2024/2025 CFL (non-Bomber) Off-Season Thread

[GCn20]

7 hours ago, Tracker said:

Disagree. It was obvious to all and sundry that there were four players who ought to have been replaced before the start of last season: Kolankowski, Alexander, Bighill and Jake Thomas. All were past their "best before" dates and for reasons known only to God and O'Shea, they kept being put out there and seem likely to be out there again a lot this year. Those four players cost us the Grey Cup and probably contributed to the injuries to Bighill and Collaros. The secret, if there is one, to remaining competitive in the CFL and pro sports in general is to get rid of players before they become major liabilites. That is the business side of this and too many GMs and coaches have been sacked because they lost their objectivity.

2 out of the 4 you mentioned are gone. I don't agree at all that Kola has hit his best before..he just isn't a top notch OL and we don't have anyone to steal his job atm. We aren't starting Kola because Osh has a man crush on him. We are starting him because Eli was never able to take the job from him.

I don't get the Jake love either, so I can only assume that he must hold tremendous value to the room. Only thing that stands to reason really.  Not a good reason for the amount of reps he got, then again what was behind him? Should have gone IMP I suppose. Not sure why we felt the need to go 9 NATS all season.

Edited May 24 by GCn20

[SpeedFlex27]

15 hours ago, Noeller said:

He can definitely be effective when used in very small doses. And, fwiw, it looks like he's lost a fair bit of weight this year, which will hopefully help. Still want Lawson taking the majority of reps if we're insistent upon having a starting NI DT...

Jake brings little or nothing to the table as a player anymore. He gets washed out constantly. He puts very little pressure on opposings qbs. Halfbacks on other teams shoot through the hole right by him & he runs on his tippy toes.  

15 hours ago, HardCoreBlue said:

Like I said I'm not seeing it but hey I'm not the technical expert so when game tape review happens by the experts, that is where fact can be found.

You're not wrong.

2 hours ago, GCn20 said:

2 out of the 4 you mentioned are gone. I don't agree at all that Kola has hit his best before..he just isn't a top notch OL and we don't have anyone to steal his job atm. We aren't starting Kola because Osh has a man crush on him. We are starting him because Eli was never able to take the job from him.

I don't get the Jake love either, so I can only assume that he must hold tremendous value to the room. Only thing that stands to reason really.  Not a good reason for the amount of reps he got, then again what was behind him? Should have gone IMP I suppose. Not sure why we felt the need to go 9 NATS all season.

It's an ego thing for Osh as in, "Look what I can do as a coach.". We also get extra draft picks. 

[Bigblue204]

If there's one thing we know about MOS, it's that his ego is out of control 

[HardCoreBlue]

Just now, Bigblue204 said:

If there's one thing we know about MOS, it's that his ego is out of control 

I’ve been told over the years I’m somewhat of a sarcasm expert but I’m having a hard time deciphering this statement.

[Tracker]

14 hours ago, GCn20 said:

2 out of the 4 you mentioned are gone. I don't agree at all that Kola has hit his best before..he just isn't a top notch OL and we don't have anyone to steal his job atm. We aren't starting Kola because Osh has a man crush on him. We are starting him because Eli was never able to take the job from him.

I don't get the Jake love either, so I can only assume that he must hold tremendous value to the room. Only thing that stands to reason really.  Not a good reason for the amount of reps he got, then again what was behind him? Should have gone IMP I suppose. Not sure why we felt the need to go 9 NATS all season.

I should have worded that post to reflect that Bighill and Alexander are gone from the roster, but I do not think it was solely a coaches' decsion. They  were aware enough thaat their professional pride invetervened, or I think they might still be dressing. And Kolankowski's best before date was 2009.

Edited May 24 by Tracker

[SpeedFlex27]

On 2025-05-23 at 5:55 PM, wbbfan said:

yep. 
 

https://3downnation.com/2025/05/23/silence-at-last-montreal-alouettes-ban-air-horns-for-2025-season/

About time. Sounds like the cfl put their foot down and are holding the ALs responsible to the standard held across the league. 

 

The Als are still keeping their selfish & entitled "Oh whoa is me" fans in the loop. Making them feel like they're important when they're not.

