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)

                        

                        

                                          

                        

I'm almost to the point about not caring about guys like Laurent anymore. He can do whatever he wants for all I care.

 

I partially agree... I would consider him to be a luxury... I fully expect to start the season without signing him.... but if we could somehow pull off a deal that would be a huge bonus

@sportscage: Riders announce the signing of LB Brandon Isaac on the SportsCage

I hope we offer Laurent more than Edmonton does.  We NEED another starting calibre Canuck and Laurent fits the bill better than anyone else who's still available.

Offering more money is about all we can do and from what we've seen from Walters so far I think he'll do it, but I still doubt that will be enough to get him in blue and gold.  Montreal and Edmonton have to be way more desireable to him.

 

I hope we offer Laurent more than Edmonton does.  We NEED another starting calibre Canuck and Laurent fits the bill better than anyone else who's still available.

Offering more money is about all we can do and from what we've seen from Walters so far I think he'll do it, but I still doubt that will be enough to get him in blue and gold.  Montreal and Edmonton have to be way more desireable to him.

 

I can see Montreal being more desirable because they will make the playoffs.  I don't see Edmonton as being any more desirable than Winnipeg although they are a year ahead in the rebuild process.

Darrin Bauming ‏@DarrinBauming 39s

Former #Bombers all-star defensive back Jonathan Hefney has been released by the Calgary Stampeders.

Stamps traded a conditional pick for Dee Webb and Signed former Lion and Argo Lin-J Shell. 

Darrin Bauming ‏@DarrinBauming 39s

Former #Bombers all-star defensive back Jonathan Hefney has been released by the Calgary Stampeders.

 

have to admit, his play well downhill fast.

Darrin Bauming ‏@DarrinBauming 39s

Former #Bombers all-star defensive back Jonathan Hefney has been released by the Calgary Stampeders.

have to admit, his play well downhill fast.

Tough life trying to play in the NFL and then coming back. Few make the same impact upon their return.

 

 

I hope we offer Laurent more than Edmonton does.  We NEED another starting calibre Canuck and Laurent fits the bill better than anyone else who's still available.

Offering more money is about all we can do and from what we've seen from Walters so far I think he'll do it, but I still doubt that will be enough to get him in blue and gold.  Montreal and Edmonton have to be way more desireable to him.

 

I can see Montreal being more desirable because they will make the playoffs.  I don't see Edmonton as being any more desirable than Winnipeg although they are a year ahead in the rebuild process.

 

 

We shall see.

Yeah, not sure why people could assume Montreal will make the playoffs. Troy Smith is no Calvillo and they aren't nearly the team they have been in the past. They'll have to fight for it.

 

 

 

I hope we offer Laurent more than Edmonton does.  We NEED another starting calibre Canuck and Laurent fits the bill better than anyone else who's still available.

Offering more money is about all we can do and from what we've seen from Walters so far I think he'll do it, but I still doubt that will be enough to get him in blue and gold.  Montreal and Edmonton have to be way more desireable to him.

 

I can see Montreal being more desirable because they will make the playoffs.  I don't see Edmonton as being any more desirable than Winnipeg although they are a year ahead in the rebuild process.

 

 

We shall see.

 

 

Do you know something we don't know Mike?  You sound intriguing.  Maybe you can share something to me in PM?

Mike, you got inside info on Laurent signing with the Bombers?

I wasn't commenting on them being more desirable, I was just referring to their playoff chances. I think Montreal, Edmonton and Winnipeg will all be in roughly the same boat this year.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats ‏@Ticats 41m

The #Ticats have also released the following players: #CFL WR Spencer Armstrong WR Jay Diston DB Arthur Hobbs

 

 

 

anybody knows if Spencer Armstrong is any good?

Hamilton must really like Aprile, because they have no one else behind Fantuz and Giguere.

Darrin Bauming ‏@DarrinBauming 39s

Former #Bombers all-star defensive back Jonathan Hefney has been released by the Calgary Stampeders.

