1 schools.  It’s amazing how many kids are being recruited to states.

If the salary cap only goes up $50k where does the money for the extra roster spot come from? Essentially a cap decrease, no? None of the experienced players can be happy that the base goes up and their salary will have to go down to accommodate. Unless I am missing something I just don't get how this is good for anyone but ST players and American rookies.

the players will get 20% of revenue from CFL 2.0 I think it’s going to come from that.

2 hours ago, Bigblue204 said:

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

Is that how someone gets a Mexican passport?

Canadian ratio makes sense, this is just stupid.

On ‎2019‎-‎05‎-‎15 at 6:54 PM, Noeller said:

It's not about you caring... You already like football. So how do we get people that wouldn't normally like football to like it...? We can try bringing in players from their country. Not saying it's immediately going to work, but it's a start. 

Not everything is all about you. 

Not everything is about you either yet you love to throw your opinions around this place without asking.

7 hours ago, wbbfan said:

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. 

I haven't seen anything that says the global players have to be on the game day roster. Do you have a link that says that's the case?

10 hours ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

Is that how someone gets a Mexican passport?

Canadian ratio makes sense, this is just stupid.

That's a weird thing to say....but regardless.  If u spend time bitching and complaining about what others have, you're taking time away from improving yourself. PR players have no one to blame but themselves for being PR players. Work harder or go home.

For those that want details of new CBA

https://3downnation.com/2019/05/17/cflpa-sends-detailed-memo-to-players-on-new-cba-terms/

looks like this is a incentive to keep back up players with experience so your DI on game day roster will be vets.

I can see these 9 teams in groups of 3. The top 3, the middle 3, and the bottom 3. These  teams as Zamperin has slotted seems about right, with only final positioning to be determined.

 

Rick Zamperin: Stampeders and Alouettes at opposite ends of CFL power rankings

The season’s first CFL power rankings. 

👁‍🗨From here on in, it only gets more interesting.

1. Calgary Stampeders. The defending champions are not only No. 1 by default, they still are going to be a tough out in 2019. There are a lot of changes on defence but with QB Bo Levi Mitchell — a two-time Grey Cup champion and last year’s Most Outstanding Player — still chucking the ball, the Stamps remain the CFL’s top seed.

2. Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Head coach Mike O’Shea may employ the most balanced roster in the league, but at the end of the day the Bombers will need quarterback Matt Nichols to make the jump into elite level status to challenge for a championship.

3. Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Orlondo Steinauer is the new head coach in Steeltown and he inherits a talented team that may have the clearest path to a division title with Ottawa undergoing a facelift and Toronto and Montreal in full rebuild mode.

4. B.C. Lions. The addition of star quarterback Mike Reilly and receiver Duron Carter will greatly improve B.C. offensive fortunes. Now new head coach DeVone Claybrooks has to push all the right buttons.

5. Edmonton Eskimos. In what amounted to a nearly complete makeover, the Eskimos added QB Trevor Harris, receiver Greg Ellingson and linebacker Larry Dean this off-season. But we’ve seen many times in the past that making a lot of changes doesn’t guarantee success.

6. Saskatchewan Roughriders. Speaking of changes, the Riders have a tonne of talent, but with uber boss Chris Jones long gone, the responsibility of guiding Saskatchewan falls on rookie head coach Craig Dickenson. A healthy Zach Collaros would greatly improve the Roughriders’ chances in 2019.

7. Ottawa Redblacks. The Redblacks are seventh on the list primarily due to their trip to last year’s Grey Cup. Ottawa, along with Toronto and Montreal, have a gargantuan question mark at the most important position on the field, quarterback.

8. Toronto Argonauts. Ricky Ray retired just weeks ago, leaving the starting QB duties to James Franklin. If he doesn’t start to live up to hype that followed him from Edmonton, it’s going to be a long season in the big smoke.

9. Montreal Alouettes. Not only is the team’s ownership status in flux, the on-field product leaves a lot to be desired. It has been a revolving door at quarterback since Hall of Famer Anthony Calvillo retired after the 2013 season, but at least the Alouettes don’t have to deal with the Johnny Manziel circus this season.

No surprise that the bottom 3 teams are in the East. The imbalance will be there again.

