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

I'm really curious to see how much of a factor Jones was on the Saskatchewan defense.   They seemed to have played way above their heads and if they come back down to earth then yikes it could get ugly in Riderville. 

18 minutes ago, Brandon said:

I'm really curious to see how much of a factor Jones was on the Saskatchewan defense.   They seemed to have played way above their heads and if they come back down to earth then yikes it could get ugly in Riderville. 

I'd love to see them go 3-15 with numerous crushing losses including a 77-0 loss in the Banjo Bowl.

1 minute ago, rebusrankin said:

I'd love to see them go 3-15 with numerous crushing losses including a 77-0 loss in the Banjo Bowl.

Every year I say I want to see them go 0-18 and that would STILL be too good for that babbling rabble in the Gap... 

30 minutes ago, Brandon said:

I'm really curious to see how much of a factor Jones was on the Saskatchewan defense.   They seemed to have played way above their heads and if they come back down to earth then yikes it could get ugly in Riderville. 

I was going to say this earlier.

They lost the best thing he brought to the table, defensive coordinator.

The game planning and in game adjustment on D  seems likely to take a hit.

I don't want them to be winless,  but it would be nice if they were humbled by the Blue and collect only a few wins against the East teams. 

They can win 1 game max per month.

Excluding September.

11 minutes ago, Brandon said:

I don't want them to be winless,  but it would be nice if they were humbled by the Blue and collect only a few wins against the East teams. 

Throw in a full season of their typical off-field stuff (bar fights, drug charges, getting busted having secret rosters, etc) and I'm good with that!

2 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

Throw in a full season of their typical off-field stuff (bar fights, drug charges, getting busted having secret rosters, etc) and I'm good with that!

Protecting the good citizens of Regina from Ethiopian thugs.

 

 

 

12 hours ago, Brandon said:

I don't want them to be winless,  but it would be nice if they were humbled by the Blue and collect only a few wins against the East teams. 

If you want them to win a few games, you should at least want them against the West teams to support the big blue.

1 hour ago, Mr Dee said:

 

 

This will make them considerably better. Great add for a D that was already looking fairly good.

 

19 hours ago, Atomic said:

Wouldn't get too comfortable. The team is not folding any time soon but last I heard, season tickets are down about 3000 compared to this time last year. Between 17k and 18k now.

Are you sure that figure is accurate? I was told we were in the 21-22k range right now.

25 minutes ago, gcn11 said:

Are you sure that figure is accurate? I was told we were in the 21-22k range right now.

Pretty sure he is talking about Ottawa.

 

 

I was talking about Winnipeg. I'm not 100 percent sure of the number because I haven't seen the count myself but I heard it from someone in the org so I have no reason to doubt it.

26 minutes ago, Geebrr said:

Pretty sure he is talking about Ottawa.

 

 

Hmm idk unless i am reading it wrong too i think he is talking about the Blue Bombers.. forget see above post 

Edited May 22, 20196 yr by bb1

Not a bad article from....Paul Friesen.

The Canadian-import player ratio is getting a tweak in the new collective bargaining agreement ratified by the CFL and the players union on Wednesday.

It’ll take effect in the 2020 season.

That’ll give coaches and GMs some time to get their heads wrapped around it — and they’ll need it.

Bombers Chad Rempel described the new rule as a way for veteran Americans to become, essentially, non-imports.

Those who qualify have to be with the same team for three years, or in the CFL for four.

But the rule requiring each team to start seven natural Canadians remains in effect. Teams will have the option of adding three qualifying Americans, for a total of 10 “non-import” spots.

Those qualifying American players may also be backups who go into a game to replace injured starting Canadians. Until now, teams had to have a Canadian backup to replace a Canadian starter.

“So it provides more depth,” Rempel said. “When there is an injury, you’re not required to just replace a Canadian with a Canadian. It can be basically anybody. So the quality of play should go up. You’re not handcuffing GM’s.”

“We’re continuing to work on the language around that to make sure it’s not abused.”

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/cfl-to-try-veteran-american-ratio#click=https://t.co/4Mh9G0rdB5

 

14 hours ago, Blueandgold said:

If you want them to win a few games, you should at least want them against the West teams to support the big blue.

Who disagrees with this? Some closet Rider fan 🤮?

4 hours ago, Mr Dee said:

Not a bad article from....Paul Friesen.

The Canadian-import player ratio is getting a tweak in the new collective bargaining agreement ratified by the CFL and the players union on Wednesday.

It’ll take effect in the 2020 season.

That’ll give coaches and GMs some time to get their heads wrapped around it — and they’ll need it.

Bombers Chad Rempel described the new rule as a way for veteran Americans to become, essentially, non-imports.

Those who qualify have to be with the same team for three years, or in the CFL for four.

But the rule requiring each team to start seven natural Canadians remains in effect. Teams will have the option of adding three qualifying Americans, for a total of 10 “non-import” spots.

Those qualifying American players may also be backups who go into a game to replace injured starting Canadians. Until now, teams had to have a Canadian backup to replace a Canadian starter.

“So it provides more depth,” Rempel said. “When there is an injury, you’re not required to just replace a Canadian with a Canadian. It can be basically anybody. So the quality of play should go up. You’re not handcuffing GM’s.”

“We’re continuing to work on the language around that to make sure it’s not abused.”

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/cfl-to-try-veteran-american-ratio#click=https://t.co/4Mh9G0rdB5

 

I thought the rulel was wacky at first, but having more options to replace injured Canadian starters in game is always a nice option.. 

I mean we probably didn’t have enough OL dressed regardless of the ratio, but I’ll never forget Jon Osterhoust(spelling?) spending a half at OL against Montreal.. 

Edited May 23, 20196 yr by Blueandgold

 

2 hours ago, Mr Dee said:

 

Maybe they'll save it for an episode of Dragon's Den?    

Interesting note out of Esks camp that Travis Bond was playing RT.......

@Dave_CHED

Tough training camp session for the #Eskimos today. Two RB's went down in Shaq Cooper and Martese Jackson. Off-day today for OL Sir Vincent Rogers, OL Colin Kelly, and DB Arjen Colquhoun. Travis Bond was working at RT and held his own. Onyeka at wide-corner played well. #CFL

49 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Interesting note out of Esks camp that Travis Bond was playing RT.......

@Dave_CHED

Tough training camp session for the #Eskimos today. Two RB's went down in Shaq Cooper and Martese Jackson. Off-day today for OL Sir Vincent Rogers, OL Colin Kelly, and DB Arjen Colquhoun. Travis Bond was working at RT and held his own. Onyeka at wide-corner played well. #CFL

Didn't we try that here and it went not so swell?

I don't know that we ever had him at Tackle, did we?? But I remember that the book on him was always that his footwork isn't good enough to play T...great guard tho. Ultimate brawler.