Recent posts

#21

Offside Forum / Re: 2026 IIHF World Junior Cha...

Last post by Pigskin - December 24, 2025, 05:55:47 PM

Dec.26: CAN - CZE.
Dec.27: CAN - LAT.
Dec.29: CAN - DEN.
Dec.31: CAN - FIN. 

#22

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: NFL Option Clause

Last post by Blue In BC - December 24, 2025, 05:54:52 PM

But without the window, they are stuck in a second year of an ELC, regretting every day.

Give them the window, they get to take their shot, and ONLY if they get a deal does year two get suspended.  No regrets, no whining.

And the window does not include a USFL (I use that term for all iterations of the spring league)  opportunity.  If they want to make minimum wage for 8 games a year for a tiny shot at an NFL look, the USFL is a dream.  At least in the CFL, they get a legit wage and shot at improving over a full season.

Not sure if more USFL players end up with NFL shots, or in the CFL...

IIRC the minimum in the UFL is about the same as in the CFL but it's a much shorter season and they are playing in the USA. The other issue is they can immediately go from the end of their season to an NFL team.

I think they are more visible to the NFL and a few more get new TC chances. That said I don't think too many stick in their 2nd go around.

#23

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...

Last post by Blue In BC - December 24, 2025, 05:51:36 PM

I can't see BC spending a lot on ratio breakers this year.  They have Rourke, Betts, Covington, Beaulieu, Cotoy, McInnis...  and that's 6 without any Oline.

They can easily move on from Hladik if $SMS is a concern

I get the feeling that Covington might be out as well from local rumours.

#24

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...

Last post by theaardvark - December 24, 2025, 05:45:36 PM

I can't see BC spending a lot on ratio breakers this year.  They have Rourke, Betts, Covington, Beaulieu, Cotoy, McInnis...  and that's 6 without any Oline.

They can easily move on from Hladik if $SMS is a concern

#25

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: NFL Option Clause

Last post by theaardvark - December 24, 2025, 05:40:51 PM

Players can get that same shot after filling a 2 year ELC contract as easily as an early option. AS I've pointed out, if they don't sign in the CFL chances are they sit out a season and have no NFL option. Sure, they may get an UFL deal but even those are iffy getting a new chance in the NFL. Many of the UFL players are already been through NFL TC's etc.

The CFL has always had stars play in Canada.

But without the window, they are stuck in a second year of an ELC, regretting every day.

Give them the window, they get to take their shot, and ONLY if they get a deal does year two get suspended.  No regrets, no whining.

And the window does not include a USFL (I use that term for all iterations of the spring league)  opportunity.  If they want to make minimum wage for 8 games a year for a tiny shot at an NFL look, the USFL is a dream.  At least in the CFL, they get a legit wage and shot at improving over a full season.

Not sure if more USFL players end up with NFL shots, or in the CFL...

#26

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: NFL Option tryouts

Last post by theaardvark - December 24, 2025, 05:35:51 PM

Having an opportunity to play with top level players, and have top level coaching (as opposed to USFL) while potentially making a highlight reel that can be used to get eyeballs on them for that NFL window is never a bad thing.

For every player that comes here with that dream, and doesn't make it, we have a top level recruit that may spend the rest of his career in the league.

Again, I'm not saying that every import comes here thinking he's going to get an NFL shot from his stint here, but most have it in the back of their minds.  And for those whose dream gets shattered when the NFL doesn't bite, we get a Schoen, or a Wilson, or hopefully. more Trey Vaval...

#27

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: NFL Option Clause

Last post by Blue In BC - December 24, 2025, 05:26:35 PM

We will never have an issue filling out rosters with imports.  Ever.

The question is, do we get the best imports, or the "no other option" imports.

I would suggest that, as many have speculated in these forums, that getting a season of on field reps at game speed is going to give you a better chance of breaking onto an NFL roster, be it an AR spot or even a PR spot than hanging around bouncing from camp to camp on tryouts and futures deals.

Every time a Dee Alford makes a career from a CFL stint. or a Streveler gets an NFL pension after a CFL stint, it confirms that the CFL is a legitimate way for someone who has fallen off the NFL radar to get eyeballs back on them.

We have no idea how many NCAA stars that miss their chance to land an NFL spot decide to flip burgers, or bounce at a bar, or pursue the "after football" career they prepared for in college early.

