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Kyle Walters all but official as Winnipeg Blue Bombers GM  0  

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 01:45 PM CST

is all but official that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will make Kyle Walters their permanent general manager, and it will likely happen early next week.

According to a CFL source, Walters has told at least one potential head coaching candidate that he will have the interim tag removed from his title. Walters, who became Winnipeg’s assistant general manager last December, has been the team’s interim GM since four days after Joe Mack was fired in mid-August.

There has been speculation the Bombers might ask around the league and interview other GM candidates, but that does not appear to be the case. It has been expected for some time that Walters was going to get the job full-time, even though there are more qualified and experienced candidates out there.

After Walters is officially installed as the GM, the next task for the rebuilding Bombers will be to name a head coach and then have him construct a coaching staff.

According to the source, the Bombers have asked for permission to speak to Toronto Argonauts defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones and Calgary Stampeders defensive co-ordinator Rick Campbell.

Winnipeg is also expected to ask for permission to speak to Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterbacks coach Khari Jones, who appears to be the leading candidate to get the gig in Winnipeg thanks in large part to his relationship with Miller. The Bombers have to wait until after the Grey Cup if they want to speak with Jones.

There are reports the Bombers have also asked for permission to speak to Argos special teams co-ordinator Mike O’Shea, who has connections to Walters, about the head coaching gig.

In addition, the Sun reported earlier this week there are rumblings that Canadian Football Hall of Fame quarterback Danny McManus, currently the head U.S. scout for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, is being eyed by the Bombers, likely for the assistant general manager position
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The really big positive out of this is how accurate we've been on this site. 

We've taken Miller's words, posted our opinions/predictions based on fan experience, and through much debate we've basically called things so far. 

 

I'm utterly convinced at least two reporters hang out here and get their material. Its not vice-versa. 

 

 

With that in mind, I think Khari is a done deal as HC.

 

Right now, they are working on Burke to say as DC as a) he's a great DC, and they are paying him anyway. 

 

Burke probably has told them that he is waiting on offers from other teams to DC (such as Chris Jones' former team) but I'll bet Miller is working on him. 

 

As for OC, my gut tells me they are talking to Bobby Dyce. 

Just read a FP article that says the Bombers are trying to trade for Collaros. Argos are trying to sign Collaros to trade him but Collaros won't sign as he knows he'll get flipped thinking he can get more if he is traded as a FA himself. Things are just getting going here. Oh yeah, same article says Walters our next GM.

Personally I want them to trade Burke for Collaros 

I got an email from the Bombers saying there will be a major announcement at 8:30. I would guess it's about naming a GM.

I got an email from the Bombers saying there will be a major announcement at 8:30. I would guess it's about naming a GM.

 

Wonder if Wade is going to look a little slimmer after such an exhaustive GM search?

And it's official...

 

http://www.bluebombers.com/article/kyle-walters-named-gm-of-the-bombers

Wade walked up a flight of stairs during his search.....it was exhaustive.

 Let's wait and see what Kyle does.

 

Hasn't all that talk about exhaustive searches reached the level of absurdity yet?

Get over it already.

Hasn't all that talk about exhaustive searches reached the level of absurdity yet?

Get over it already.

 

The way this organization has been run and has performed as of late is beyond absurd.

Hasn't all that talk about exhaustive searches reached the level of absurdity yet?

Get over it already.

Some people are being dicks about it, but it really is a legitimate issue to question. Pretty much everybody on this site wanted us to do it, until we didn't. Then it's no big deal, and as you say, we should all get over it.

 

Hasn't all that talk about exhaustive searches reached the level of absurdity yet?

Get over it already.

 

The way this organization has been run and has performed as of late is beyond absurd.

 

 

I've highlighted a word you used which signifies 'that which is on the past'. As in over.

We're now moving forward with the new staff.

 

Hasn't all that talk about exhaustive searches reached the level of absurdity yet?

Get over it already.

Some people are being dicks about it, but it really is a legitimate issue to question. Pretty much everybody on this site wanted us to do it, until we didn't. Then it's no big deal, and as you say, we should all get over it.

 

 

It's hard for us to know to what extent they went looking for candidates, but you're right. I do want a thorough search. I guess I just never expected a thorough search to mean what others thought it might.

People are questioning the process that has taken place and the optics that it continues to take place as an element of continued concern. That seems legitimate .

People are questioning the process that has taken place and the optics that it continues to take place as an element of continued concern. That seems legitimate .

 

There's a difference between questioning it (which some are) and what you are doing which is essentially just making the same snide comment a million times.

 

 

Hasn't all that talk about exhaustive searches reached the level of absurdity yet?

Get over it already.

Some people are being dicks about it, but it really is a legitimate issue to question. Pretty much everybody on this site wanted us to do it, until we didn't. Then it's no big deal, and as you say, we should all get over it.

 

 

It's hard for us to know to what extent they went looking for candidates, but you're right. I do want a thorough search. I guess I just never expected a thorough search to mean what others thought it might.

