Figured it would be nice to keep all the non-Bomber dealings of the offseason in one centralized thread ... I'm sure there are exceptions for the BIG stories having their own threads as they come up, but for all the daily tweets and information, we could keep it condensed to one thread.

 

One rumor I saw yesterday from Drew Edwards ... WR Greg Ellingson to Ottawa to reunite with Henry Burris - would be a good move for Ottawa

Tyler Holmes just re-signed in TO.

 

Booooooooooooo

That's interesting.

Was playing some great football down the stretch last year. At 6'11 is the reason he gets so many chances.

He must get a lot of footballs thrown into his head.

Must have given him a fair amount of cash, one would assume these guys would at least test the market before signing. Interesting for sure. Probably means Heenan is going to get paid a ton. 

Puts pressure on Walters to get Heenan. But I don't think he will. 

 

Heenan wants to stay in SK, so he'll dangle the Blue to get the most he can out of Taman. 

 

The only upside is that this might put Taman in a pickle as he HAS to sign Dressler too. 

 

So if we lose out on Heenan and Dressler to SK, someone else HAS to shake free.

 

And I'm thinking its (barf) Getzlaf.

Just like Holmes signed with the Argos today, Heenan could sign with SASK tomorrow or b4 free agency begins even. Who says he wants to stay in SASK? Has he come out and said that? If so, what's the point in even trying to sign the guy if it's a foregone conclusion that he will sign back with the Riders. Seemed like lots of folks believed Holmes would go back home to Ottawa and he didn't. If these guys don't make it to free agency, Holmes didn't, Heenan still might sign with SASK before free agency begins, what could Walters do really? No pressure at all. Not until Free Agency Officially begins. If Heenan makes it to free agency and we give him a big money offer and he still goes  back to SASK, what could you do really? Nothing. 

 

Free agency in the CFL is interesting for about 5 minutes, It's actually interesting up until all the guys the fans want the bombers to go after sign back with their original clubs before free agency even begins. 

 

As for Heenan and the Riders, if he signs there, he signs there, what can you do really but... 3 NI receivers and Emery +3 starting Canadian oline = 7 starters.

 

Getzlaf at 225k? He'd have to be released and i doubt that would go over well in SASK.. he's a local boy. At 225k, what team would trade for that contract? 

If memory serves; weren't the Bombers one of the teams other than Ottawa and Saskie who were in discussions with Dressler last year?

If so, wouldn't it make sense that they would still have interest?

Just like Holmes signed with the Argos today, Heenan could sign with SASK tomorrow or b4 free agency begins even. Who says he wants to stay in SASK? Has he come out and said that? If so, what's the point in even trying to sign the guy if it's a foregone conclusion that he will sign back with the Riders. Seemed like lots of folks believed Holmes would go back home to Ottawa and he didn't. If these guys don't make it to free agency, Holmes didn't, Heenan still might sign with SASK before free agency begins, what could Walters do really? No pressure at all. Not until Free Agency Officially begins. If Heenan makes it to free agency and we give him a big money offer and he still goes  back to SASK, what could you do really? Nothing. 

 

Free agency in the CFL is interesting for about 5 minutes, It's actually interesting up until all the guys the fans want the bombers to go after sign back with their original clubs before free agency even begins. 

 

As for Heenan and the Riders, if he signs there, he signs there, what can you do really but... 3 NI receivers and Emery +3 starting Canadian oline = 7 starters.

 

Getzlaf at 225k? He'd have to be released and i doubt that would go over well in SASK.. he's a local boy. At 225k, what team would trade for that contract? 

 

Exactly, he is making way too much and Taman knows it. And now, the entire fan base knows it. 

 

I wouldnt be surprised if he gets renegotiated. The home town card can just as easily be played against you if the fans see you as using it to over value yourself. 

I still see Heenan possibly leaving the riders. I think Taman has covered his bases here with the watson and emery trades. I dunno tho, guess we will see what happens in the next week or 2 even. 

 

I think if Heenan makes it to free agency, we have as good of a shot, if not better at getting him than anybody else does. Call it a hunch or a gut feeling. 

