I know this is sort of weird timing for this but I would love to hear everyone's input of who to protect in the expansion draft. Of course things will change from now until the end of the season and things like Matthews' NFL interest and mid-season signings could change things but using the rules of protecting one QB, 10 imports and 5 non-imports this is what I would do at this point. If bluto or any other team's fans want to pitch their thoughts on their own team, I'd love to hear them.

 

First of all, I would like to say that i would prefer to not protect a QB at all since I think there is no way any of ours get taken with the other available options out there like Nicholls, Willy, Glenn, Mitchell etc available. I do know, that I'd be really furious if we protected Buck for a number of reasons so I would protect Goltz. He's a guy we've been grooming for a few years now and to lose him in a situation like this would just feel like a giant waste.

 

My 10 other imports would be these:

 

Simpson

January

Matthews

Turner

Hall

Sears

Stewart

Washington

Parker

Suber

 

I'm leaving JJ and Edwards unprotected because Edwards appears to be on his last legs and although he probably has a two or so good years left, the pipeline is rather impressive and if he is selected, we get to keep other guys who I would also prefer to keep in Gilmore, Z Anderson, I Anderson, Dunn and D. Pierce. JJ is pretty self-explanatory and I'd rather just leave it at the fact that the other 10 guys on this list are more valuable than him. If Matthews ends up getting an NFL look after the season, I'd slide Dunn into his spot since I still don't think Anderson and Gilmore get selected but at least if one of them were taken, we'd still have the other one to fill in. SAM is clearly a tougher spot to fill. I am not in complete love with January either but he's very solid and LT is a tough position to play.

 

If this ends up being the situation, I expect Edwards to be Ottawa's selection but JJ, Denmark or GIlmore are also options.

 

The NI six is a much harder grouping to fill but for the first round, I would do it as follows:

 

H Muamba

C Muamba

Watson

Greaves

Swiston

Pencer

 

 

That last spot is the toughest for me as Kohlert, Etienne or Poblah are also options but the risk of losing Pencer and his long-term potential of a possible ratio-breaking T is too much to pass up than risking Ottawa taking one of our receievers in which we would still have two of anyway. I worry that they take Palardy in this scenario as well which would really suck since he has been incredibly solid for us and the two extra NIs in the next round to protect is hardly worth it but I just think the six I have protected here are more valuable.

 

If this were the situation, I would expect Ottawa to take Poblah or Palardy but I wouldn't be surprised if they took Kohlert, Etienne or even Jake Thomas or Renaud depending on their other picks and other players available.

 

I'm going to be wishful and say that they take Poblah and thus my next six NIs to protect are:

 

Etienne

Kohlert

Thomas

Stephan

Renaud

Sorenson

 

That last spot was tough in terms of excluding Woodson for Sorenson or Renaud but Woodson just hasn't proven enough and Sorenson has been surprisingly decent for us at C while even though we have Pav to potentially replace Renaud down the line, he's been quite good in two games so far (other than in terms of pinning in the coffin corner) and I'd still rather have him around.

 

Of course this is just one guy's opinion but I feel like it makes for good discussion and banter.

When does Kevin Glenn hit FA?

 

Supposedly this coming February.

If I'm going to select today on who will be the protected players, here is my list:

 

Round 1:

 QB: Hall

 10 IMP:  Turner, Anderson, Dunn, Wild, Stewart, Washington, January, Kelly, Edwards, Woods

 

Round 2:

  6 NIP: H.Muamba, Watson, Etienne, Kohlert, Greaves, Swiston

 

Round 3:

  6 NIP: McKnight, Renaud, Labbe, Penser, Sorenson, Poblah, Volny

Its pretty early but those six NIs seem reasonable - but I would consider protecting Renaud or Palardy if one of them has a really big season.

 

The only untouchable is Henoc, after that, really everyone can be replaced to some degree.

You want to protect Palardy who is no longer here?

 

Its pretty early but those six NIs seem reasonable - but I would consider protecting Renaud or Palardy if one of them has a really big season.

 

The only untouchable is Henoc, after that, really everyone can be replaced to some degree.

You want to protect Palardy who is no longer here?

 

 

He posted that on July 9th lol

 

 

Its pretty early but those six NIs seem reasonable - but I would consider protecting Renaud or Palardy if one of them has a really big season.

 

The only untouchable is Henoc, after that, really everyone can be replaced to some degree.

You want to protect Palardy who is no longer here?

 

 

He posted that on July 9th lol

 

ahhh...now that makes sense 

I have very little interest in protecting January, Kelly or Edwards. I'd almost rather protect Jarvis Jones and use the other two spots for a signed Hall and Matthews if possible. Protecting a guy like Aaron Kelly would almost make me cry at the state of this team.

Lol Bombers will not have to worry about Ottawa or anyone else poaching any of our" talent"

They have to take someone.

They have to take someone.

 

They can pass.  They might on the import section and 2nd NI round.

