let the speculation begin...dude could be in Winnipeg by Tuesday and play this weekend in Sask.
i am sure his agent is still hoping for an NFL shot but teams have their own "Wilson's" to deal with.
He was given no opportunity in the final preseason game and released immediately, prior to Tuesdays deadline.
I think he and his agent should realize he's not on anyone's radar and be here before our next practice.
Pay the man and pay him well
Quote from: Blueforlife on August 23, 2025, 09:07:36 PMPay the man and pay him well
Already our property for the remainder of this year. Would be ok with an extension though.
Quote from: Waffler on August 23, 2025, 09:11:59 PMAlready our property for the remainder of this year. Would be ok with an extension though.
Didn't remember that, thanks!
2nd year of entry level deal?
If we add Wilson and Shoen all of a sudden the Bombers have a very formidable receiving core.I would imagine Mitchell will be the odd man out.
Good news for the Bombers. I can't see Wilson trying to catch on elsewhere in the NFL. Each team has their own roster to fill out their PR.
Yes, he could be back during the 10 days we have off and play immediately. He'll be in game shape.
Quote from: Blue In BC on August 23, 2025, 10:11:48 PMGood news for the Bombers. I can't see Wilson trying to catch on elsewhere in the NFL. Each team has their own roster to fill out their PR.
Yes, he could be back during the 10 days we have off and play immediately. He'll be in game shape.
Great news! Might be back for the BB, from his background can't see him hanging around waiting for another NFL shot, he needs to work to eat.
Quote from: Blueforlife on August 23, 2025, 09:24:25 PMDidn't remember that, thanks!
2nd year of entry level deal?
Yes but it's not uncommon to extend a player returning from the NFL on his NFL option window. I don't know where I'd draw the line for an increase but it could be incentive laden.
I was surprised that he was signed by Jets, Hès a very good receiver, but wasn't in the top 5 receiver in the cfl. Give him some more experience though and who knows
Come on down Pokey
Quote from: Pete on August 23, 2025, 10:43:34 PMI was surprised that he was signed by Jets, Hès a very good receiver, but wasn't in the top 5 receiver in the cfl. Give him some more experience though and who knows
i am still thinking there was a "favor" based on his college or something as you are right he was very good but maybe not NFL very good.
Quote from: Jesse on August 23, 2025, 09:05:25 PMHe was given no opportunity in the final preseason game and released immediately, prior to Tuesdays deadline.
I think he and his agent should realize he's not on anyone's radar and be here before our next practice.
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Would we have cap space for him? Guess because partial year likely a minor concern.
Quote from: Blueforlife on August 23, 2025, 11:48:51 PMWould we have cap space for him? Guess because partial year likley a minor concern.
you make room if you don't have it - not even a discussion or concern
Quote from: The Zipp on August 23, 2025, 11:53:10 PMyou make room if you don't have it - not even a discussion or concern
Good point, shuffle the deck as needed. So excited for his return. Let's hope it happens.
I was simply asking a question if we have space so yes we can discuss it, curious how much cap room we have for him and others if needed. Maybe someone on the forum knows or keeps track of that.
Gut tells me we will have a wee bit of room.
I would think we saved some cap room when Schoen was on the 6 game IR.
Quote from: bwiser on August 24, 2025, 12:15:10 AMI would think we saved some cap room when Schoen was on the 6 game IR.
Pretty sure Walters would have budgeted for his return, hopefully he's called his agent already.
he comes back at the entrance level contract, but for once could we sign a promising young player to an extension early?
Quote from: Pete on August 24, 2025, 01:51:13 AMhe comes back at the entrance level contract, but for once could we sign a promising young player to an extension early?
Possible, but if his agent thinks he can get big money in his 3rd year, he may advise against signing an extension. Same danger for the Bombers, sign an extension for bigger money and he may perform below expected standards.
Here's a little clip of a similar scenario featuring Dillon Mitchell, the Elks offered him an extension at the end of his first season.