 

 

24 minutes ago, Jpan85 said:

looks like this is a incentive to keep back up players with experience so your DI on game day roster will be vets.

The more details we get the more details we need.

For example..  Would we be able to use Foketi as an import and Hardrick as our DI.  Start Hardrick as our tackle and then if we get an injury to a canadian guard put Foketi in at guard?  Or would Foketi have to play tackle and Hardrick moves to guard?   Fenner has gotta love this rule.  If Jones goes down he can replace him at safety.  Also..  A guy like Flanders  (if we still had him) could come in for Harris when he's hurt.  All Harris needs to do when he needs a drive off is ride the bike a bit and get trainers to look at him.  Seams like an easy rule to skirt.

And what's to stop the bombers from just dressing an injured Canadian defensive back who's injured as their starting safety and immediately removing him for Fenner?

Newcomers to watch

Willie Jefferson, defensive end

Chris Matthews, receiver

Lucky Whitehead, return specialist

Asotui Eli, centre

 

Marcus Sayles will wear 14 instead of 36

Charles Nelson has swapped from 12 to 3. 

Chris Matthews, who wore 13 during his first stint with the club (2012-2013), will wear 80 in his return to the blue and gold.

Position battles

Weak-side linebacker

Safety

Right guard

Virtually every international defensive back spot

The seventh and final spot will be either right guard or receiver — specifically, field-side slotback.

Bombers’ depth chart heading into training camp: one mans version..

https://3downnation.com/2019/05/16/john-hodges-blue-bomber-training-camp-preview/

41 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

PR players have no one to blame but themselves for being PR players

Well, maybe their parents for their genetics...

Truth is, sometimes you can't out-work your genetics (see Ruettiger, Rudy). 

10 minutes ago, nate007 said:

Well, maybe their parents for their genetics...

Truth is, sometimes you can't out-work your genetics (see Ruettiger, Rudy). 

You obviously haven't watched Gattaca!

10 minutes ago, Colin Unger said:

You obviously haven't watched Gattaca!

If the Bombers are as good as the movie Gattaca, they will win the Grey Cup!

Very good movie.

1 minute ago, Mark F said:

If the Bombers are as good as the movie Gattaca, they will win the Grey Cup!

Very good movie.

Agreed its one of my favorites.. I find it both inspiring and also horrifying. 

Esks released National offensive lineman Mason Woods. 

O'Day is smiling. He can fill up his OL depth by picking up scraps. 

2017 draft looking better all the time...

3 hours ago, Mr Dee said:

Newcomers to watch

Willie Jefferson, defensive end

Chris Matthews, receiver

Lucky Whitehead, return specialist

Asotui Eli, centre

 

Marcus Sayles will wear 14 instead of 36

Charles Nelson has swapped from 12 to 3. 

Chris Matthews, who wore 13 during his first stint with the club (2012-2013), will wear 80 in his return to the blue and gold.

Position battles

Weak-side linebacker

Safety

Right guard

Virtually every international defensive back spot

The seventh and final spot will be either right guard or receiver — specifically, field-side slotback.

Bombers’ depth chart heading into training camp: one mans version..

https://3downnation.com/2019/05/16/john-hodges-blue-bomber-training-camp-preview/

That depth chart looks gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood!

1 hour ago, M.O.A.B. said:

Esks released National offensive lineman Mason Woods. 

O'Day is smiling. He can fill up his OL depth by picking up scraps. 

Esks. picked up Spooner and dropped Woods, both were pretty highly rated in their draft classes but haven't lived up to their promise.

 

Edited May 17, 20196 yr by Throw Long Bannatyne

45 minutes ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

Esks. picked up Spooner and dropped Woods, both were pretty highly rated in their draft classes that haven't lived up to their promise.

 

Spooner didnt have a chance here. The leos wanted to scoop him off our PR too but he declined to go. Spooners the better prospect imo. Former highly regarded draft picks tend to ping pong around the league a lot before diying out. Nis, especially linemen get every chance in the world to make a go of it. 

BC Lions have released national fullback Rolly Lumbala

Just now, Dirty30 said:

BC Lions have released national fullback Rolly Lumbala

The purge continues

sign a Boyko...release a Lumbala...BC lions...team with no depth but a million dollar QB/RG tandem hahaha