For minor off-season Bomber news.  Any significant stories or news that are likely to generate significant discussion may have their own thread created.

Going to try going with the two threads again for the off season.    One for Bomber news, one for CFL news.   These threads should be used for general / minor day to day news, tweets, etc.  A catch all for tidbits that people want to share to keep everyone up to date on the goings and comings of the league.

Any news, tweets, and signings that is likely to generate significant discussion may have their own threads created.

4 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

Let's get Chungh and Goossen under contract. Then you hope that Gray beats out Neufeld and Neufeld becomes your 6th OL. Of course, in the scenario, I'm also hoping that somebody tells Danny Mac and Co to get off their asses and find some receivers.

Yeah. So far he’s been better at finding defensive backs than receivers. Just like his playing days

I'd honestly feel better if they moved on from Couture. Neuf has proven himself to be very valuable. Not that couture hasnt, but not quite as much as neuf. Move on from couture, hopefully one of gray or spooner can take his spot.

Edited November 29, 20187 yr by Bigblue204

1 hour ago, Bigblue204 said:

I'd honestly feel better if they moved on from Couture. Neuf has proven himself to be very valuable. Not that couture hasnt, but not quite as much as neuf. Move on from couture, hopefully one of gray or spooner can take his spot.

Speller may have usurped Spooner, he's on the roster, Spooner is not.

16 hours ago, Floyd said:

It would be an awful strategy not to start Gray from day one... we're on a one year contract* - get him in the game, get him signed long-term

You don't throw an unproven commodity a starting role just like that; it's a reckless strategy.

*Gray signed a three-year deal in October (signed through 2020), meaning he has two years left on it.

1 minute ago, blue_gold_84 said:

You don't throw an unproven commodity a starting role just like that; it's a reckless strategy.

*Gray signed a three-year deal in October (signed through 2020), meaning he has two years left on it.

I think he has an opportunity to go to the NFL though. But, if he's not starting here, there is no way the NFL is coming for him. I believe his time down south is done. 

The big upside on Gray is that he could possibly be a starting Tackle.  We can find good Canadian interior linemen.  He becomes a ratio breaker if he can replace Hardrick. 

1 minute ago, MC said:

The big upside on Gray is that he could possibly be a starting Tackle.  We can find good Canadian interior linemen.  He becomes a ratio breaker if he can replace Hardrick. 

But how much more expensive is a Canadian O-Lineman than a Canadian in another position. It's great to have the flexibility but quality, American O-Linemen are cheap, relatively speaking. 

17 hours ago, Mark H. said:

Some guy in a Lloydminster hotel tried to tell me LaBatte could have made the NFL - but he wanted to stay in SK. 

A dozen or so beers will do that.

18 minutes ago, JCon said:

But how much more expensive is a Canadian O-Lineman than a Canadian in another position. It's great to have the flexibility but quality, American O-Linemen are cheap, relatively speaking. 

He is under contract for the next two years for the same amount whether he plays tackle or is the sixth offensive lineman.  And you have to pay a lot more for a starting Canadian receiver than a very good American there too.  We stacked our defense this year with 11 starting Americans and trusted Lapo to come up with the smoke and mirrors on offense.  We need to increase the number of game breakers on offense - and the quickest way is to add another American receiver as a starter and a change-of-pace offensive threat as a DI.  You can do the first part of that by going with 4 Canadian on the line.

Any Starting Canadian LBers available this off season? Besides Muamba and Hurl...

31 minutes ago, JCon said:

But how much more expensive is a Canadian O-Lineman than a Canadian in another position. It's great to have the flexibility but quality, American O-Linemen are cheap, relatively speaking. 

I read somewhere Stanley Bryant is making around $200,000 per year, not much savings to be had there if true.

55 minutes ago, JCon said:

But how much more expensive is a Canadian O-Lineman than a Canadian in another position. It's great to have the flexibility but quality, American O-Linemen are cheap, relatively speaking. 

The good ones cost the same.  Someone like Stanley Bryant wouldn’t cost any more at his peak if he’s Canadian, he’d just have a longer career because he’s Canadian and harder to replace.  The mediocre Canadian guys who can stick on rosters are the guys who are overpaid.

2 hours ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

I read somewhere Stanley Bryant is making around $200,000 per year, not much savings to be had there if true.

Oh, that's definitely true.  I would bet none of the O-lines in the league start a Canadian at left tackle on a regular basis

IIRC - the last one was Josh Bourke

I'm going to guess if you compared Brad Sinopoli and Greg Ellingson - their salaries would be similar. 