On July 29, 2022, Mitchell signed with the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[16] Mitchell had a strong rookie season in the CFL, finishing with 35 receptions for 637 yards and four touchdowns.[17] On October 25, 2022, the Elks announced they had agreed on a two-year contract extension with Mitchell through the 2025 season.[18] However, after recording 58 receptions for 727 yards and four touchdowns in 2024, he was released on January 10, 2025.[19]
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on August 24, 2025, 02:31:54 AMPossible, but if his agent thinks he can get big money in his 3rd year, he may advise against signing an extension. Same danger for the Bombers, sign an extension for bigger money and he may perform below expected standards.
It's a risk you gotta take. Pokey never lacked effort and fire. The risk/reward scenarios say roll the dice.
Quote from: Blue In BC on August 23, 2025, 10:34:27 PMYes but it's not uncommon to extend a player returning from the NFL on his NFL option window. I don't know where I'd draw the line for an increase but it could be incentive laden.
Well, I don't care about next year. I care about starting to win now and that home cup. But an extension / redrawn contract for bigger money right now would have the secondary effect of enticing him to come up
now.
If he's looking at continuation of ELC he may keep trying the NFL. If he's offered D.Mitchell money (or more... probably more) then he may put the NFL on pause. Tell him we'll be happy to help him with the next NFL window in '26 after he helps us win a cup and gets lots of great film!
Quote from: The Zipp on August 23, 2025, 11:53:10 PMyou make room if you don't have it - not even a discussion or concern
Yup, BC showed the way. Cup year. Give him $200k MMM on top of his ELC! 8)
another way to look at it, say hes making 85k on current contract so 43k for the remainder of the year and to resign him next year will cost 160k for a total of 203k
What if we rework his contract to 70k for remainer ty and 150 next. totalling 220k that way we spread out the hit and have him signed as well as giving him an incentive to return now.
if we release Mitchell the hit for this year wouldnt be a lot
Quote from: Pete on August 24, 2025, 03:13:35 AMWhat if we rework his contract to 125 ty and 125 next. that way we spread out the hit and have him signed as well as giving him an incentive to return now.
That's exactly what we'd do. However, we're generally cheap and hold people to their ELC. I mean, why not? I just fear he may not want to come up for a pittance now. Might depend on his character too. Some guys will happily take what they agreed to. Some guys will feel entitled to more.
But if he says "more or I stay south", you give him more, AND lock him down for a long time. Pokey PLUS Wheatie might just equal Kenny...
I would give him what he wants and sign the extension ASAP
But it won't that easy
Receivers get decent money now and him and his agent know that
Tending to go to the highest bidder and I don't blame em
Really good discussion everyone, exactly the banter I was looking for thanks
I'm cautiously optimistic
And agree we would have had him in the budget or at least in contingency
Pokey and Wheat could be a deadly combo that doesn't break the bank
Budget is totally fine. We haven't even spent to the original cap, let alone the extra $400k, or "allowed" overages, or MMM. If we have to spend to lock him for 2.5 seasons, you do it.
He's definitely worth Schoen money. Probably more because he doesn't have the "knee may never be better" history. Top end would be Demski money, though I'd hope we find a way to cheap out a bit.
Quote from: Pete on August 24, 2025, 03:13:35 AManother way to look at it, say hes making 85k on current contract so 43k for the remainder of the year and to resign him next year will cost 160k for a total of 203k
What if we rework his contract to 70k for remainer ty and 150 next. totalling 220k that way we spread out the hit and have him signed as well as giving him an incentive to return now.
if we release Mitchell the hit for this year wouldnt be a lot
I'm not sure what the team will do regarding any new contract offer. Giving him more this year won't necessarily make him come to the CFL NOW if he's thinking of waiting out another NFL offer.
However, if we can sign him to a new contract for 2026 - 2027 for a nice increase in each year, that would be good. Going to $160K for 2026 might be more than I think he should get though. Incentive laden clauses would help. $160K is in the range of Schoen and D.Mitchell.
He has to clear the waiver wire but in theory he could be back for LD.
If I'm Pokey I'm not hanging around down south hoping to catch on to a PR. He's too low on the Jets depth chart to get a PR spot IMO, and the other teams have their own last cut WRs for their own PR spots. He's going to be one of about 120 WRs without a job, hoping a rash of injuries in a roster gives them a break. Very small odds. He should come back ASAP, and hopefully Walter's makes it happen, and doesn't cheap out like he did in the off season.