 

That's fair. I don't know to what extent they did. I wonder about it though b/c there were really no names leaked that were actually interviewed for the job. How many things have we been able to keep quiet lately?

 

Hasn't all that talk about exhaustive searches reached the level of absurdity yet?

Get over it already.

Some people are being dicks about it, but it really is a legitimate issue to question. Pretty much everybody on this site wanted us to do it, until we didn't. Then it's no big deal, and as you say, we should all get over it.

 

 

I think my issue with this is we really don't know what search went on or didn't.

 

We hear bits and pieces of who we may have asked permission to talk to, who we have talked to and who we didn't talk to.  But no one really knows what has gone on.   Most teams have been out of playoff picture for weeks now.  It is possible that discussions, formal or not, have gone on with other individuals.

 

And out of respect to people who didn't get the job, all of that should not be publicized.

 

On the other hand, this organization has a track record of simply hiring the people / coaches who are present and / or interim solutions.   So I can most certainly understand people's skepticism.  

 

I'm really on the fence on this.  It is another wait and see year to see what they will and can do.   If they strike out this time  though, I'm not sure how many more at bats they have before they start doing some serious damage to the fan base and retaining and attracting paying customers.

 

Hasn't all that talk about exhaustive searches reached the level of absurdity yet?

Get over it already.

Some people are being dicks about it, but it really is a legitimate issue to question. Pretty much everybody on this site wanted us to do it, until we didn't. Then it's no big deal, and as you say, we should all get over it.

 

Of course it was a legitimate issue, but no where did I say it's no big deal. My comment was directed at the mocking overuse of the word 'exhausting'

Miller says in the presser an extensive search was done and Walters came up as the hired one. 

That's where we stand.

 

 

Hasn't all that talk about exhaustive searches reached the level of absurdity yet?

Get over it already.

Some people are being dicks about it, but it really is a legitimate issue to question. Pretty much everybody on this site wanted us to do it, until we didn't. Then it's no big deal, and as you say, we should all get over it.

 

Of course it was a legitimate issue, but no where did I say it's no big deal. My comment was directed at the mocking overuse of the word 'exhausting'

Miller says in the presser an extensive search was done and Walters came up as the hired one. 

That's where we stand.

 

 

Look, let's be honest here. Unless the Board has gone under total lockdown since Wade arrived -- which it hasn't, since the reporters have been tweeting about Khari, O'Shea, etc -- we didn't hear about a SINGLE interview being conducted for GM. 

 

Does that mean there weren't discussions or phone calls or even actual interviews being done that were kept 100% under wraps? Sure, it's possible. 

 

Just highly unlikely. 

 

So yes, time to move on. Walters is GM, Wade is the big chair. Fair business. But as fans we have every right to be critical of the process.

Highly unlikely based on what? Baseless speculation? You have ZERO idea what goes on behind closed doors. There are many discussions held internally that fans will never, nor should they know about. This isn't about a right to be critical about the process. This is about the working of professional sports. Welcome to it.

If we get a qb that can actually play well in this league the new HC whoever it may be will have his IQ rise substantially. Am I excited about this hire? No. Will I give Kyle Walters a chance? Yes as he deserves that. Will things change? Million dollar question.

That being said nobody knows who has access to what sources for information so there perhaps is substance to what oters might consider pure speculation. True or false?

Highly unlikely based on what? Baseless speculation? You have ZERO idea what goes on behind closed doors. There are many discussions held internally that fans will never, nor should they know about. This isn't about a right to be critical about the process. This is about the working of professional sports. Welcome to it.

 

So.....in your world.....rumours about Mack being turfed and Wade being hired and possible head coaches and positional coaches are leaked to the media....

 

But other GM's being interviewed? Never. People would die before they speak of it. Even anonymously or off the record.

 

Right. 

Look, let's be honest here. Unless the Board has gone under total lockdown since Wade arrived -- which it hasn't, since the reporters have been tweeting about Khari, O'Shea, etc -- we didn't hear about a SINGLE interview being conducted for GM. 

Does that mean there weren't discussions or phone calls or even actual interviews being done that were kept 100% under wraps? Sure, it's possible. 

Just highly unlikely. 

So yes, time to move on. Walters is GM, Wade is the big chair. Fair business. But as fans we have every right to be critical of the process.

 

 

And there has been more than a fair share of criticism, and some deserved, but I must say I've never seen such a situation for any org. in regards to expansion creating the time lines and restrictions that we've been under this year.

It does pose an extra hurdle at the very least.

But we have no idea what has gone on anyway, so what's the point of dissing what we don't know?

And I thought I read/heard somewhere that Higgins was spoken to in the past few weeks.

That being said nobody knows who has access to what sources for information so there perhaps is substance to what oters might consider pure speculation. True or false?

 

And that being said, anyone who has real sources should realize that even their sources have biases and may twist what they hear to suit their own viewpoint or agenda.

 

Like a company insider who complains about how horribly the company is run, when in reality the company runs fine and the insider is actually just a terrible employee.