25/26 CFL (Non Bombers) Off Season Thread

[Booch]

45 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

100%. This is the best contract situation he's been in in ages, and very, very likely his last ever contract. But I don't think he will end up with a stupid deal.

This whole off-season is gonna end up like the wild west anyway. Montreal is maybe the most frugal of the successful teams today, and they just spent like drunk sailors. I think every premium FA that hits the market is going to get silly money, and every team will likely have a none qb earning nonesensical money. I don't know why I ever thought teams would do anything different with the cap increase. It's the CFL, of course, they are going to spend like drunk sailors on leave. 

Previously, I thought Brady should be under 220k-ish. Maybe a bit of incentive money on top of that. I'm starting to think that line should be around 235-245k, maybe 250k. Still much more than I'd like to pay for an RB, even if he ends up being the best Canadian back ever (and I think he will.) But I think the market for guys like that is going to jump. If Philpot, etc, reset the market with the increased cap, someone may well offer Brady 280-320k. If he hits free agency, I don't think he will be back. Really makes me curious to what guys like demski, kramdi and allen will get. 

well if we cave in and blow a 260k+ on BO then we better not be -re-upping Kramdi and Holm for what will be over 300k when we can get as good...and in all honesty better production for 180K total....Re-up the most vital guy (Nichols) and go with youth, or a guy going into second contract who is already solid...and likely breakout star...IE be good at player evaluation/scouting

12 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

GCn20 likes to use the word astronomical. The market is what it is. We CAN'T afford to lose Oliveira because of the message it sends the fanbase. Season tickets will start being cancelled. Forget consecutive sellouts. That'll be a thing of the past. 

Yeah agree. Then why sign with the Riders. He could go elsewhere & get the money. 

We have a lot of deadwood on the roster that can be chucked. The only reason not signing Oliveira will be Walters being cheap. IF he wants to sign Oliveira, he will. 

we've gone down the go cheap road last few yrs...hasnt really worked out...time to flip the switch

[Noeller]

#StraightFire

 

[bigg jay]

24 minutes ago, Noeller said:

#StraightFire

 

And the follow up to that hire is...

https://3downnation.com/2025/12/05/john-murphy-out-as-toronto-argonauts-assistant-general-manager-sources/

Could not have happened to a nicer guy.

[wbbfan]

2 hours ago, GCn20 said:

Im not willing to go a dollar over 250k for BO, and that is stupid money, but he's a home town guy. Honestly, I don't like mega contracts for RBs in the CFL. It's not a running league. The ONLY time a RB should be compensated like that is if you have a young QB just starting out, or you have a QB like Chris Streveler that is weak in the passing game.  My objection to BO's contract with us is that it makes the two men standing behind centre too expensive. If we had a 350-400k QB....great let's do it.....but with a 600k QB you just can't make your behind centre tandem 900k of your cap.

Yeah, I agree. dumb money is probably going to be the main theme of the off season. I’d rather not throw the dumb money deal at rb. 

 We certainly need to save the money from some place and it’s hard to see improving and not using stupid money on either line. 

1 hour ago, Booch said:

well if we cave in and blow a 260k+ on BO then we better not be -re-upping Kramdi and Holm for what will be over 300k when we can get as good...and in all honesty better production for 180K total....Re-up the most vital guy (Nichols) and go with youth, or a guy going into second contract who is already solid...and likely breakout star...IE be good at player evaluation/scouting

we've gone down the go cheap road last few yrs...hasnt really worked out...time to flip the switch

Yeah, we really need to remove some of the existing dumb money. I’ll be really interested to see what dbs get in this market. 

Qb, Wr and line. That’s where it’s easiest to excuse making dumb payments. Rb lber and db are the hardest. 

 

I wonder if a lot more premium free agents go to market this year now that we’ve seen some crazy spending out of the salary increase. Could be a wild year

[Stickem]

11 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

 

 

I wonder if a lot more premium free agents go to market this year now that we’ve seen some crazy spending out of the salary increase. Could be a wild year

Here's hoping.......I don't think the sms increase is going to cover the wild money that's being thrown around AND it certainly could result in some prime players being made available...We have to be very proactive and jump one...especially if it's in a position of need

[wbbfan]

2 minutes ago, Stickem said:

Here's hoping.......I don't think the sms increase is going to cover the wild money that's being thrown around AND it certainly could result in some prime players being made available...We have to be very proactive and jump one...especially if it's in a position of need

Yep. Won’t be enough for every guy to get a premium deal. Could easily be more guys looking for elite money than elite money is left to pay. could be a big levelling of the free agents playing field. 

