Not counting Sundays, there are 17 days left to sign our own FAs.

Do the Bombers have a say in all the FAs we have to sign or do circumstances exist where we have no chance?

 

For me, at least to get to TC:

 

Desirable signings - Some for obvious reasons, some for NI content, some for experience:

 

Henoc Muamba, Chris Matthews, Jade Etienne, Brandon Stewart, Will Ford, Jovon Johnson, Akeem Foster, Kenny Mainor, Justin Sorensen, Marc Parenteau.

 

Signings if it makes sense - Again, ratio-wise and depth, new signings:

 

JT Gilmore, , Ryan Lucas, Chris Cvetkovic, Chris Kowalczuk, Dan West.

 

Not a Priority - Injuries….

 

Chad Simpson, Andre Douglas.

 

For comparison: (not including retired, suspended or released)

 

BC - …………..0 - 5 signings

Edmonton…….4 - 11

Calgary……….10 - 17 

​Sask…………..3 - 17

​WBB…………..6 - 18

Hamilton………1 -6

​Toronto……….1 - 10

​Montreal………8 -17

 

The Bombers have 79 60 players listed on their roster page including all eligible FAs.

There are 34 imports and 32 26 NIs.

However, I can't imagine injured players like Sims-Walker will be back nor Bo Smith, nor Boltus (but that's just my wish)

                        

                        

                                          

                        

 

 

Just a few thinking of how the ratio shakes out for us right now .. putting together a few ideas of who we might see as the 7 NIs .. thinking:

 

Greaves

Morley

Swiston / Pencer / Neufeld - they'll need one of these guys to step up and take a spot

Watson

Kohlert

Lucas / Thomas

Muamba / Newman / Bucknor

 

Depending on the package, probably see a healthy dose of Pontbriand and Fitzgerald as well ..  the interior of our line makes me want to vomit .. none of Greaves, Morley or Swiston (et al.) are guys that I'd consider anchors ..

 

I agree re: inside o-line. It's scary. Sadly, the only way it's going to get better in the forseeable future is a prospect stepping up. Guys who can anchor an o-line just don't make it to free agency frequently enough to bank on that route. They could go for a trade, but the price is going to be high. It'll be a great day when we can stop fretting over the o-line.

 

 

 

I think Greaves has developed into a VERY solid Guard

 

 

Now he needs to learn how to play that way consistently.

Feel bad for Willy, playing behind that O line. 

 

Hope it doesn't crush the kid's confidence.

As long as he does need 12 minutes to get the ball off I think he will be fine. Quicker reads from are quarterbacks will make a lot of difference.

I don't know what we offered Butler and Bourke, but the fact that we whiffed on both of those guys (particularly Bourke) and signed an import receiver for a bundle of cash concerns me.

 

Does this group want to win, or did they just want to 'make a splash'? 

 

Sorry for being negative, but our NI depth is ugh and our O-line is going to get someone killed.

Bourke never made it to free agency was signed moments before it opened. Did not announce till after.

I don't know what we offered Butler and Bourke, but the fact that we whiffed on both of those guys (particularly Bourke) and signed an import receiver for a bundle of cash concerns me.

 

Does this group want to win, or did they just want to 'make a splash'? 

 

Sorry for being negative, but our NI depth is ugh and our O-line is going to get someone killed.

Good grief! What does it take to get through some people's heads that just because you make an offer, or even a great offer,  doesn't mean you're going to get that player. There are all sorts of reasons why players choose one place over another! 

Did anyone seriously think Bourke was leaving Montreal? 

 

As people have stated, the price for receivers has gone up, whether we like it or not.  The "use of a car" stipend is small when you think about it (lease for 6 months, get a deal from the dealership - what, $300 x 6 months - $1800?), and the club can probably just expense it outside of salaries.  Smart move to "hide" money. 

 

Sucks not to get Butler, but he had his choice and cost a pretty penny.  

Kory Sheets just signed in Oakland.

(I completely agree our OL is a disaster and clusterfuck, but FA isn't going to solve that.  It's why I love seeing everyone gush over ANY qb - Collaros, Burris, Glenn, Willy, who cares - they're likely all to play like crap behind this line)

Mike would you know if who other FAs (except Matthews and Laurent) the Bombers are interest and currently dealing with ?

I have no idea.

 

I know they were in on Ferri and Waters, but the money ended up being more than they were interested in.

any info when and where do Chris Matthews and Ted Laurent have NFL tryouts?

 

from what I get from the presser, we will be on these sweepstakes if ever that happens.

I don't know what we offered Butler and Bourke, but the fact that we whiffed on both of those guys (particularly Bourke) and signed an import receiver for a bundle of cash concerns me.