I don't care what we do contract-wise, just get him here asap. If he needs a reworked CFL contract to pay him more to come here vs waiting around for an NFL call, so be it. If we extend him later, great. If he comes up here now to play out the year but wants to test FA and maxx out, whatever dude. Just get here now and help win us the cup.
hopefully one of our reporters is talking to Pokey and getting some scoops on his plans.
Quote from: bunker on August 24, 2025, 01:50:12 PMIf I'm Pokey I'm not hanging around down south hoping to catch on to a PR. He's too low on the Jets depth chart to get a PR spot IMO, and the other teams have their own last cut WRs for their own PR spots. He's going to be one of about 120 WRs without a job, hoping a rash of injuries in a roster gives them a break. Very small odds. He should come back ASAP, and hopefully Walter's makes it happen, and doesn't cheap out like he did in the off season.
At least Pokey has a Plan B to fall back on, 95% of these receivers have nowhere else to go but home.
Disagree about cutting Mitchell, if they're not going to bring in any other receivers, he'll do fine as a backup. If he can't redeem his career in the second half of the season with whatever playing time he gets, it's easy enough to walk away from him at the end of this year.
I hope we hear something this week. C'mon back, Pokey!
Come earn a good living Pokey instead of toiling with tryouts, lol
There's the timeline that they are waiting for cut down day (tomorrow), and then waiting for all of the waiver claims to go through and practice roster adds, to make any decisions. Maybe a couple of teams have even told him to wait and see.
But man, he didn't even make it to cut down day. A hundred other receivers are about to be released. Just come home.
Quote from: Jesse on August 25, 2025, 05:36:14 PMThere's the timeline that they are waiting for cut down day (tomorrow), and then waiting for all of the waiver claims to go through and practice roster adds, to make any decisions. Maybe a couple of teams have even told him to wait and see.
But man, he didn't even make it to cut down day. A hundred other receivers are about to be released. Just come home.
Yeah, I agree. The writing's on the wall.
Come back to the CFL and carve out a nice career with the Bombers, Pokey.
It's his dream, and I can see how he'd like to hold onto the last glimmer of hope before pulling the plug, but really, its done. He'll be up here soon.
We've seen this movie before. To us, it's so obvious when an opportunity isn't going to materialize any further and it's time to cut bait and move on to the next best thing. But to them, this has been everything they ever dreamed of and it becomes "at any cost" which can ultimately lead to delusion.
So I get their perspective. But as outsiders looking in, it's like...c'mon man...
He has an incentive to come back and finish his contract, then he'll be a free agent in 2026.
Rather than have to play out the final year of his contract in 2026/2027.
Quote from: peg_city on August 25, 2025, 08:26:08 PMHe has an incentive to come back and finish his contract, then he'll be a free agent in 2026.
Rather than have to play out the final year of his contract in 2026/2027.
Yes, this is the way I would go. Then he's hold all the cards. A little more bargaining power.
My understanding is that his contract expires Feb 2026 if he plays in the CFL or not.
Quote from: Waffler on August 25, 2025, 09:51:22 PMMy understanding is that his contract expires Feb 2026 if he plays in the CFL or not.
Didn't work that way for Ford but surely they have different rules for draft picks. I suspect you're right. 3 CFL players that went to the NFL and came back to different teams off the cuff, Desjarlais, Bighill and Muamba. Thing is Pokey would have more of a connection to Wpg. than he would in any other CFL city, so the Bombers should still be his preference.
Quote from: Waffler on August 25, 2025, 09:51:22 PMMy understanding is that his contract expires Feb 2026 if he plays in the CFL or not.
If he does play, it extents to the next year. If he does play, this will count as his second year.
As I understand it.
Quote from: Jesse on August 25, 2025, 10:49:03 PMIf he does play, it extents to the next year. If he does play, this will count as his second year.
As I understand it.
You must have meant "he doesn't" for one of those...?
Quote from: Jesse on August 25, 2025, 05:36:14 PMBut man, he didn't even make it to cut down day. A hundred other receivers are about to be released. Just come home.