[rebusrankin]

So the positive news is that we no longer have to suffer through Barker on TSN.

[wbbfan]

2 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

So the positive news is that we no longer have to suffer through Barker on TSN.

and who knows maybe he will toss away a ton of value on a bad trade to us again 

[SpeedFlex27]

5 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

So the positive news is that we no longer have to suffer through Barker on TSN.

He hasn't been with TSN since 2024. 

[HardCoreBlue]

15 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

So the positive news is that we no longer have to suffer through Barker on TSN.

Maybe the Argos could also sign Henoc, Kate and Glenn to ‘consultant’ roles.

[SpeedFlex27]

2 hours ago, HardCoreBlue said:

Maybe the Argos could also sign Henoc, Kate and Glenn to ‘consultant’ roles.

Bierness is a terrible host. I wouldn't miss her at all if she was replaced. Henoc Muamba has grown on me. he speaks plainly & says what the fans think without getting too technical. He doesn't yell as much as he used to.  Sanchez knows his stuff but he has no personality. Suitor needs to retire. I liked Barker. I don't know why they replaced him. 

[Blue In BC]

21 hours ago, GCn20 said:

Im not willing to go a dollar over 250k for BO, and that is stupid money, but he's a home town guy. Honestly, I don't like mega contracts for RBs in the CFL. It's not a running league. The ONLY time a RB should be compensated like that is if you have a young QB just starting out, or you have a QB like Chris Streveler that is weak in the passing game.  My objection to BO's contract with us is that it makes the two men standing behind centre too expensive. If we had a 350-400k QB....great let's do it.....but with a 600k QB you just can't make your behind centre tandem 900k of your cap.

I agree 100%. The limit in my mind is the same and I'd go so far as reducing what he got in 2025. He was $80K more than the next well paid RB.

[HardCoreBlue]

27 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Bierness is a terrible host. I wouldn't miss her at all if she was replaced. Henoc Muamba has grown on me. he speaks plainly & says what the fans think without getting too technical. He doesn't yell as much as he used to.  Sanchez knows his stuff but he has no personality. Suitor needs to retire. I liked Barker. I don't know why they replaced him. 

You were doing pretty good until you got to the Barker part. His last name suits him.

[SpeedFlex27]

48 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

You were doing pretty good until you got to the Barker part. His last name suits him.

I don't get the hate for Barker. He knows the CFL inside & out more than anyone on that panel except for LaPo. He's an insider like Barker. 

[SpeedFlex27]

50 minutes ago, Blue In BC said:

I agree 100%. The limit in my mind is the same and I'd go so far as reducing what he got in 2025. He was $80K more than the next well paid RB.

You guys are dinosaurs living in 2021. Salaries are going up & so is the cap. As a team, if you don't go along with it then you lose out. Every team will have to pay as they have marquis players they want to keep. There are players fans belleve don't deserve the $$$ they are asking for but will get it elsewhere.  

[HardCoreBlue]

5 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

I don't get the hate for Barker. He knows the CFL inside & out more than anyone on that panel except for LaPo. He's an insider like Barker. 

It’s his presentation style my friend. It’s not what he is saying, it’s how he’s saying it. Straight fire!

[SpeedFlex27]

27 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

It’s his presentation style my friend. It’s not what he is saying, it’s how he’s saying it. Straight fire!

He does yell a lot but I know Jim personally. I met Jim when he was Stamps HC in 2003. We became friends, I used to get the inside scoops on the Stamps from him as long as I never told anyone which I never did. I never betrayed him. I felt priveliged I knew more than the beat writers covering the team. So, he'd tell me that the Stamps signed this guy or that guy. I knew the Stamps signed Jermaine Copeland a month before the Stamps announced it publicly.

Jim is an excitable man. He is passionate about the CFL & it comes through with his booming voice & his excitement. He may not be everyone's cup of tea but he knows his stuff. I missed him on the panel this past season.

