25/26 CFL (Non Bombers) Off Season Thread

[SpeedFlex27]

10 hours ago, 17to85 said:

I don't think it was.... I mean as much as they had some close games they probably could have lost, they also had some close games they probably could have won. So a 10-8 record is probably where they ought to be. One game better than .500, it's not like it was some fantastic record and they got a home playoff game out of it or anything.

We won some games we had no business winning. There was more of that than the team losing games they should have won. The whole year was a downer.from watching Dobson & Lawler walk, the lack of free agent signings to the putt putt putt offense we had.  I've never seen a more uninspired 10-8 team as there was last season. 

Edited December 23 by SpeedFlex27

[17to85]

5 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

We won some games we had no business winning. There was more of that than the team losing games they should have won. The whole year was a downer.from watching Dobson & Lawler walk, the lack of free agent signings to the putt putt putt offense we had.  I've never seen a more uninspired 10-8 team as there was last season. 

You're also incredibly negative around the whole year. Yeah it was a bad year and a real downer but their record was pretty much where they were.

[SpeedFlex27]

12 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

You're also incredibly negative around the whole year. Yeah it was a bad year and a real downer but their record was pretty much where they were.

Yeah, I get it. Am I happy? No, I make no bones about it. There's stuff that goes on (especially last year) that I didnt like. I've never been an "In The Canadian Mafia We Trust" kinda guy. Expect more criticism if I'm still unhappy & until I'm convinced the three Wise Guys in charge turn things around.

BTW, I generally take as good as I get. Meaning you & others will give me **** for this post but I don't care. And guess what? I hope I'm wrong. (Pssst. I'm actually a little bit excited about our chances with the moves we've made). Jake move to coaching to me is meh. But the others? Right on. Now, if we have a big Day One of free agency then we might be back to making the Riders our ******* again & win the West. So, yeah, I'm kinda thinking we may have a chance. We'll see in February. 

BTW, as to my negativity... Do you ever see me criticizing Zach Collaros? Did I say Brady was overpaid? That we should have let him walk & replace him with some American back who is cheaper. I defended both players.

Did I ever say Zach's washed up like I constantly read on this forum, ad nauseum??? Nope, I still believe in the guy despite the noise created by you & all the other posters that don't. I happen to think he has one more run left in him & I hope he shows up all the nay sayers on this board. Like Trevor Harris did.

Edited December 23 by SpeedFlex27

[M.O.A.B.]

https://3downnation.com/2025/12/22/b-c-lions-release-pending-free-agent-lb-josh-woods/

This should we pursue. 

[Booch]

1 hour ago, sweep the leg said:

How often do teams that played in the Grey Cup go on major spending sprees in fa the following offseason?

Teams that lose them due to poor rostering...repeatedly....thats who....and good teams always look to add to roster...continually get better...and add pieces where they may already have guys...who aren't as good....again...that's who

 

1 minute ago, M.O.A.B. said:

https://3downnation.com/2025/12/22/b-c-lions-release-pending-free-agent-lb-josh-woods/

This should we pursue. 

we should be in his ear now....guy is a baller and will be 2 yrs removed now from his injury...so should be the in back to impact form...27...in his prime....versatile....a no bainer

[SpeedFlex27]

10 minutes ago, M.O.A.B. said:

https://3downnation.com/2025/12/22/b-c-lions-release-pending-free-agent-lb-josh-woods/

This should we pursue. 

He may have NFL opportunities. having said that, when you make your wide receiver, qb & top pass rusher the top paid players at their positions, they can't keep all. Some good players will not be back. I just keep thinking Jeremy O'day is going to have so much fun telling all the ego maniacs on that roster that they can't afford to p[ay all of them. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, Mr. O' Day. 

[Brandon]

Do we know how much salary Zach has in bonuses compared to his base salary?   Maybe if he's stashed on the IR we can free up cash for more FA?

