Huge signing!

Bombers Re-Sign Pending FA Bucknor

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today are pleased to announce the club has re-signed National defensive back Matt Bucknor. Bucknor was scheduled to become a free agent in February.

In his third season in the CFL, the Windsor product started all 18 games in the defensive secondary for the Bombers, finishing with 62 tackles, and one special teams tackle. He had five or more tackles in six games last season.

“We say this a lot, but a solid Canadian starter, whether it’s on offence or defence, are key parts of your team” said Blue Bombers General Manager Kyle Walters. “Matt came into training camp in 2014 and quickly established himself as player we can count on in the secondary. This was a priority for us in terms of our free agents, and we are pleased as an organization to get this deal consummated.”

Prior to joining Winnipeg in a trade last January, Bucknor had spent two season with Hamilton, starting 27 games over two seasons, and also the 2013 Grey Cup.

Huzzah for the shopkeep...great news, especially funny for all those saying that the Derek Jones signing was because Walters "knew" that Bucknor wasn't returning. Sigh.

Very good news

Huzzah for the shopkeep...great news, especially funny for all those saying that the Derek Jones signing was because Walters "knew" that Bucknor wasn't returning. Sigh.

I don't recall anyone saying they "knew" Bucknor wasn't returning...

I said if it was a great back up plan.

I said if it was a great back up plan.

Pretty much what I said too. Walters protecting himself with Jones in case Bucknor didn't re-sign.

It's amazing that they got him last year just for Johnny Aprile

Good to have him back. Now we just need to lock down Wild, Sears and Washington.

Starting NI's are always great signings. 

Huge signing. 7-8 NI starters now all secured.

 

Time to focus on the 3 pending FA IMP starters - Wild, Sears and Washington.

 

It's ideal to go on next TC with minimum holes as possible.

Then they can focus on the upgrades.

I thought Bucknor was going to get some NFL looks...

All kidding aside, the kid played much better than I thought he would. He almost made me forget about how we could have gotten Edem in the draft a few years ago.

Hopefully we can lock down Wild and Sears I am not entirely sold on Washington, I was scared every time he attempted to take a punt or kick off and than the other times yes he can be a good blocker or special teams but man he did take a lot of unnecessary majors last year that often I would consider were game changers.  Well lets face it any major is a game changer; its 15 yards it hurts the team no matter if we are on first down; third down; or just getting the ball.  If we resign him I hope that he is taught to not take those penalties next year as I will cringe if they continue.

 

Wild and Sears on the other hand are must signs in my eyes unfortunately they are testing the NFL waters.

Another merit badge for Walters. We need all the good starting NIs we can get.

As people here suggested, for Etch defense to be effective we need a legit and bigger LB on the middle and not an undersize MLB like Wild.

 

I certainly welcome if Wild re-sign. But if he wont, as long as we will have a legit and bigger MLB, I will be OK with that.

@DarrinBauming: Matt Bucknor's new deal will keep him with the #Bombers through 2016.

More and more Canadian starters in the secondary, and Bucknor is a good one. Him and Jones gives the Bombers top quality Canadians at the position.

Are we so far gone as a team that Bucknor is a huge signing? 

Are we so far gone as a team that Bucknor is a huge signing? 

 

Nowhere near enough credit for a guy like Bucknor ... he played great for us last year.

Are we so far gone as a team that Bucknor is a huge signing? 

 

You can't take a step forward if you're constantly taking 2 steps back.

 

He's a starting NI.  Keeping him means we can work on upgrading our starting 7.  Losing him means we're searching for someone to have a starting 7.

YESSSSSSSSSSSS! (Sorry about the last one)

 

 

 

 

Excellent news. I sure like the fact we're gaining a lot of continuity on D. Keep it going Walters.

 

Are we so far gone as a team that Bucknor is a huge signing? 

 

Nowhere near enough credit for a guy like Bucknor ... he played great for us last year.

 

Great? No let's not get delusional here. He was adequate. You bring the guy back for sure but let's not pretend the team wouldn't have continued along just fine without him. 

 

 

Are we so far gone as a team that Bucknor is a huge signing? 

 

Nowhere near enough credit for a guy like Bucknor ... he played great for us last year.

 

Great? No let's not get delusional here. He was adequate. You bring the guy back for sure but let's not pretend the team wouldn't have continued along just fine without him. 

 

 

For a Canadian on the corner, he was great. Would we be worse off if he left? Yes.

 

 

 

Are we so far gone as a team that Bucknor is a huge signing? 

 

Nowhere near enough credit for a guy like Bucknor ... he played great for us last year.

 

Great? No let's not get delusional here. He was adequate. You bring the guy back for sure but let's not pretend the team wouldn't have continued along just fine without him. 

 

 

For a Canadian on the corner, he was great. Would we be worse off if he left? Yes.

 

That statement is skewing your perception. Just because it's a low bar doesn't mean his play was great. He didn't **** up too badly that's all you really need out of the guy but I would suggest that if he leaves you just play an american in that position and actually improve your secondary over all. Can likely find a way to replace the NI somewhere else. Maybe a linebacker position, maybe find a DL, maybe they even go with 3 receivers, or 4 OL. 

 

He's a useful player to have but he wasn't great. 

 

 

 

 

Are we so far gone as a team that Bucknor is a huge signing? 

 

Nowhere near enough credit for a guy like Bucknor ... he played great for us last year.

 

Great? No let's not get delusional here. He was adequate. You bring the guy back for sure but let's not pretend the team wouldn't have continued along just fine without him. 

 

 

For a Canadian on the corner, he was great. Would we be worse off if he left? Yes.

 

That statement is skewing your perception. Just because it's a low bar doesn't mean his play was great. He didn't **** up too badly that's all you really need out of the guy but I would suggest that if he leaves you just play an american in that position and actually improve your secondary over all. Can likely find a way to replace the NI somewhere else. Maybe a linebacker position, maybe find a DL, maybe they even go with 3 receivers, or 4 OL. 

 

He's a useful player to have but he wasn't great. 

 

 

You do understand the ratio problems the Bombers have, right?