Wonder if we'll see him join Johnson in Ottawa?

 

Darrin Bauming ‏@DarrinBauming 39s

Former #Bombers all-star defensive back Jonathan Hefney has been released by the Calgary Stampeders.

Wonder if we'll see him join Johnson in Ottawa?

 

most likely

Yeah, not sure why people could assume Montreal will make the playoffs. Troy Smith is no Calvillo and they aren't nearly the team they have been in the past. They'll have to fight for it.

Montreal has to beat out Ottawa and at least tie with the 4th place team in the west to get the last playoff spot.  They get 2 extra games against eastern teams instead of western teams.  They have a very good defense.  All of that gives them a pretty big advantage over Edmonton and Winnipeg IMHO.

 

Yeah, not sure why people could assume Montreal will make the playoffs. Troy Smith is no Calvillo and they aren't nearly the team they have been in the past. They'll have to fight for it.

Montreal has to beat out Ottawa and at least tie with the 4th place team in the west to get the last playoff spot.  They get 2 extra games against eastern teams instead of western teams.  They have a very good defense.  All of that gives them a pretty big advantage over Edmonton and Winnipeg IMHO.

 

 

I don't know if I'd agree with that. I certainly don't know if I'd agree that it would be a big enough difference that a roster player to-be would look at it and say "hey, this team is markedly better than this one"

 

They were the 3rd worst D in the league last year, they need to change their ratio and they lost their middle linebacker. It could definitely go either way.

I don't think people are giving Montreal it's due, yes Calvillo is gone, but they still have a decent team. How often have fans of other teams said "this is the year Montreal starts to falter" and it ends up not happening. Now, I'm not saying Montreal is still the Beast in the East or anything, but IMO it's not as gloomy as some suggest.

 

 

Yeah, not sure why people could assume Montreal will make the playoffs. Troy Smith is no Calvillo and they aren't nearly the team they have been in the past. They'll have to fight for it.

Montreal has to beat out Ottawa and at least tie with the 4th place team in the west to get the last playoff spot.  They get 2 extra games against eastern teams instead of western teams.  They have a very good defense.  All of that gives them a pretty big advantage over Edmonton and Winnipeg IMHO.

 

 

I don't know if I'd agree with that. I certainly don't know if I'd agree that it would be a big enough difference that a roster player to-be would look at it and say "hey, this team is markedly better than this one"

 

They were the 3rd worst D in the league last year, they need to change their ratio and they lost their middle linebacker. It could definitely go either way.

 

 

Their D is relying on a lot of relatively old players in key spots too.  

Ted Laurent was born in Montreal and the Als haven't missed the playoffs... ever.  If the money is equal, Laurent signs in Montreal.  Believing otherwise is just wishful thinking.

Ted Laurent was born in Montreal and the Als haven't missed the playoffs... ever. If the money is equal, Laurent signs in Montreal. Believing otherwise is just wishful thinking.

It has been a long time since the Als didn't have a Hall of Fame QB.

 

Ted Laurent was born in Montreal and the Als haven't missed the playoffs... ever. If the money is equal, Laurent signs in Montreal. Believing otherwise is just wishful thinking.

It has been a long time since the Als didn't have a Hall of Fame QB.

 

They didn't have one last year and still made the playoffs.

I don't want to completely derail this thread but the Als really don't scare me at any position other than receiver and maybe o-line. On top of it all, Higgins has never really seen a ton of success as a coach even with his long CFL history. He's no Marc Trestman.

 

Never got all the love Troy Smith has been getting either. He was alright last season but he's hardly more proven than even Drew Willy. Bowman, Billy Parker, Jerald Brown, Hebert and Cox are all in their early 30s and while Cox at the very least looks like he has a few years left, the rest of them have shown declining play in recent years and they all play key roles in the defense. It seems like a case of everyone just assuming they will be good because they are the Als. Sure, being in the East helps but Toronto and Hamilton will likely be as strong if not stronger than both BC and Saskatchewan next season.