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

4 hours ago, Mr Dee said:

Closing off the the off season - 

- #Argos sign former #Riders No. 1 pick, Canadian OL Josiah St. John. 

- “It's more tempo, more speed, and I think the biggest difference is that really everyone on this team and everyone here is a true professional,” international player, Max Zimmerman.

- bold statement of the year so far: Belton Johnson: Excited to have renewed contract w/ @GreenZoneSK as CFL analyst. On that note, I predict Zack Collaros to be named MOP this season despite throwing 2 interceptions today at practice and zero concussions this season! 

- Mike O’Shea said the spend the day going over their roster and may make changes yet..

- yet another bold statement courtesy of Rod Pedersen: And a healthy, motivated Zach Collaros makes the Saskatchewan Roughriders a formidable threat. Folks, the Riders would've beaten the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in last year's WSF if Collaros was playing. That's a fact. But if/when he gets hurt this year, the Riders' season goes south fast.

- good marketing - Fans in the lower mainland of B.C. received personalized, autographed postcards from Mike Reilly and the B.C. Lions this spring. They came in the mail and B.C. fans sent me photos of them. The fans were thrilled! 

- Bold statement #3 - I like what the Als did this off-season... could surprise some people by hosting a playoff game this year 🤔 Nik Kowalski - lastwordonCFL

- “At the end of this season, Streveler will need a new contract, and if the Bombers believe he’s their guy going forward, Nichols’ window of popportunity in Winnipeg could well be closing.”

“He’s clearly aware of that fact and that might be why we saw a leaner, fitter-looking Nichols tossing the ball around while the Bombers held their final rookie camp session on Friday.” - Ted Wyman, Winnipeg Sun

Pederson is clearly off his meds again.

Is this the first cap casualty so far?

Quote

The Toronto Argonauts have released Canadian offensive tackle Chris Zeyl just before he was set to receive a $40,000 report and pass bonus.

The 35-year-old, who played 10 seasons with the Argos, was one of the highest paid offensive linemen in the league. Van Zeyl was earning in the neighbourhood of $230,000 a season on the three-year contract extension he signed in January of 2017.

https://3downnation.com/2019/05/18/argos-release-van-zeyl-avoid-40k-report-and-pass-bonus/

Loved Collaros when he was here. Cocky, confident hated to lose and expected the same from everybody around him.

Don't see that anymore in him. Yes, people mature but he seems , dunno, like he's had the crap kicked out of him spiritually.

26 minutes ago, Zontar said:

 

Don't see that anymore in him. Yes, people mature but he seems , dunno, like he's had the crap kicked out of him spiritually.

He he has the crap kicked out of him physically. It takes a toll on everyone. Seen it a million times it feels like over the years here.

1 hour ago, Fred C Dobbs said:

Is this the first cap casualty so far?

https://3downnation.com/2019/05/18/argos-release-van-zeyl-avoid-40k-report-and-pass-bonus/

A Canadian OT - wonder if he's still got game?

6 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

A Canadian OT - wonder if he's still got game?

Very strange cap management... esp after signing St. John

walker salary casualty 

13 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

A Canadian OT - wonder if he's still got game?

Top money.

End of the line.

Doesn't even try to jump the stands.

Not for us.

Edited May 18, 20196 yr by Mr Dee

1 hour ago, Tracker said:

Pederson is clearly off his meds again.

How he ranks sask where he does is bizzare to say the least. Looking at MTL depth chart the other day they have a better all around roster..especially  on offence...they may surprise this yr..I bet they wont be that bad

4 hours ago, Booch said:

How he ranks sask where he does is bizzare to say the least. Looking at MTL depth chart the other day they have a better all around roster..especially  on offence...they may surprise this yr..I bet they wont be that bad

Problem is QB.

14 minutes ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

Problem is QB.

Had to go to their roster page to check out who they got right now and I am struggling to come up with a frontrunner for the job. Worst QB situation in the league by a mile.

I actually like Vernon Adams but damn... I wouldn't go into the season counting on him as the starter. And I feel like they are probably leaning towards Pipkin which I am almost positive would be a disaster.

Honestly I think Jeff Mathews might be the best QB they have but I don't see that happening.

Pipkin will emerge now that manziel is gone but he will be Jennings level

He has a good running back..I love Standback and they have nice receivers and picked up 2 quality NI ones in the draft.. also their Oline isnt swiss cheese..I think if pipkin plays within himself..he could develop nicely..he seems to be a bit more intelligent on the field than Jennings and also has better work ethic

4 hours ago, Floyd said:

Pipkin will emerge now that manziel is gone but he will be Jennings level

I think Vernon Adams may emerge out of Montreal. Pipkin kinda reminds me of Cato at times, Really inconsistent. Looks good then bad.

The Riders would have beaten the Bombers with Collaros.

Who was trash every time he played the Bombers.

Yeah, ok. 

HAM snaps up Van Zeyl. Thanks, Jimmy Popp.