[Booch]

12 hours ago, Brandon said:

Do we know how much salary Zach has in bonuses compared to his base salary?   Maybe if he's stashed on the IR we can free up cash for more FA?

its all hard money apparently....but yeah if he gets dinged we can escape some of it on the 6 game...that being said...not sure how much was bonus money paid before even a snap this coming yr...so may not even be that big of savings if he goes down

[Goalie]

So wonder how much all these guys we signed early would maybe have some of next seasons “cash” on this years cap. I mean even if it’s 50k per dude that’s a nice savings. I don’t think we don’t sign FAs cuz we pay 3 guys big money like every other team does really, I think Kyle has a number he won’t go over for certain positions. I mean our QB. MOP Canadian RB and all star Canadian receiver get paid. I mean, it’s not like we giving 325 to an American receiver are we. Nope. BC is. 
 

I don’t see the problem paying your stars money. That’s how sports is. 
 

but curious which talented players won’t be back cuz of cap issues? lol like name 2 from last year even? Still going on about lawler I guess but he’s paid 300k also so man some of these posts are wild. @Bigblue204 is right. Up is left. Down is up. Backwards is sideways on here right now. 

[Stickem]

Woods certainly worth a look....played come pretty good ball for Buck and the leos....speaking of which Walters should call his ol buddy and get the inside on this guy

[Mike]

No interest in Woods. We should be exploring the idea of whether or not Shay can play there. Or recruiting for it.

[sweep the leg]

On 2025-12-23 at 2:50 PM, Mike said:

No interest in Woods. We should be exploring the idea of whether or not Shay can play there. Or recruiting for it.

Agreed. I want to see the Canadian boys fight for that spot.

[3rdand1.5]

My 2 cents ......we shouldn't look to allocate money to our LB corpse, we have some pieces already to be good....we should be allocating that money along the d-line....not sure who may still be available come FA, but the way I look at it, is the more we spend on DB,LB the less we have to spend along the D-line.....

[SpeedFlex27]

13 minutes ago, sweep the leg said:

Agreed. I want to see the Canadian boys fight for that spot.

I want the best player...

[sweep the leg]

On 2025-12-24 at 5:23 PM, SpeedFlex27 said:

I want the best player...

CFL ratio rules means we don’t always get the best player. I’m sure you already knew that.

[Booch]

20 hours ago, sweep the leg said:

CFL ratio rules means we don’t always get the best player. I’m sure you already knew that.

Not necessarily true...you analyze the roster and if a better canadian can supplant an American...or vice versa...make it happen/work...dont be a rigid clown forcing a round peg in a square hole...and we seen first hand here a lesser player playing before a better player..where ratio was not an issue...and how that pan out? With Osh at full control...we just have to accept and deal with the clown show with roster...maybe the last 4 yrs failure and the pathetic culmination of it all last yr he has had his eyes opened...or possibly a 5 upside the head from Miller and Walter to smarten up...

[JuranBoldenRules]

Woods is awful.  Terrible is pass coverage and not a guy that makes any plays at the line either.

He just played himself off the field on the worst D in the league the past three seasons.

Yeah, let's sign him.

[SpeedFlex27]

On 2025-12-26 at 2:41 PM, sweep the leg said:

CFL ratio rules means we don’t always get the best player. I’m sure you already knew that.

As close as we can get, then. In other words, the best 7 & that's it. The rest Americans unless that 8th Canadian ios better. 

Edited Sunday at 12:05 AM by SpeedFlex27

[GCn20]

On 2025-12-22 at 7:53 PM, SpeedFlex27 said:

Yeah, I get it. Am I happy? No, I make no bones about it. There's stuff that goes on (especially last year) that I didnt like. I've never been an "In The Canadian Mafia We Trust" kinda guy. Expect more criticism if I'm still unhappy & until I'm convinced the three Wise Guys in charge turn things around.