[wbbfan]

4 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

The Als are still keeping their selfish & entitled "Oh whoa is me" fans in the loop. Making them feel like they're important when they're not.

yeah it’s gross. They’ve even been getting complaints from their own season ticket holders about those two.  
 And still he’s trying to convince the ALs to let him use other similar horns. 

[17to85]

It's just how negatively the dumb horns impact the TV broadcast. It's obnoxious.

[wbbfan]

29 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

It's just how negatively the dumb horns impact the TV broadcast. It's obnoxious.

Yeah, could you imagine siting next to those two randomly though? Can’t imagine how annoying it is in person. 
 I’m sure the league won’t let them do the same crap with another horn and continue to ruin broadcast. 

[Goalie]

22 hours ago, Tracker said:

I should have worded that post to reflect that Bighill and Alexander are gone from the roster, but I do not think it was solely a coaches' decsion. They  were aware enough thaat their professional pride invetervened, or I think they might still be dressing. And Kolankowski's best before date 

Elis best b4 date was 2019 cuz since he refused the shot in 2020 or 21, he’s been **** when he’s had chances. You know what kolo doesn’t do? Snap the ball early or sail it over heads. Eli has and does almost every time he gets a shot.  The reality is. They signed Jake. They didn’t sign Alexander or bighill. 
they don’t think Jake is a problem. It’s not ego. lol at ppl on the internet thinking ego plays a role when you wanted to cut Zach if Streveler and Wilson showed well. Hey. They did. Maybe speak of things that would cripple the team and complain when they don’t do that instead. 57 18 as a starter. Yeah move on cuz Streveler looked “ok” against sasks cuts. Honestly. Wilson appears to actually have the better stats. Wild. 

Edited May 25 by Goalie

[sweep the leg]

On 2025-05-24 at 10:57 AM, Bigblue204 said:

If there's one thing we know about MOS, it's that his ego is out of control 

Maybe playing extra Canadians is what he’s always smirking about.

[JuranBoldenRules]

1 hour ago, sweep the leg said:

Maybe playing extra Canadians is what he’s always smirking about.

And wearing shorts because he knows he's better than us.

[SpeedFlex27]

9 hours ago, wbbfan said:

yeah it’s gross. They’ve even been getting complaints from their own season ticket holders about those two.  
 And still he’s trying to convince the ALs to let him use other similar horns. 

He was saying he wants to bring in something even louder next season. Which if I was a ticket holder in Montreal., I'd be very much against.

 

[Booch]

32 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

He was saying he wants to bring in something even louder next season. Which if I was a ticket holder in Montreal., I'd be very much against.

 

If I was next to them I'd grab their horn or whatever they had and snap it in half...and ask whatya gonna do bout it.

If I get tossed from the game so be it...but would leave with thunderous cheers I am sure

[Piggy 1]

32 minutes ago, Booch said:

If I was next to them I'd grab their horn or whatever they had and snap it in half...and ask whatya gonna do bout it.

If I get tossed from the game so be it...but would leave with thunderous cheers I am sure

And insert into an orifice that squeaks the odd time to.

[wbbfan]

2 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

He was saying he wants to bring in something even louder next season. Which if I was a ticket holder in Montreal., I'd be very much against.

 

Seems like the league told the ALs they would be held accountable to the rules and they tried to break it to the guy softly. Doesn’t matter how the horn works, if it’s mechanical or pneumatic etc it will be banned. If it’s out right too loud it’ll also be banned. 
 

They want the easy short cut to having a home field like the bombers and riders do with out nearly the attendance or stadium design. 
 

1 hour ago, Booch said:

If I was next to them I'd grab their horn or whatever they had and snap it in half...and ask whatya gonna do bout it.

If I get tossed from the game so be it...but would leave with thunderous cheers I am sure

right? Or fly out 10-20 guys to sit around them with the same horn and beak it none stop when the ALs have the ball. See how fast they change tune. 

[GCn20]

On 2025-05-24 at 1:39 PM, Tracker said:

I should have worded that post to reflect that Bighill and Alexander are gone from the roster, but I do not think it was solely a coaches' decsion. They  were aware enough thaat their professional pride invetervened, or I think they might still be dressing. And Kolankowski's best before date was 2009.