I guess he didn't watch this game:

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/10/13/recap-winnipeg-31-saskatchewan-0/

Why does Rod Pederson think that Collaros would have helped the Rider's D slow down Harris in the WSF? 153 rushing yards and 8.1 yards per carry.

Man, I rewatched that WSF recently and it was a little dicey. That game was WAYYYY closer than it should've been and there was a reviewed TD for us that was big time iffy. That game was not domination by us... 

On 2019-05-18 at 8:35 PM, Atomic said:

Had to go to their roster page to check out who they got right now and I am struggling to come up with a frontrunner for the job. Worst QB situation in the league by a mile.

I actually like Vernon Adams but damn... I wouldn't go into the season counting on him as the starter. And I feel like they are probably leaning towards Pipkin which I am almost positive would be a disaster.

Honestly I think Jeff Mathews might be the best QB they have but I don't see that happening.

If Mathews turns out to be their best QB...they won't win a game this year. 

1 hour ago, Noeller said:

Man, I rewatched that WSF recently and it was a little dicey. That game was WAYYYY closer than it should've been and there was a reviewed TD for us that was big time iffy. That game was not domination by us... 

Agreed. At no time during that game did I feel that we were running away with it.

25 minutes ago, Tracker said:

Agreed. At no time during that game did I feel that we were running away with it.

that being said, we said going into the game don't turn the ball over the riders can't beat you, and that was the focus. At no point did I ever really feel like the Riders were going to actually win that game with their offense.

 

CFL.ca highlights just 15 of the many position battles to keep an eye on this training camp:

1) QUARTERBACK, OTTAWA

In the running: Dominique Davis, Jonathon Jennings

The favourite: Flip a coin

2. QUARTERBACK, MONTREAL

In the running: Antonio Pipkin, Vernon Adams Jr., Jeff Mathews, Matthew Shiltz

The favourite: Antonio Pipkin

3. LINEBACKER, CALGARY

In the running: Cory Greenwood, Riley Jones, Wynton McManis, Jerod Fernandez, Anthony Gore, Nate Holley, Dwayne Norman, Travis Wilson, Eric Mezzalira

The favourites: Wynton McManis, Cory Greenwood

4. RUNNING BACK, HAMILTON

In the running: Cameron Marshall, Sean Thomas-Erlington, Jackson Bennett, Maleek Irons, Ray Lawry III, Martez Carter

The favourite: Cameron Marshall

5. RECEIVER, EDMONTON

In the running: Bryce Bobo, Tevaun Smith, Natey Adjei, Kevin Elliott, Torrance Gibson, Miles Shuler, Kenny Stafford, Joshua Stangby

The favourites: It’s wide open

6. KICKER, TORONTO

In the running: Drew Brown, Zackary Medeiros, Ronnie Pfeffer, Tyer Crapigna, Donald De La Haye

The favourite: Tyler Crapigna

7. INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE, WINNIPEG

In the running: Michael Couture, Geoff Gray, Cody Speller, Drew Desjarlais, Patrick Neufeld

The favourites: Michael Couture, Geoff Gray, Patrick Neufeld

8. RUNNING BACK, BC

In the running: John White, Brandon Rutley, Shaun Wick, Jamel Lyles, Wayne Moore

The favourite: John White

9. OFFENSIVE LINE, SASKATCHEWAN

In the running: Dariusz Bladek, Philip Blake, Thaddeus Coleman, Dakoda Shepley, Terran Vaughn, Takoby Cofield, E.J. Price

The favourites: It’s wide open

10. LINEBACKER, TORONTO

In the running: Justin Herdman-Reed, Akeem Jordan, Nelkas Kwemo, Ian Wild

The favourite: Akeem Jordan

11. DEFENSIVE END, BC

In the running: Darius Allen, Matt Boesen, Meffy Koloamatangi, Vantrel McMillan, Ebenezer Ogundeko

The favourite: It’s wide open

12. DEFENSIVE TACKLE, CALGARY

In the running: Derek Wiggan, Ese Mrabure, Mike Rose, Darnell Thompson, Junior Turner, Vincent Desjardins

The favourites: Derek Wiggan, Mike Rose

13. LINEBACKER, WINNIPEG

In the running: Nick Temple, Dale Warren, Kyrie Wilson

The favourite: Kyrie Wilson

14. RUNNING BACK, EDMONTON

In the running: C.J. Gable, Shaq Cooper, Jordan Robinson, Alex Taylor

The favourite: C.J. Gable

15. OFFENSIVE LINE, OTTAWA

In the running: Philippe Gagnon, Evan Johnson, Mark Korte, Andrew Pickett, Alex Fontana

The favourite: Evan Johnson

 

The reasoning?  Here’s the article:

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/05/20/position-battles-15-watch-training-camp/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

 

JSK still injured...

3 minutes ago, Floyd said:

JSK still injured...

From the injury last year?

That's weird

 

Jeff Matthews couldn't find his arse if you drew him a map.