The only fly in the ointment is that SK will break the cap and do all the dirty underhanded stuff their fans used to whine about. 

 

I remember when Burris's wife got a 60k a year job in Calgary when Hank signed from SK. They all screamed bloody murder then. Wouldn't be surprised in the least if Heenan sticks in SK and suddenly his spouse is a "consultant" for Sasktel for example. 

...aaaaaaaand there goes Dressler, re-signing...

Four year extension for Dressler.  That contract's got to be worth close to a million bucks.  Riders have a whole lot of money tied up in their receiving corps right now....

Four year extension for Dressler.  That contract's got to be worth close to a million bucks.  Riders have a whole lot of money tied up in their receiving corps right now....

He's assnt OC with Durant so its not like he was going anywhere.

Tyler Holmes just re-signed in TO.

 

 

...aaaaaaaand there goes Dressler, re-signing...

 

11 more days before I waste energy getting invested in any player.  Very few of the best talents ever hit the market.  The list of current FA's will be cut nearly in half before Feb 10, just like every other year.

 

Which will remain an annual disappointment.  I mean, fingers crossed.

Yup. They aren't free agents until the 10th and every year, the big names generally sign back with their current team and people freak out and say.. wtf, we lost out on this guy and that guy but reality is, never had a chance at them since they signed back. The process repeats itself every time free agency rolls around. There is a reason you don't really build your team in the CFL on free agency and there is a reason why the draft is so important to your success and how wasting picks and trading them away is a bad idea. The only way you get impact NI players recently is by drafting and developing them. 

 

Probably means we do go OLINE at 2, even if we somehow managed to snag Heenan, which i think is doubtful. Would be nice and did say i think we have as good of a chance as anyone if he makes it to the 10th but.. that's just wishful thinking. Reality is, it's unlikely most the guys "we want" even make it to free agency. 

There will be a deal or two out there for us that will make this team better, and I think Walters will get something like that done, but getting a guy like Rogers just doesn't have the same fist-pumping reaction as a Holmes or Heenan.  For obvious reasons.

Anybody know who among the top OL draft prospects has a realistic chance to get an NFL camp invite?

According to BombersJetsTalk on twitter, Riders have about 1.25 million invested now in Labatte,Dressler,Getzlaf and Durant. That's insanity actually. 

and yet Taman is quoted as saying that Dressler basically signed for what he budgeted and that they won't have to dump salary. Also quoted as saying that he only wants to lose Heenan to NFL. If he stays north, they'll be "very aggressive"....how??

and yet Taman is quoted as saying that Dressler basically signed for what he budgeted and that they won't have to dump salary. Also quoted as saying that he only wants to lose Heenan to NFL. If he stays north, they'll be "very aggressive"....how??

Zero ***** given about the cap?? Wouldn't be the first time.

That sucks about Holmes. Hope Heenan decides to join us.

 

However does free agency look more like us landing Rodgers or Bryant to replace January at tackle and a NI receiver like Watt or maybe an Earnest Jackson?

Cap is a myth in SK. No way a Regina boy sees Free Agency. 

 

Amazing how skilled a GM Taman is when he gets to play with Monopoly money. 

 

They will sign Heenan at the last second to a lower than expected contract. Then they will restructure Getz to something less. 

 

And we'll all be like "how?" And the answer will be when Heenan and Getz show up in new cars or fat off season jobs. 

 

Seriously, screw that entire province. I liked them better when they were poor. 

Joey Elliott released...again.

Odell Willis just extended by the Eskimos. 

and yet Taman is quoted as saying that Dressler basically signed for what he budgeted and that they won't have to dump salary. Also quoted as saying that he only wants to lose Heenan to NFL. If he stays north, they'll be "very aggressive"....how??

 

I'm pretty sure every GM I've heard interviewed has said they'll be "very aggressive" in free agency.

 

It is mathematically possible to have several highly compensated players fit under the salary cap.  People in Winnipeg have gotten used to the QB and one other guy making good coin, but other teams have realized there's room for more than that.  Probably some theories about cups won/lost can be drawn from that, but I'll have to check with my robot army first.