Stamps at Bombers early chat

[SpeedFlex27]

1 hour ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

I don't see anyone close to the limit number + $400,000.

Look at Edmonton's receivers, secondary aside from Ford, OL, their 3 QB's make less than Collaros.  They aren't at that number.

Hamilton signed a bunch of guys who had played in the CFL, most of them had basically no market aside from Lawler.

What I read is that some teams are spending like the cap went up. Edmonton for sure. We can also probably include Hamilton in that group as well. I don't know how much these teams spent. Other teams like Winnipeg & Calgary stayed close to the old cap amount. That is all I know. That is what I read. Imagine the **** show if he CFL reversed the increase? Then what??? It's too late for that now. 

[SpeedFlex27]

1 hour ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

I don't see anyone close to the limit number + $400,000.

Look at Edmonton's receivers, secondary aside from Ford, OL, their 3 QB's make less than Collaros.  They aren't at that number.

Hamilton signed a bunch of guys who had played in the CFL, most of them had basically no market aside from Lawler.

From the stories I read online, the Elks did use the increase to their advantage. They signed a half dozen high priced free agents the first day. However, don't know if Ed Hervey spent a dollar or a hundred thousand more than us. Again, not lying. Just telling you what I know. 

[wbbfan]

34 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

Looking back at who we "added" in the off season and it's pretty sad. Other than Sterns and Vaughters (neither of whom are blowing anyone's socks off), what value did we actually add?

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Added: REC Gavin Cobb (N), DL Brock Gowanlock (N), DB Josh Hagerty (N), LB Jonathan Jones (A), DB Dexter Lawson Jr. (A), RB/KR Peyton Logan (A), LB Enock Makonzo (N), REC Dillon Mitchell (A), QB Shea Patterson (A), REC Jerreth Sterns (A), DL James Vaughters (A), REC Reggie White Jr. (A)

Ugly. I get that we tried quantity over quality. Raise the floor of the team if you can’t get the top of the free agent market. But we scrapped soo low in the barrel. 
Imagine where we’d be if we managed to add one impact cfl fa each of the last 3 off seasons. 

[bigg jay]

9 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

From the stories I read online, the Elks did use the increase to their advantage. They signed a half dozen high priced free agents the first day. However, don't know if Ed Hervey spent a dollar or a hundred thousand more than us. Again, not lying. Just telling you what I know. 

The increase didn't get announced until 3 days into FA, so what Hervey did on day one isn't really applicable.  FTR, most GM's, at least a few months ago, were claiming that the raise didn't affect their plans.

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/22/which-cfl-teams-plan-to-spend-to-the-increased-salary-cap-ceiling-which-dont/

[Pete]

3 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

The increase didn't get announced until 3 days into FA, so what Hervey did on day one isn't really applicable.  FTR, most GM's, at least a few months ago, were claiming that the raise didn't affect their plans.

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/22/which-cfl-teams-plan-to-spend-to-the-increased-salary-cap-ceiling-which-dont/

Who was the last impact free agent we signed, (other than resigning Lawson) was it Jefferson?

[Brandon]

8 minutes ago, Pete said:

Who was the last impact free agent we signed, (other than resigning Lawson) was it Jefferson?

Kenny Lawler from Edmonton 

[ShyGuy]

8 minutes ago, Pete said:

Who was the last impact free agent we signed, (other than resigning Lawson) was it Jefferson?

Are we not counting Lawler after his stint in Edmonton?

[bigg jay]

8 minutes ago, Pete said:

Who was the last impact free agent we signed, (other than resigning Lawson) was it Jefferson?

Yeah I asked the same thing recently. 

On one hand, we haven't needed to be very active in FA most years but on the other hand we lost/moved on from a higher amount of starters than usual this off season so you would have expected to maybe see at least one impact FA brought in.

2 minutes ago, ShyGuy said:

Are we not counting Lawler after his stint in Edmonton?

I look at that as Kenny correcting a big mistake he made rather than the club going out and getting something done. 🤣

[wbbfan]

47 minutes ago, Pete said:

Who was the last impact free agent we signed, (other than resigning Lawson) was it Jefferson?

Bringing back Lawler, Winston rose and wj was the previous big splash I think. 

[17to85]

42 minutes ago, ShyGuy said:

Are we not counting Lawler after his stint in Edmonton?