Edited 1 hour ago by SpeedFlex27

[HardCoreBlue]

20 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

He does yell a lot but I know Jim personally. I met Jim when he was Stamps HC in 2003. We became friends, I used to get the inside scoops on the Stamps from him as long as I never told anyone which I never did. I never betrayed him. I felt priveliged I knew more than the beat writers covering the team. So, he'd tell me that hye signed this guy or that guy. I knew he signed Jermaine Copeland a month before the Stamps announced it publicly. Jim is an excitable man. He is passionate about the CFL & it comes through with his booming voice & his excitement. He may not be everyone's cup of tea but he knows his stuff. I missed him on the panel this past season.

oh don’t get me wrong i’m sure he’s a fantastic person but none of us here are good at everything, well except @17to85 if you asked him.

Edited 1 hour ago by HardCoreBlue

[SpeedFlex27]

Just now, HardCoreBlue said:

oh don’t get me wrong i’m sure he’s a fantastic person but none of use here are good at everything, well except @17to85 if you asked him.

Ha, ha. He'll like that. I respect 17to85's opinions. 

[GCn20]

30 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

You guys are dinosaurs living in 2021. Salaries are going up & so is the cap. As a team, if you don't go along with it then you lose out. Every team will have to pay as they have marquis players they want to keep. There are players fans belleve don't deserve the $$$ they are asking for but will get it elsewhere.  

Not a dinosaur at all...just good at math. It's an SMS world and it doesn't matter if the cap goes up. When a player is overpaid significantly it weakens the team.

[SpeedFlex27]

Just now, GCn20 said:

Not a dinosaur at all...just good at math. It's an SMS world and it doesn't matter if the cap goes up. When a player is overpaid significantly it weakens the team.

Well, the reality is if you don't pay then you lose. If you were a GM you'd be fired in your third year (standard contract) as your team is losing. It's all about winning. And prioritizing whjo you sign. Taking the money designated for Jake Thomas & giving it to someone else in order to keep another.. 

[GCn20]

12 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Well, the reality is if you don't pay then you lose. If you were a GM you'd be fired in your third year (standard contract) as your team is losing. It's all about winning. And prioritizing whjo you sign. Taking the money designated for Jake Thomas & giving it to someone else in order to keep another.. 

Not how it works at all. I agree you take Jake's money and reassign it. What you don't do is grossly overpay at any position.

We could spend gobs of money on 12 guys and have 40 others on rookie contracts and win exactly zero games.

The most successful teams since SMS started have been vigilant about not overpaying. 

If letting BO go allows us to sign 2 other premium NATs thats just smart GMing

 

Edited 1 hour ago by GCn20

[SpeedFlex27]

15 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Not how it works at all. I agree you take Jake's money and reassign it. What you don't do is grossly overpay at any position.

We could spend gobs of money on 12 guys and have 40 others on rookie contracts and win exactly zero games.

The most successful teams since SMS started have been vigilant about not overpaying. 

If letting BO go allows us to sign 2 other premium NATs thats just smart GMing

 

You need to keep your star players. Someone like Brady is needed to sell tickets. If he leaves they could lose as substtantial amount of STH's. Other teams have kept their marquis players. Walters has to figure it out. 

[GCn20]

16 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

You need to keep your star players. Someone like Brady is needed to sell tickets. If he leaves they could lose as substtantial amount of STH's. Other teams have kept their marquis players. Walters has to figure it out. 

They won't lose a substantial amount of season tix. We didn't when Harris left town and we won't if BO does. Losing games does that, not losing players.

If we use that money to sign players that excite and help us dominate again we will be standing room only again

Edited 49 minutes ago by GCn20

[SpeedFlex27]

17 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

They won't lose a substantial amount of season tix. We didn't when Harris left town and we won't if BO does. Losing games does that, not losing players.

If we use that money to sign players that excite and help us dominate again we will be standing room only again

Oliveira was the heir apparent to Harris. It was obvious that he was losing it as he got older. He definetly lost a step at the end of his career. We don't have an heir apprent ar RB or QB. If we let him walk then we'll have another huge hole. Yes, you will lose STH's as we'll lose more than win. Just look west to Calgary. They let their veterans leave. They went from a team drawing 25-30000 a game to 12000-19000 a game. Fans were pissed off. I see the same scenario here starting to happen with the Bombers if Brady leaves. .

Edited 32 minutes ago by SpeedFlex27