With Etienne, Foster, Kohlert and Muamba all due to free agents we really won't have many Canadians to protect. Honestly, Ottawa might be forced to take Cauchy Muamba, Kito Poblah or Steve Morely off our hands.

With Etienne, Foster, Kohlert and Muamba all due to free agents we really won't have many Canadians to protect.

You still need to protect them if you want to keep their rights until February.

 

With Etienne, Foster, Kohlert and Muamba all due to free agents we really won't have many Canadians to protect.

You still need to protect them if you want to keep their rights until February.

 

You think Ottawa is going to take people in an expansion draft just so they can get their rights for a couple months? 

With Etienne, Foster, Kohlert and Muamba all due to free agents we really won't have many Canadians to protect.

You still need to protect them if you want to keep their rights until February.

You think Ottawa is going to take people in an expansion draft just so they can get their rights for a couple months?

Ottawa has said they don't plan to take potential FAs but if a top NI player was unprotected I can see them claiming him (and no I'm not saying Etienne, Foster or Kohlert are top NIs). It would be a risk - sometimes the risk is rewarded, sometimes it's not.

Perhaps we can have the CFL mandate Ottawa take at least a third of this roster...then we can at least have an equal counterpart next season.

 

 

With Etienne, Foster, Kohlert and Muamba all due to free agents we really won't have many Canadians to protect.

You still need to protect them if you want to keep their rights until February.

 

You think Ottawa is going to take people in an expansion draft just so they can get their rights for a couple months? 

 

Probably a few at least, I'd think. Worth the risk.

Perhaps we can have the CFL mandate Ottawa take at least a third of this roster...then we can at least have an equal counterpart next season.

 

Can we fold our team and start again next season as an expansion team?

With Etienne, Foster, Kohlert and Muamba all due to free agents we really won't have many Canadians to protect. Honestly, Ottawa might be forced to take Cauchy Muamba, Kito Poblah or Steve Morely off our hands.

 

On the other hand, Ottawa might think that these guys have all the reason to come out of Winnipeg, so they my take a gamble on picking our FAs.

So MOAB, u are conceiding that those NIPs FAs will not resign in Wpg and should remain all unprotected? Don't forget Etienne. Curious as to who you do want to protect. It will be a challenge.

 

With Etienne, Foster, Kohlert and Muamba all due to free agents we really won't have many Canadians to protect.

You still need to protect them if you want to keep their rights until February.

 

Kyle Walters himself said when we traded for Foster that the thinking is you want as many expiring contracts as possible so you don't have to worry about protecting them. In a league with such obvious tampering having their rights until February doesn't mean much.

I am not sure about the logic of not protecting a group of players that will be FAs. I guess if you have an entire team of FAs the logic is you can't lose everyone? Interesting theory.

I am not sure about the logic of not protecting a group of players that will be FAs. I guess if you have an entire team of FAs the logic is you can't lose everyone? Interesting theory.

The logic is that Ottawa needs players NOW and isn't going to take the chance of these guys returning to their city in Feb without playing a single game for them.

So based in that you think unprotected potential FAs get a free pass and then you can protect the other players you want? Good luck rolling the dice on that bet.

So based in that you think unprotected potential FAs get a free pass and then you can protect the other players you want? Good luck rolling the dice on that bet.

 

Agreed, I've never bought into that logic.  Imagine being in the player's shoes.  Ottawa thinks enough of you to draft you without a contract and your current team doesn't think enough of you to protect you... which team is making you feel more wanted?  Never mind the fact that Ottawa will have exclusive negotiation rights for two months to hash out a contract, and we saw how much that was worth in the Mike Reilly acquisition.  The only situation where it would be really risky is when there is NFL interest in the player.  If the player is likely to keep playing in the CFL, and Ottawa drafts him, they are almost certainly going to be able to get him under contract.

 

So based in that you think unprotected potential FAs get a free pass and then you can protect the other players you want? Good luck rolling the dice on that bet.

 

Agreed, I've never bought into that logic.  Imagine being in the player's shoes.  Ottawa thinks enough of you to draft you without a contract and your current team doesn't think enough of you to protect you... which team is making you feel more wanted?  Never mind the fact that Ottawa will have exclusive negotiation rights for two months to hash out a contract, and we saw how much that was worth in the Mike Reilly acquisition.  The only situation where it would be really risky is when there is NFL interest in the player.  If the player is likely to keep playing in the CFL, and Ottawa drafts him, they are almost certainly going to be able to get him under contract.

 

 

Exactly.

 

I'm not buying this logic either. At all.

So MOAB, u are conceiding that those NIPs FAs will not resign in Wpg and should remain all unprotected? Don't forget Etienne. Curious as to who you do want to protect. It will be a challenge.

 

I didnt say that. What I mean is Ottawa will put less weight if the players will be FA or not, if they are confident on their management that they can lure these FAs to sign with them.

 

As for the guys I will protect see my earlier post, there are pending FAs there.