Did Lawler make much of an impact here after his edmonton misadventures?

[wbbfan]

10 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Did Lawler make much of an impact here after his edmonton misadventures?

1560+ yards 10 tds 22 games. Some huge games and some of the best catches in the league. 
 Problem wasn’t his impact, it was he didn’t stay on the field enough. 

[Booch]

3 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Yeah I could see that. Might only be Bryant who is a gtd though. Since schoen hasn’t been close to 100% as of yet and is injured and now not practiced or played since last game, I expect him to sit. 
 It would be nuts to force a guy back in whose banged up and was so far off before that. 
 

I’ll bet we don’t use an extra imp starter. They won’t sub out Kramdi, Thomas/lawson, Brady, Demski, clercius, kola, or Neuf. And they won’t use the fake ni rules. So we will start atleast 8 Canadians. 
 
 

curious o see the depth chart....but am certain there wont be any optimizing of anything or addition of a different body...Other than it appears to be Case whbich really.....is a big whooptydo...May as well just went with Cobb and loaded up the import spot from no bryant and schoen on defence with Person and J.Jones to see how that worked for us

I have zero faith in Osh doing anything outside what he's done so far this yr

1 hour ago, rebusrankin said:

That is one sad list. 

Brutal....and the one guy on it who would have made the biggest impact....isnt on roster (J.Jones).....make that make sense somebody

for a potential Gray Cup at home appearance....what a failure and disappointment of an off-season.....

[Brandon]

1 hour ago, Pete said:

Who was the last impact free agent we signed, (other than resigning Lawson) was it Jefferson?

Looking at the roster sheet over the last many years... the only name that I would consider outside of Lawler is Sergio Castillo.   

Kind of shocking at how little they have acquired in free agency over the last 5 seasons.  I understand that they had a loaded roster and would spend money trying to retain the stars... but it's really hard to make a list of 5 quality free agent signings during that period.    Like Tony Jones is possibly #3 based on how thin that list is.   Lofton #4?

[Booch]

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

Ugly. I get that we tried quantity over quality. Raise the floor of the team if you can’t get the top of the free agent market. But we scrapped soo low in the barrel. 
Imagine where we’d be if we managed to add one impact cfl fa each of the last 3 off seasons. 

as we dismissed another slug each those yrs....

Hard to raise the floor as well when your floor is littered with ST only guys....and then you bring in a bunch of guys who are aged...coming off injury, or weren't good enough elsewhere......and banking on some of your core guys coming back who arent good enough....for a couple yrs now and a few getting long in the tooth who would benefit from solid depth who can play....key word....play to augment them....our depth over all is a sad state of affairs

[Mark H.]

Pardon me for quelling lamentations of lamenters who want to continue lamenting...but no one signs fewer FAs than the Argos. Their Grey Cup record...enough said. 

[wbbfan]

4 minutes ago, Brandon said:

Looking at the roster sheet over the last many years... the only name that I would consider outside of Lawler is Sergio Castillo.   

Kind of shocking at how little they have acquired in free agency over the last 5 seasons.  I understand that they had a loaded roster and would spend money trying to retain the stars... but it's really hard to make a list of 5 quality free agent signings during that period.    Like Tony Jones is possibly #3 based on how thin that list is.   Lofton #4?

Sergio is a good point. Yeah I guess Lofton. Think rando is better though.

And our only roty winner in the mafia era is schoen. Ouch. 

[Nolby]

11 hours ago, wbbfan said:

1560+ yards 10 tds 22 games. Some huge games and some of the best catches in the league. 
 Problem wasn’t his impact, it was he didn’t stay on the field enough. 

Talent wise, Lawler is worth every single penny you pay him, if he could stay healthy for a full season, hes worth the 270k.

Edited 3 hours ago by Nolby

[Booch]

15 minutes ago, Brandon said:

Looking at the roster sheet over the last many years... the only name that I would consider outside of Lawler is Sergio Castillo.   

Kind of shocking at how little they have acquired in free agency over the last 5 seasons.  I understand that they had a loaded roster and would spend money trying to retain the stars... but it's really hard to make a list of 5 quality free agent signings during that period.    Like Tony Jones is possibly #3 based on how thin that list is.   Lofton #4?

cause we didnt have forward thinking....a transition plan in place for any position and were to clingy to older vets.....who had no more upside, and were in decline....

