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[Look at who won the Grey Cup]

#21

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: 1st & 10 | The Blue Bomber...

Last post by Tecno - December 12, 2025, 08:47:50 PM

Look at who won the Grey Cup. Which non import contract did they "overpay" because it's the cost of business?

They controlled costs at receiver, QB and running back and had a mid tier secondary (from a cost perspective).

SSK found the magic formula.  It's actually brilliant as it throws CFL orthodoxy on its head.  Buy a top-2 OL unit and have an accurate short-game QB, then it doesn't matter who you are throwing it to as you have all day and any mediocre NAT REC can get the job done.  And that's what they did: filled their roster with mediocre NAT RECs (and mediocre IMP ones too).

It's brilliant because besides the OL, everyone can be cheap.  No need for expensive ratio-busters on D.  No need to overpay either NAT or IMP at REC, because anyone can do it.  No need to overpay a NAT RB.

The downside is you have to rethink and rejig your whole operation (both sides).  I'm not sure other teams are prepared to make such a drastic change.  Pretty sure we're not.

Plus, the dink & dunk is vulnerable.  Hall figured it out in years past.  We just need to figure it out again and we can neutralize their non-splashy O.

As for MTL, same question, different answer: they've been riding on the coattails of great scouting and cheap ELCs.  That ride appears to be over for FA26.  They now have to "overpay" for NATs too, like the Philpot deal.  And let's see what their NAT DL demand in their next FAs...

[cannot say that top Canadians now cost 300,000 across the board]

#22

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: 1st & 10 | The Blue Bomber...

Last post by Tecno - December 12, 2025, 08:40:31 PM

You cannot say that top Canadians now cost 300,000 across the board so Oliveira is a slam dunk at that price.

$250-$300k, yes.  Easily.  The top-5 will get it.  Maybe top-7.  Why?  Because there aren't enough top "as good as INTs" starting NATs to go around to all 9 teams.

We've already seen it.  There are easily 7 NATs across the league making that in this upcoming season, especially if you include OL.

[How can you argue Demski was well paid but Oliveria at $240K deserves a raise]

#23

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: 1st & 10 | The Blue Bomber...

Last post by Tecno - December 12, 2025, 08:38:19 PM

Demski has aged out?  lol How can you argue Demski was well paid but Oliveria at $240K deserves a raise?

It's worse than that: Demski AND Brady deserve raises.  Well, Demski for sure deserves it, and Brady will get it anyhow because he's the prima donna.

Demski could probably be eyeing near $275k if he were to test FA.  Luckily I think we keep him with a small bump and hometown discount.  He's BFL.

#24

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Free Agent Acquisition

Last post by Blue In BC - December 12, 2025, 08:34:35 PM

Fortin was available when we picked Shay?  Ouch...

Let's hope Shay is a year 2 starter at least at Kramdi level then.  A NAT WILL or MLB would sure bust the ratio.

He could change the need for a DI back up or he might be in the mix at WIL. If neither is true than we drafted poorly by not choosing Fortin.

So far he's had 10 ST's and no DT's.  Fortin has been a starter in year 1.

#25

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: 1st & 10 | The Blue Bomber...

Last post by Blue In BC - December 12, 2025, 08:32:31 PM

Absolutely not. He'll be 32 in two days. He has plenty left in the tank, IMO.

I'd have to expect he'll get a raise, even if only slightly.

The thing is what impact a potential big raise to Oliveria does to other players expectations. Their 2025 salaries were only about $20K apart.

#26

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Free Agent Acquisition

Last post by VictorRomano - December 12, 2025, 08:31:38 PM

Fortin was available when we picked Shay?  Ouch...

Let's hope Shay is a year 2 starter at least at Kramdi level then.  A NAT WILL or MLB would sure bust the ratio.

I don't think Connor Shay is beating out Tony Jones any time soon, and we just signed Jones to a 2 year deal....

[where are people getting these salary #s from]

#27

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Bluebomber OC position dis...

Last post by Tecno - December 12, 2025, 08:31:18 PM

Honest question - where are people getting these salary #s from?

Well, I know where I'm getting my #'s from: straight outta my butt.

You're right, no one really knows because these #'s are really never discussed or leaked.

HOWEVER, we can probably infer an OC salary from the rare leaks we get about HC and combined HC/OC (or HC/DC) salaries.  I'm pretty sure guys like C.Jones had semi-accurate numbers leaked.  As I recall C.Jones was $600k-ish?  Figure these types of guys take a $50k haircut on each job.  That would mean a normal HC is about $450k, and a OC $250k?  Plus/minus $150k for each for "new/mediocre" vs "vet/great".

Yes, it would be nice if some of these #'s were published...

#28

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: 1st & 10 | The Blue Bomber...

Last post by Blue In BC - December 12, 2025, 08:24:50 PM

We give up on Logan, Mitchell, Schoen - that's a half-million right there.  Neufeld and Streveller is another 350k.  You need more?  I can find more.....

I think you're dreaming.  We might be able to add a good receiver with Schoen's money but his SMS was largely saved on 6 game IR even if he had a significant signing bonus.

Streveler had a team friendly contract for a # 2 QB.  We may save some money if we go with Wilson and rookies but that's not locked in stone.

[Fortin started for Calgary]

#29

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Free Agent Acquisition

Last post by Tecno - December 12, 2025, 08:24:05 PM

Chris Fortin started for Calgary this year. We picked Shay instead.

Fortin was available when we picked Shay?  Ouch...

Let's hope Shay is a year 2 starter at least at Kramdi level then.  A NAT WILL or MLB would sure bust the ratio.

#30

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: 1st & 10 | The Blue Bomber...

Last post by Blue In BC - December 12, 2025, 08:22:26 PM

Ford is exactly th same as Brady. He was paid 70k+ more than anyone else at the postion. Because the Elks weren't paying for top DB, (around 140k last season), they were paying for a top NI (236k last season).

Almost identical to the disparity between Ouellette and Brady. With salary cap increases, we're seeing top NI money approach 300k now. It's just the cost of business unless you want them to walk. And successive seasons of watching our top offensive talent leave (Kenny and then Brady), doesn't make our team better, no matter how much cap room you're left with.

Brady was already paid more than $80K than the next highest paid RB.

The Elks were a bottom feeding team and needed a Canadian starter. It was good PR to add the brother aspect to the roster.