Per 3downnation, these are our free agents ... basically everyone but Zach, Vaval, Peterson, Clercius, Randolph, Wallace, Pokey Wilson, MCI, Allen, T. Jones, and Leroux the longsnapper.  

Quarterback

Chris Streveler (A)

Running back

Brady Oliveira (N)

Receiver

Kody Case (A)
Nic Demski (N)
Dillon Mitchell (A)
Dalton Schoen (A)
Jerreth Sterns (A)
Keric Wheatfall (A)

OL

Stanley Bryant (A)
Tui Eli (N)
Chris Kolankowski (N)
Eric Lofton (A)
Patrick Neufeld (N)

Defensive line

Willie Jefferson (A)
Cameron Lawson (N)
Tanner Schmekel (N)
Jake Thomas (N)
James Vaughters (A)
Jamal Woods (A)

Linebacker

Tanner Cadwallader (N)
Shayne Gauthier (N)
Kyrie Wilson (A)

Defensive back

Terrell Bonds (A)
Michael Griffin II (A)
Nick Hallett (N)
Evan Holm (A)
Demerio Houston (A)
Redha Kramdi (N)
Enock Makonzo (N)
Deatrick Nichols (A)
Jamal Parker (A)

Specialist

Sergio Castillo (A)
Jamieson Sheahan (G)

Edited November 12, 2025Nov 12 by johnzo

23 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Oh well... It was always out of his hands. No one can control government red tape & regulation. The trouble getting a visa is why no Canadians played on the American teams in the CFL 30 years ago. The American govt said no. It only benefitted guys like Dunigan, Pringle, Elfrid Payton, Ham & Damon Allen. The star American players all cashed in & left as they were paid in American dollars while the Canadians were forced to stay & get paid in Canadian dollars. At the time, the Loonie was in a similar situation as it is now vs the Canadian dollar.

The Americans would not allow our ratio rules in the USA. Had nothing to do with visas. If the teams of the day wanted Canadian players they could have used them, they just didn't have to abide by the ratio rules of our league because the US wouldn't allow them.

20 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

The Americans would not allow our ratio rules in the USA. Had nothing to do with visas. If the teams of the day wanted Canadian players they could have used them, they just didn't have to abide by the ratio rules of our league because the US wouldn't allow them.

The only way to get around that is to abolish the ratio if the CFL feels that it's future is in the US, Mexico or Europe. Canadians would still play & start but only the best. Unless a player was a ST demon, they'd probably have no chance so most Canadians wouldn't play. So, there may be one or two players on the roster per team.

16 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

The only way to get around that is to abolish the ratio if the CFL feels that it's future is in the US, Mexico or Europe. Canadians would still play & start but only the best. Unless a player was a ST demon, they'd probably have no chance so most Canadians wouldn't play. So, there may be one or two players on the roster per team.

Yea...it's the fly in the ointment of any US expansion. Simply cannot have a league with two different roster building rules. It's why the American expansion teams could throw ridiculous money at the best CFL QBs and build their OLs etc with cheap American beef.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by GCn20

53 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Is he staying in Winnipeg?

He's made a pretty good situation here from what I understand. He does a lot of work with coaching football too. I would be surprised if he leaves anytime soon.

7 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Yea...it's the fly in the ointment of any US expansion. Simply cannot have a league with two different roster building rules. It's why the American expansion teams could throw ridiculous money at the best CFL QBs and build their OLs etc with cheap American beef.

Yes, that & the fact the US teams were paying their players with American dollars. The Canadian dollar in 1995 was similar in value or maybe a little worse so players signing from Canadian teams to American teams got a 40% raise for the same numerical number. I.E: One year deal worth $100,000 Canadian or ! year deal deal worth $100,000 US. Canadian teams didn't stand a chance. I don't how they could make it work today.

Just now, SpeedFlex27 said:

Yes, that & the fact the US teams were paying their players with American dollars. The Canadian dollar in 1995 was similar in value or maybe a little worse so players signing from Canadian teams to American teams got a 40% raise for the same numerical number. I.E: One year deal with the Bombers worth $100,000 Canadian or 1 year deal in Birmingham worth $100,000 US. Canadian teams didn't stand a chance. I don't how they could make it work today.

Just now, SpeedFlex27 said:

Yes, that & the fact the US teams were paying their players with American dollars. The Canadian dollar in 1995 was similar in value or maybe a little worse so players signing from Canadian teams to American teams got a 40% raise for the same numerical number. I.E: One year deal worth $100,000 Canadian or ! year deal deal worth $100,000 US. Canadian teams didn't stand a chance. I don't how they could make it work today.