3 hours ago, Tracker said:

A dozen or so beers will do that.

Wimp refused to drink scotch. 

BTW - it was because Labatte could make more money on his family's farm. 

2 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

Wimp refused to drink scotch. 

BTW - it was because Labatte could make more money on his family's farm. 

Was there an issue with his dirt track racing too? The Bombers didn't want him to race? I might be confusing this. 

2 hours ago, Bigblue204 said:

Any Starting Canadian LBers available this off season? Besides Muamba and Hurl...

I think Singleton might be... if so- 

Edited November 29, 20187 yr by wanna-b-fanboy

39 minutes ago, JCon said:

Was there an issue with his dirt track racing too? The Bombers didn't want him to race? I might be confusing this. 

Don't know.  The guy said he didn't go to the NFL because he could make more money on his family's grain farm

But then why even bother playing in the CFL? That question he could not answer.

2 hours ago, Mark H. said:

Don't know.  The guy said he didn't go to the NFL because he could make more money on his family's grain farm

But then why even bother playing in the CFL? That question he could not answer.

And here I thought all they had in southern Saskatchewan were gopher farms.

1 hour ago, Mark H. said:

Don't know.  The guy said he didn't go to the NFL because he could make more money on his family's grain farm

But then why even bother playing in the CFL? That question he could not answer.

Yep, if he was raking it in on the farm he wouldn't lower himself into doing those stupid Humpty's commercials.

Edited November 29, 20187 yr by Throw Long Bannatyne

8 hours ago, JCon said:

But how much more expensive is a Canadian O-Lineman than a Canadian in another position. It's great to have the flexibility but quality, American O-Linemen are cheap, relatively speaking. 

Starting Canadian OL are the highest paid on the team.  

Just now, SpeedFlex27 said:

Starting Canadian OL are the highest paid on the team.  

Right but how much more would Gray make than Hardrick, if he were a starting tackle? Would it be worth starting an extra Canadian lineman, if it meant get flexibility somewhere else or would it be too much more. Maybe it's a wash. 

1 minute ago, JCon said:

Right but how much more would Gray make than Hardrick, if he were a starting tackle? Would it be worth starting an extra Canadian lineman, if it meant get flexibility somewhere else or would it be too much more. Maybe it's a wash. 

Gray would probably make more than Hardrick in the long run. Most Canadian OL once they sign seem to stay with their teams while Americans can & do move from team to team a bit more. Any CFL team that has stud OL will pay them to keep them. I think they'd be considered a more valuable commodity. 

A few tidbits from Walters' year-end presser today:

 

Wpg free agents

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

ALEXANDER, Brandon, I, DB, Central Florida,
BIGHILL, Adam, I, LB, Central Washington
BRIGGS, Jesse, N, LB, McGill

CHUNGH, Sukh, N, OL, Calgary
CORNEY, Trent, N, DL, Virginia
COUTURE, Michael, N, OL, Simon Fraser
DEMSKI, Nic, N, WR, Manitoba
DRESSLER, Weston, I, WR, North Dakota

DURANT, Darian, I, QB, North Carolina

FOGG, Kevin, I, DB, Liberty
GAUTHIER, Shayne, N, LB, Laval
GOOSSEN, Matthias, N, OL, Simon Fraser

HECHT, Jeff, N, DB, Saint Mary’s
JEFFCOAT, Jackson, I, DL, Texas
LAFRANCE, Kienan, N, RB, Manitoba
LANKFORD, Ryan, I, WR, Illinois
LEGGETT, Maurice, I, DB, Valdosta State
LOFFLER, Taylor, N, DB, UBC
MEDLOCK, Justin, I, K, UCLA
MILES, Thomas, N, LB, Manitoba
MILLER, Mike, N, FB, Acadia
MORGAN, Brendan, N, DB, Queen’s
NEVIS, Drake, I, DL, Louisiana State
OKPALAUGO, Tristan, I, DL, Fresno State
PLESIUS, Frederic, N, LB, Laval
REMPEL, Chad, N, LS, Saskatchewan
RENAUD, Frank, N, LB, Windsor
RUSH, John, N, LB, Guelph
SANTOS-KNOX, Jovan, I, LB, Massachusetts
THOMAS, Jake, N, DL, Acadia
TURNER, Bryant, I, DL, Alabama Birmingham,  Retired
WILD, Ian, I, LB, Mercyhurst College
WILSON, Kyrie, I, LB, Fresno State

 

Would be nice to keep Corney.

 

Edited November 30, 20187 yr by Mark F