10 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

Pardon me for quelling lamentations of lamenters who want to continue lamenting...but no one signs fewer FAs than the Argos. Their Grey Cup record...enough said. 

but they sign...and use new blood...arent afraid to play/start rookies and the best talent available to them...and will cut a vet for a new guy....thats why....enough said 😁

Edited 14 hours ago by Booch

[wbbfan]

1 minute ago, Mark H. said:

Pardon me for quelling lamentations of lamenters who want to continue lamenting...but no one signs fewer FAs than the Argos. Their Grey Cup record...enough said. 

 Anthony Lanier was a big get for them in free agency. Grant was a big fa get, or maybe idk the reigning grey cup mvp nick arbuckle. Perception is not reality, Toronto spends in free agency, they do it very smartly though. 
 No one produces and finds stars in this era like them either. They are also the most active team in trades. Cam judge says allo. 

[Booch]

Just now, wbbfan said:

 Anthony Lanier was a big get for them in free agency. Grant was a big fa get, or maybe idk the reigning grey cup mvp nick arbuckle. Perception is not reality, Toronto spends in free agency, they do it very smartly though. 
 No one produces and finds stars in this era like them either. They are also the most active team in trades. Cam judge says allo. 

yes....in addition to what I said....Also Dinwiddie will pull a guy in a game for poor play...stupidity.....coaches before him too...Mathews...amoung others

[bigg jay]

9 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

Pardon me for quelling lamentations of lamenters who want to continue lamenting...but no one signs fewer FAs than the Argos. Their Grey Cup record...enough said. 

Does the quantity matter if the quality isn't there? The Argos added guys like Cam Judge & Janarion Grant.  I would take either one over any of our signings.

[Mark H.]

6 minutes ago, Booch said:

yes....in addition to what I said....Also Dinwiddie will pull a guy in a game for poor play...stupidity.....coaches before him too...Mathews...amoung others

This, to me, is the bigger concern. I am fine with them not being active players in free agency. I am not fine with bringing in talented new recruits who don't play. 

[17to85]

9 hours ago, wbbfan said:

1560+ yards 10 tds 22 games. Some huge games and some of the best catches in the league. 
 Problem wasn’t his impact, it was he didn’t stay on the field enough. 

So how hum overall numbers and inability to be consistent... and everyone is acting like we're fools for not giving the guy a HUGE payday. I like Lawler and agree that he can have a monster game but at that kinda price tag I expect more than what he gave us. Offense still was a hot mess last year. I'm telling you,  you want a good offense in the cfl get a good qb and our qb is problem #1 right now.

[SpeedFlex27]

16 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

So how hum overall numbers and inability to be consistent... and everyone is acting like we're fools for not giving the guy a HUGE payday. I like Lawler and agree that he can have a monster game but at that kinda price tag I expect more than what he gave us. Offense still was a hot mess last year. I'm telling you,  you want a good offense in the cfl get a good qb and our qb is problem #1 right now.

So, you'd rather we pay a player with a bum knee who can't stay healthy? How is that not a waste of money & a bad choice when it comes to managing our salary cap?  We have an inexperienced deep threat in Wheatfall. A kid who caught 1 pass in Case, an aging Nik Demski & you say you'd rather not pay for the best receiver in the CFL? We have the worst receiving corps in the CFL right now. If we were a hot mess last year then we're a steaming pile of .... this year. QB is not our only problem. 

Edited 5 hours ago by SpeedFlex27

[Booch]

29 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

So how hum overall numbers and inability to be consistent... and everyone is acting like we're fools for not giving the guy a HUGE payday. I like Lawler and agree that he can have a monster game but at that kinda price tag I expect more than what he gave us. Offense still was a hot mess last year. I'm telling you,  you want a good offense in the cfl get a good qb and our qb is problem #1 right now.

he did take coverage away from others tho to allow then to thrive,,,so that has to factor in as well.....and he made a lot of huge key catches that were part of our success too....would love to see what he could have done over a full 18 games and I think that was well worth the cost of signing

We also could have fit him in the SMS as well if we wanted, multiple ways to have done it and him being here makes us a better team and he is the type of guy who ZC needs as he will more times than not pull in those poor passes that are more common now

Banking on a receiver coming off ACL reconstruction....In the first yr back was poor judgement and foresight anyway you slice it