You think Bighill and Alexander gracefully stepped aside despite having contract offers....you are dreaming in technicolor.

[bigg jay]

1 minute ago, GCn20 said:

You think Bighill and Alexander gracefully stepped aside despite having contract offers....you are dreaming in technicolor.

Yeah. it was pretty clear that neither guy decided it was their time to pack it in, and that it was the club who made those calls.  That said, both guys did handle it as gracefully as possible.  

Quote

Alexander’s agent reached out to 3DownNation to explain that his client isn’t retiring and is still actively looking for his next playing opportunity.

 DB Brandon Alexander bids Winnipeg Blue Bombers farewell but not retiring from CFL - 3DownNation

 

Quote

It’s unfortunate I won’t be coming back to the Blue and Gold this coming season. I’m not mad, I understand the way the business goes.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers moving on from veteran LB Adam Bighill: report - 3DownNation

[Fatty Liver]

4 hours ago, bigg jay said:

Yeah. it was pretty clear that neither guy decided it was their time to pack it in, and that it was the club who made those calls.  That said, both guys did handle it as gracefully as possible.  

 DB Brandon Alexander bids Winnipeg Blue Bombers farewell but not retiring from CFL - 3DownNation

 

Winnipeg Blue Bombers moving on from veteran LB Adam Bighill: report - 3DownNation

Anyone know what Bighill is doing?  Hard to fathom he stays in Wpg. if he's no longer connected to the Bombers.  Could see him getting into management, if he can get his foot in the door with a CFL team.

Edited May 26 by Fatty Liver

[bigg jay]

1 hour ago, Fatty Liver said:

Anyone know what Bighill is doing?  Hard to fathom he stays in Wpg. if he's no longer connected to the Bombers.  Could see him getting into management, if he can get his foot in the door with a CFL team.

I could easily see him staying.  He's got a very good job here and he (and his family) have been entrenched in the community.  He's still been doing stuff in local schools (anti-bullying campaigns) as recently as a month ago so even if he's not with the Bombers anymore, he's still active in that aspect.

I could just as easily see him leaving though - his kids are young enough that uprooting them wouldn't be too hard and he could do his job (or a similar one) anywhere.

[HardCoreBlue]

25 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

I could easily see him staying.  He's got a very good job here and he (and his family) have been entrenched in the community.  He's still been doing stuff in local schools (anti-bullying campaigns) as recently as a month ago so even if he's not with the Bombers anymore, he's still active in that aspect.

I could just as easily see him leaving though - his kids are young enough that uprooting them wouldn't be too hard and he could do his job (or a similar one) anywhere.

Just curious, has he indicated he wants to stay in football after his playing days are done?

[GCn20]

2 hours ago, Fatty Liver said:

Anyone know what Bighill is doing?  Hard to fathom he stays in Wpg. if he's no longer connected to the Bombers.  Could see him getting into management, if he can get his foot in the door with a CFL team.

He's still working his 9 to 5 in Winnipeg. I would imagine he will continue to do that unless another team picks up the phone. Biggie moved here, lives here, works here, why would he leave?

[Fatty Liver]

16 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

He's still working his 9 to 5 in Winnipeg. I would imagine he will continue to do that unless another team picks up the phone. Biggie moved here, lives here, works here, why would he leave?

Might come down to a lust for money, he's American, he could probably go back home and make more.  I suspect he loves football and will look for an opportunity to get back into the CFL on another level, having gone the player rep. route and being involved with the CFLPA.  Hang around Wpg. and he could be in line for Wade's job when he's done, estimated wait time, within 5 years.

Edited May 26 by Fatty Liver

[drahgon]

29 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

He's still working his 9 to 5 in Winnipeg. I would imagine he will continue to do that unless another team picks up the phone. Biggie moved here, lives here, works here, why would he leave?

He is also coaching his son's flag football team

[Bubba Zanetti]

Dear God, i just realized Callaros has not thrown a TD pass in 4 of our last 5 Grey Cups. Christ, if he's even average we would have won 4 in a row. Great now ive made myself sad and angry. Fired myself back up all over again.

Edited May 26 by Bubba Zanetti