There is an SMS now. Whatever currency you are paid in must fit into a CAD cap amount. That violates nothing. However, the ratio rules can never be worked out. It's against the US law. However, knowing the CFL they would do something stupid and put the teams in Florida and Texas where the taxes would constitute a massive advantage especially for guys making near league mins.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by GCn20

4 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

He's made a pretty good situation here from what I understand. He does a lot of work with coaching football too. I would be surprised if he leaves anytime soon.

Great to hear. he's from the State of washington as is his wife & family so I thought he may have wanted to return.

16 hours ago, Goalie said:

Why? Has he ever indicated he even wants that. I thought he had his post playing career figured out already. Congrats to AB. 6 seasons here? 7 with BC, guess his time here was better for him.

Why the roll eyes, Noeller? Bighill has a career as a financial planner. He has a list of clients he has to serve & will be taking on new ones. Now, that he's retired he needs more income so he'd want to ramp that up. Not be a Bomber assistant coach. Some guys don't want to coach.

24 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

There is an SMS now. Whatever currency you are paid in must fit into a CAD cap amount. That violates nothing. However, the ratio rules can never be worked out. It's against the US law. However, knowing the CFL they would do something stupid and put the teams in Florida and Texas where the taxes would constitute a massive advantage especially for guys making near league mins.

I sense some big, big changes coming after this season that the CFLPA will be powerless to stop. Once the new field is in existence...

3 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Great to hear. he's from the State of washington as is his wife & family so I thought he may have wanted to return.

Why the roll eyes, Noeller? Bighill has a career as a financial planner. He has a list of clients he has to serve & will be taking on new ones. Now, that he's retired he needs more income so he'd want to ramp that up. Not be a Bomber assistant coach. Some guys don't want to coach.

I sense some big, big changes coming after this season that the CFLPA will be powerless to stop. Once the new field is in existence...

I agree that we are probably eyeing a US expansion once Trump is gone. Also agree on Biggie. Winnipeg is his home now, has been for a while and he doing great with IG apparently.

16 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Im a bit surprised biggie went out a bomber and not a lion. I love the guy and he had a couple big years here. But nothing like what he did in BC.

His CFL most outstanding defensive player awards with Winnipeg say differently. lol. I'm not surprised at all he went out a Bomber. We set him up for life after football as well.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by GCn20

Why the roll eyes, Noeller? Bighill has a career as a financial planner. He has a list of clients he has to serve & will be taking on new ones. Now, that he's retired he needs more income so he'd want to ramp that up. Not be a Bomber assistant coach. Some guys don't want to coach.

I was a financial planner for IG in the 1980's & it was damned hard work. Lots of long hours, evenings & weekends. I didn't have the connections Bighill has with the CFLPA. I could see him handling a lot of CFL players & coaches money & financial affairs.

When I worked at IG in the Investors Building on Broadway, I had the pleasure to know the top rep in Canada named Ted Foreman. I assume he is no longer with us as he was in his 50's back in the mid 80's.

Foreman was a former hockey player himself who got a huge break career wise when he was introduced to Bobby Hull after his signing with the Jets in 1972. He became his financial advisor. Hull spread the word & soon NHL & WHA players were calling him for advice. He handled investments & tax advice for all the big NHL players back then. Gretzky, Messier, Hull, Hawerchuk. All kinds of NHL stars. Walking into his office was like visiting a hockey shrine with photos & awards. Almost every photo had an autoghraph with the saying, "To Ted. Thanks for the Big Save!!" The guy was a frigging legend.

2 hours ago, GCn20 said:

The Americans would not allow our ratio rules in the USA. Had nothing to do with visas. If the teams of the day wanted Canadian players they could have used them, they just didn't have to abide by the ratio rules of our league because the US wouldn't allow them.

I think I might have been too fast to dismiss this. Did any established Canadian players try to catch on down south during the expansion era? Canadians heading south for lower taxes and harder currency is totally a thing, so it's hard to imagine that someone didn't try.

4 minutes ago, johnzo said:

I think I might have been too fast to dismiss this. Did any established Canadian players try to catch on down south during the expansion era? Canadians heading south for lower taxes and harder currency is totally a thing, so it's hard to imagine that someone didn't try.

The American teams didn't want them. They could go American at a fraction of the cost and same talent level. Gotta remember that back then most NAT players wouldn't have made the roster on any CFL team if it weren't for the rules. Nowadays, you probably would have NATs going south but back then if it wasn't required there were better Americans out there that could be had for cheaper. Look at the CFL these days even, how many NATs would be starting in our league if it weren't for the ratio rule. Maybe a couple per team and that is the honest truth. Look at OL over the past 10 years, most teams now are dressing a minimum of 2 IMPs and a few teams going 3, and almost all those teams would go all 5 if they could.

Edited 15 minutes ago15 min by GCn20