 

Does this group want to win, or did they just want to 'make a splash'? 

 

Sorry for being negative, but our NI depth is ugh and our O-line is going to get someone killed.

 

You brought the angst upon yourself.

 

Bourke, we had a .08 chance of landing Bourke, (no coincidence in the number (BAC) as you would have to be drunk to think we had a chance to lure him away)

 

I'm actually impressed we had a shot at Butler with BC (current residence) and Hamilton (where he's from)

 

If you want to hear Walters explain these very topics, I encourage you to listen to the presser.

http://www.bluebombers.com/video/index/id/94631

 

Are we not short on NI experienced NI receivers?

 

Just providing a list of NI-WR we have on our roster right now (not commenting on their viability as starters):

 

Watson

Kohlert

Brescacin

Feoli-Guidino

Renaud (Taylor)

Fitzgerald (drafted with an H back type role in mind I believe)

 

Guys drafted and coming back:

 

Alli

(Not sure about DiCroce)

 

It's going to be interesting to see how they approach the ratio this season. 

 

Dicroce was grabbed off waivers by Calgary. 

(I completely agree our OL is a disaster and clusterfuck, but FA isn't going to solve that.  It's why I love seeing everyone gush over ANY qb - Collaros, Burris, Glenn, Willy, who cares - they're likely all to play like crap behind this line)

 

You obviously never saw the turnstiles that Khari had to stand behind most of his time here.  A good QB can make any Oline look half decent, especially if he has a quick release. Even turnstiles require two seconds to get past to the target on the other side.

Sheets gone too, eh.

 

I'm finding it difficult to conceive of a team having a worse off-season than the Riders are having so far this season. After the way that the arrogant twerps have been slagging us for so many years, I can't help but love it.

Too bad about David Lee.

 

Who's left that we might target?

 

Morley Scott ‏@Morley_Scott  2h

Hervey says the Eskimos have a contract offer in front of Akeem Foster.

Sheets gone too, eh.

 

I'm finding it difficult to conceive of a team having a worse off-season than the Riders are having so far this season. After the way that the arrogant twerps have been slagging us for so many years, I can't help but love it.

The Riders will be just fine. Their O-line is still one of the best if not the best in the league, they have and they have a good QB. Running backs are a dime a dozen as well. Yes they need to replace Butler but they still have a very good football team for 2014.

Some names still out there

 

Neiswander

McCune

Torrey Davis

Jamall Johnson

McElveen

Sanders

Brooks

Law

Legare

Lang

Laurent

Munoz

 

 

What's the status of Sanders now?  I'd at least sniff it out.

 

 

Just a few thinking of how the ratio shakes out for us right now .. putting together a few ideas of who we might see as the 7 NIs .. thinking:

 

Greaves

Morley

Swiston / Pencer / Neufeld - they'll need one of these guys to step up and take a spot

Watson

Kohlert

Lucas / Thomas

Muamba / Newman / Bucknor

 

Depending on the package, probably see a healthy dose of Pontbriand and Fitzgerald as well ..  the interior of our line makes me want to vomit .. none of Greaves, Morley or Swiston (et al.) are guys that I'd consider anchors ..

 

I agree re: inside o-line. It's scary. Sadly, the only way it's going to get better in the forseeable future is a prospect stepping up. Guys who can anchor an o-line just don't make it to free agency frequently enough to bank on that route. They could go for a trade, but the price is going to be high. It'll be a great day when we can stop fretting over the o-line.

 

 

 

I think Greaves has developed into a VERY solid Guard

 

 

Except that all too often he still looks very much like a converted DT.  He needs to elevate his game more consistently because, as it stands now, he still gets beat quite regularly.  Greaves is still something of a project.

Some names still out there

 

Neiswander

McCune

Torrey Davis

Jamall Johnson

McElveen

Sanders

Brooks

Law

Legare

Lang

Laurent

Munoz

 

I'd love to see McCune in here.  His price tag might keep him out of Blue and Gold however .. especially if the team balked at the figure Ferri was asking for.

Kirk Penton ‏@PentonKirk 1h

As @chronicles0420 has corrected me, the #Bombers haven't ruled out bringing back RB Chad Simpson.

 

Kirk Penton ‏@PentonKirk 1h

The #Bombers are concerned because Chad Simpson just had a second foot surgery. That makes doing a contract tough.

Some names still out there

 

Neiswander

McCune

Torrey Davis

Jamall Johnson

McElveen

Sanders

Brooks

Law

Legare

Lang

Laurent

Munoz

Players I'd be interested in to varying degrees: Laurent, Sanders, McCune, and McElveen