BTW, I generally take as good as I get. Meaning you & others will give me **** for this post but I don't care. And guess what? I hope I'm wrong. (Pssst. I'm actually a little bit excited about our chances with the moves we've made). Jake move to coaching to me is meh. But the others? Right on. Now, if we have a big Day One of free agency then we might be back to making the Riders our ******* again & win the West. So, yeah, I'm kinda thinking we may have a chance. We'll see in February. 

BTW, as to my negativity... Do you ever see me criticizing Zach Collaros? Did I say Brady was overpaid? That we should have let him walk & replace him with some American back who is cheaper. I defended both players.

Did I ever say Zach's washed up like I constantly read on this forum, ad nauseum??? Nope, I still believe in the guy despite the noise created by you & all the other posters that don't. I happen to think he has one more run left in him & I hope he shows up all the nay sayers on this board. Like Trevor Harris did.

I won't put the blame on any QB asked to perform behind last year's OL and throwing to last year's receiving corps. Does he have MOP seasons left. I doubt it...but he can still get it done with the right personell.

On 2025-12-27 at 12:24 PM, Booch said:

Not necessarily true...you analyze the roster and if a better canadian can supplant an American...or vice versa...make it happen/work...dont be a rigid clown forcing a round peg in a square hole...and we seen first hand here a lesser player playing before a better player..where ratio was not an issue...and how that pan out? With Osh at full control...we just have to accept and deal with the clown show with roster...maybe the last 4 yrs failure and the pathetic culmination of it all last yr he has had his eyes opened...or possibly a 5 upside the head from Miller and Walter to smarten up...

Walters has his own poor performance to worry about. A lot of grousing we do about MOS is the direct result of the roster he was given. It goes hand in hand. Only someone who is delusional would think we had a roster capable of being a contender last year. Zero chance, 

[Tracker]

8 hours ago, GCn20 said:

I won't put the blame on any QB asked to perform behind last year's OL and throwing to last year's receiving corps. Does he have MOP seasons left. I doubt it...but he can still get it done with the right personell.

Walters has his own poor performance to worry about. A lot of grousing we do about MOS is the direct result of the roster he was given. It goes hand in hand. Only someone who is delusional would think we had a roster capable of being a contender last year. Zero chance, 

I mostly agree but aging and repeated injuries have created a circumstance where absolutely everything has to be just so for Collaros to be effective, and I remain unconvinced that this is going to happen in 2026.

[SpeedFlex27]

4 minutes ago, Tracker said:

I mostly agree but aging and repeated injuries have created a circumstance where absolutely everything has to be just so for Collaros to be effective, and I remain unconvinced that this is going to happen in 2026.

The alternative going forward without him isn't very promising. We have no succession plan. We had years to get that done & didn't. 

[WinnipegGordo]

 

 

[17to85]

8 hours ago, GCn20 said:

won't put the blame on any QB asked to perform behind last year's OL and throwing to last year's receiving corps

Except Streveler right

[rebusrankin]

59 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

The alternative going forward without him isn't very promising. We have no succession plan. We had years to get that done & didn't. 

Which CFL team has an heir apparent in place for their starting QB right now?

[SpeedFlex27]

10 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

Which CFL team has an heir apparent in place for their starting QB right now?

Most qbs are a little younger than Colaros like in their late 20's & the early 30's. Thinking about Rourke in BC, Alexander in BC & Adams in Calgary. I think the Riders, Hamilton & us are the most vulnerable if Harris, Collaros or Mitchell go down. . But even the Riders have Maier who would be a good transitional qb to another long term starter. Hamilton has Taylor Powell who has shown flashes that he can play in the CFL but Milanovich won't give him even a little bit of playing toime so will he stay there or go elsewhere? Could we entice him to come here if we can't sign Elgersma?  The Argos have Kelly & Arbuckle but I think Nick will be playing somewhere else, but where? The Als are set for years with Davis Alexander....

Edited 48 minutes ago by SpeedFlex27