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It looks like we are signing the bottom end of our FA's now while the top end guys wait for the new CBA to see how much more money and signing bonuses are available.

I am sure the team wants to know the salary cap as well.

The next time I need information about the background and emotional leanings of a career STer, I'll be sure to turn to you then, k?

Cuck-ah!

I would prefer you just pay more attention

It looks like we are signing the bottom end of our FA's now while the top end guys wait for the new CBA to see how much more money and signing bonuses are available.

Football ops does not boil down to 3 coaches TBurg. Until recently the Bombers ran with a staff of 8 coaches which was the smallest coaching staff in the league. Last year we expanded to 10, which is mid pack in the CFL. O'Shea makes an average CFL HC wage and Hall is also a mid tier DC. Yes, Lapo is well compensated but really he is probably the only member of our football ops staff making above league average. With a relatively small staff compared to the rest of the league, and nearly everyone making an average wage you can pay a guy above average and still be considered quite frugal.

However, perhaps, frugal was the wrong choice of words as it may imply that we have been cheap. The Bombers have been very diligent in reigning in football ops budgets in the past and the present. We do not have guys like ex-NFLer Jerry Glanville pulling down big money, or a staff with 3 guys pulling down GM wages and 16 coaches like Saskatchewan, etc etc. We hired what we needed, paid them a fair wage, and treated them well and because of that we kept expenses down compared to many teams in the league.

I didn't imply or mean that Football ops boils down to 3 people.

We used to be cheap. Less coaches. Less scouts. Less experience. Gave new guys their first shot at the next level. Expecting top results from average to below average people and pay was the Winnipeg way. That's not who we are anymore.

Where do you get your opinion that most of our staff make average money? The big 3 are on their 6th year. Our OC and DC are very experienced and experience costs. We have a larger scouting department than we've ever had before. We took them from other teams, so I'd doubt that we got them for cheap or even average. We're known for paying players for potential before they've earned the big salaries. I expect that's the same thing we do with football ops.

We're not the Riders, but we're not the Bombers of old either.

[Miller making Winnipeg home for two more years - Ed Tait]

Miller making Winnipeg home for two more years - Ed Tait

......."I really wanted to come back, so I was always hoping this would happen sooner rather than later," Miller told bluebombers.com from his offseason home in Riverview, NB. "I had no idea what was going to happen with the pending CBA (collective bargaining agreement talks) and all that stuff. Then I got a call from my agent a couple of days ago saying a deal was ready and I was very happy to sign on again. I've really enjoyed my two years here. The coaches are great, teammates are great, and the organization is top-notch. Plus, my family loves Winnipeg and all that makes it a really good fit for us."

Now 29, Miller has carved out a solid eight-year CFL career after first cracking the Edmonton Eskimos roster as an undrafted free agent in 2011. A linebacker during his college days at Acadia, it was Jeff Cummins - his head coach with the Axemen - who spelled out how his CFL career might unfold.

"My university coach played in the CFL for a bit and he told me, 'You're going to make your way on special teams in the first couple of years,'" said Miller. "I just enjoy the role. It's a huge part of the CFL game. I just find it really fun and another opportunity to compete."

Miller established himself as one of the best special teams players in the CFL during his six years in Edmonton, so much so that when he was released after the 2016 season, he wasn't unemployed for long. The Bombers, in fact, had him signed to a new deal within 72 hours.

Miller has played in every game for the Bombers over the past two years, leading the team in special teams tackles in 2017 and finishing second to Chandler Fenner this past season. He now has 160 career special teams tackles, ranking him 11th all time, and just one shy of cracking the Top 10.

And while the soft-spoken Miller won't stick out his chest and boast, he's one of those respected men in Bombers locker room who puts his team first daily.......

Read the rest of Ed Tait's article here!

and a thing to note...this SMS system was something that was discussed and wanted by the teams...not something thrown onto them.

It's a smart move I think and in no way will affect coaching candidates coming here, or leaving here for that matter...The only big buck jobs available are Co-Ordinator and Head coach jobs in the NFL and Div 1...sometimes Div. 2 NCAA..and those don't come along regularily to guys with minimal experience and a piddly coaching pedigree...and I can tell you from experience/fact that a lot of the positional and assistant type coaches in the U.S college ranks make shockingly crappy salaries...they are there soley for building said pedigree, or in some instances just because they love coaching and teaching

Bring back the 2018 O-line...a true legit #1 receiver to go with Adams..Harris..Woli..and whatever else we roster as the 5th receiver and we will be just fine with a healthy/re-invigorated Nichols and Streveler right behind him chomping at the bit

Pretty sure all the foot soldier guys we want back will be easily signed...generally the ones that don't come back are the ones that the team actually releases, or has on the PR at end of year and aren't looked at as priority.

The free-agent ones tho that the team deems key to the team...will all be back unless one gets a really hard tio turn down deal from a team where they are from...or close to being from

Correct me if I'm wrong, but he's only ever played for two teams, the Esks and the Bombers, and IIRC he was with the Esks for at least four seasons?  Not really the mercenary/gun for hire mold.

You are correct, but I didn't google that until yesterday. Just a gut feeling I had that turned out to be inaccurate.

It also demonstrates you are not paying a ton of attention.

The next time I need information about the background and emotional leanings of a career STer, I'll be sure to turn to you then, k?

Cuck-ah!

Our offense totally relies on Harris to carry the load. If we have Nichols back and miss out getting reilly, which I think will happen, then we HAVE to go out and get a bonafide #1 receiver, not a broke down bust like bowman, but a throw me the ball let me score #1 WR.

I think we ll design Biggie and JSK and aside from this, our #1 NEED is a #1 WR. If we don?t get one, our offense will be much the same as this years in the that teams will focus on shutting down harris and let the others flounder away and score 0 TDS when it counts

I would love Burnham...