We do know, however, that many players come to the CFL with one purpose in mind. 

To get another shot at the NFL.

There is no way that the number of those fringe players is not increased by the "NFL window" option being a direct part of their CFL contract.

Is it 2% more top prospects?  Or 5%?  Or even 10%? I don't know.  But I do know, it is more than 0%.

Players can get that same shot after filling a 2 year ELC contract as easily as an early option. AS I've pointed out, if they don't sign in the CFL chances are they sit out a season and have no NFL option. Sure, they may get an UFL deal but even those are iffy getting a new chance in the NFL. Many of the UFL players are already been through NFL TC's etc.

The CFL has always had stars play in Canada.

J. Grant didn't get a  new opportunity in the NFL IIRC. Vaval is currently exploring one. The process is random. Did Vaval show more than Grant early in his career?

Lawler spent two years on NFL PR's. Then he came to the CFL and got cut by the Lions before being picked up by the Bombers and having success. We'd have to ask him whether the NFL option had any influence in coming to the CFL.

Anyway, we could list hundreds of star CFL players than came and had long CFL careers before this clause which is my point.

The salary landscape has only changed in the sense that the NFL has insane money and every young player will be drawn to that.

Reality is that more players come from the NFL than leave to go back to the NFL.

#28

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: NFL Option Clause

Last post by theaardvark - December 24, 2025, 04:43:44 PM

It's an advantage to the players potentially but IMO it's not an advantage to the CFL. The sticking point is the thought that is why many ONLY consider the CFL in the 1st place.

As I've pointed out, we had no problem getting imports into the CFL before this option existed.

We will never have an issue filling out rosters with imports.  Ever.

The question is, do we get the best imports, or the "no other option" imports.

I would suggest that, as many have speculated in these forums, that getting a season of on field reps at game speed is going to give you a better chance of breaking onto an NFL roster, be it an AR spot or even a PR spot than hanging around bouncing from camp to camp on tryouts and futures deals.

Every time a Dee Alford makes a career from a CFL stint. or a Streveler gets an NFL pension after a CFL stint, it confirms that the CFL is a legitimate way for someone who has fallen off the NFL radar to get eyeballs back on them.

We have no idea how many NCAA stars that miss their chance to land an NFL spot decide to flip burgers, or bounce at a bar, or pursue the "after football" career they prepared for in college early.

We do know, however, that many players come to the CFL with one purpose in mind. 

To get another shot at the NFL.

There is no way that the number of those fringe players is not increased by the "NFL window" option being a direct part of their CFL contract.

Is it 2% more top prospects?  Or 5%?  Or even 10%? I don't know.  But I do know, it is more than 0%.

#29

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Tommy Condell to be the ne...

Last post by markf - December 24, 2025, 04:17:30 PM

Co-ordinators and position coaches work at the whim of an HC.

When an HC gets ousted, its off to a new gig for everyone below.

You don't have to be a bad co-ordinator or position coach, if you are on a bad team, have a bad HC or have bad co-horts resulting in a bad result.

Bob Wylie has been on a lot of teams, and been very successful as an Oline coach at almost every stop.  Yes, a nomadic life, but many actually like being nomads.  New challenges, new scenery.

I wasn't suggesting Condell is  a bad coach, in fact if Collaros thinks he's a good coach, that's good enough for me.

I was just surprised at how often some of these coaches uproot and move. Tough life for the family.

It Makes the military life seem sedentary.

I listen to Rich Gannon on Sirius xm. The other day, with NFL coach firings being discussed, He was talking about the difficulty of the coaching life for assistants and other staff.

Off topic, but Rich is a very good listen....

#30

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

Last post by Blueforlife - December 24, 2025, 03:10:19 PM

25% is a lot. Even 10% is a lot, but I think that's the higher end in a system that works.
Not including injuries of course and assuming you have the best back up in the league and he can run.
It was really only that season or 2 when Streveler was a top backup in the league.

It was sure a luxury running Strev that much back in the day.  One can dream!

That was real special time for us at QB.  If Zach needs a few maintenance games, 25% would be in reach.  Knock on wood.  Hopefully he remembers to answer his phone or emails early season.  I bet they gave him pager lol.

Would be cool to see #'s on what % each team played their starters last few years.