If Kenny can't make it in the NFL, then Pokey has no chance. Look at the guys who stuck for a while. Zylstra? Showed 10X better than Pokey. D.Walker (in his initial CFL stint) 5X better.
Pokey is this strange player who doesn't seem like he's doing much, doesn't look like much, doesn't sound like much, but certainly seems to have this certain little something. And he gets stats. And you have this strange feeling that maybe he could be a top-3 guy one day...
There's also the issue of CFL RECs who go down for 2-3 seasons and come back seem to invariably suck rocks, have zero motivation, and wash out after 1-3 lackluster years. If you stay down there for 1+ years it does something to your brain and you never recover. Better to just come back, get more film, and try again next year. Rinse & repeat.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on August 25, 2025, 02:34:56 PMI hope we hear something this week. C'mon back, Pokey!
We did. Moore/Echols. Pokey isn't coming anytime soon.
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
https://globalnews.ca/news/11349719/winnipeg-blue-bombers-add-new-receivers/
On the Coach's show last night O'Shea said Pokey's agent and the scouting staff were in contact and said when a player goes to NFL tryouts they usually aren't in a rush to and stay until they exhaust all their opportunity's. (going on my memory)
Quote from: barbk on Today at 01:48:09 PMOn the Coach's show last night O'Shea said Pokey's agent and the scouting staff were in contact and said when a player goes to NFL tryouts they usually aren't in a rush to and stay until they exhaust all their opportunity's. (going on my memory)
Fair, but I think MOS is just speaking generally there. I don't think he's had any contact with Wilson or would bother asking about anyone not on his roster.
Quote from: Jesse on Today at 01:55:35 PMFair, but I think MOS is just speaking generally there. I don't think he's had any contact with Wilson or would bother asking about anyone not on his roster.
He said
Pokey's agent and scouting staff I didn't quote Oshea had contact with Wilson
Wilson was waived three days ago. No teams have expressed any interest in him since, which is - or should be - pretty telling.
I think a CFL return is his only option.
Every week on an NFL practice roster is $13000 US per week. Pokey is likely making $80000 for an entire CFL season which is about $58000 for the entire year. Prorate that and with the number of games left, he's looking at about $25000. He's going to hang around down south to try to land another gig.
He might but the odds of it leading to anything are very small. If he came back this week, he would make 8 game cheques (31,000 based on 70,000 min salary). He's also be eligible for up to 23,000 in playoff/grey cup money. Plus, my understanding is that if he played this year for us, he's a free agent next year, whereas if he stays down there, he owes us one more year at his minimum salary. I understand wanting to follow the dream, but I'd be advising him to come back.
Quote from: barbk on Today at 02:12:40 PMHe said Pokey's agent and scouting staff I didn't quote Oshea had contact with Wilson
I know, wasn't suggesting otherwise.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on August 25, 2025, 10:17:48 PMDidn't work that way for Ford but surely they have different rules for draft picks. I suspect you're right. 3 CFL players that went to the NFL and came back to different teams off the cuff, Desjarlais, Bighill and Muamba. Thing is Pokey would have more of a connection to Wpg. than he would in any other CFL city, so the Bombers should still be his preference.
Canadian players have 3 year ELC deals.
Noting that Polk returned to the Argos and he had a better chance of making an NFL roster. So Wilson may not return but his chances are slim.
maybe jets have told him to hang around, similar to ford with gb, he hung around only to end up not signed and going to the cfl next season
Quote from: Blue In BC on Today at 05:49:18 PMCanadian players have 3 year ELC deals.
Noting that Polk returned to the Argos and he had a better chance of making an NFL roster. So Wilson may not return but his chances are slim.
somehow the argos convinced him to return to the team. how aggressive are we being?
Polk was released end of July, so that may have something to do with it. He probably spent 3-4 weeks looking into opportunities, and there weren't any. I hope Wilson makes a quick decision to come back.
Quote from: The Zipp on Today at 06:20:08 PMsomehow the argos convinced him to return to the team. how aggressive are we being?
It would be wonderful if an intrepid reporter could reach out to him directly, be nice to hear his reasoning for not returning asap.