Blue Bombers agree to terms with veteran defensive lineman Jake Ceresna

[CrazyCanuck89]

Three technique in a 4-3 and four tech in a 3-4.

[Waffler]

Ceresna's rights were transferred by Edmonton to Winnipeg today.

Curious that Edm can be so accommodating to Ceresna after leaving Ford hang out to dry until the last minute.

Why?

Good article in the Sun about how this "assign the playing rights" has never happened before.

https://www.winnipegsun.com/sports/winnipeg_blue_bombers/bombers-puzzling-trade-with-elks-leaves-fans-confused/article_33c7344f-38c9-4bcb-8906-892089bf61e2.html

[Jesse]

I'm not sure why people are making such a big deal about this "never happening before". The tampering window has only existed for a couple of years. It's not like it's earthshaking that someone decided to try something that we haven't seen in all of 2 years.

It gets Ceresna his signing bonus. It accelerates the process for both teams. It frees up a roster spot for Edmonton. It's a sign of respect for a longtime all-star.

If the leagues cool with it, have at'r.

[theaardvark]

So, his rights got transferred to WPG before FA started so he could sign?

What did WPG give up in the transfer?  (can't read the article behind the paywall, and the CFL.CA article doesn't say)

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Classic Paul Friesen article.

Ceresna may have wanted his signing bonus sooner or the media appearance worked better last week instead of this one. CFL players have lives too.

All they did was do the required paperwork a week early and they needed Edmonton's help for that. It's nice when everyone is nice.

The end.

[Waffler]

It's nice when everyone is nice.

It is. My question is why they weren't nice to Ford?

[Waffler]

So, his rights got transferred to WPG before FA started so he could sign?

What did WPG give up in the transfer?  (can't read the article behind the paywall, and the CFL.CA article doesn't say)

The release says Edmonton has agreed to "assign the playing rights" of Ceresna to the Bombers.

Huh? He's about to become a free agent on Feb. 10. Yet this makes it sound more like a trade.
It's not a trade though. The Bombers confirmed they're not getting anything in return.

The release goes on to say the Elks are doing this "in order to demonstrate cooperation with fellow member clubs and to allow the acquiring club to begin its onboarding process."

That "onboarding process" includes "travel arrangements and event planning."

Again, we've never seen anything like this before.

Nothing would have stopped the Bombers from making travel arrangements and planning a news conference with Ceresna without his rights being transferred.
-Winnipeg Sun

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Think of it as essentially paperwork, not a trade where things go to each team.

The Bombers get his rights, that allows us to register the contract which allows us to pay him and do the press release, media, a little early. Technically a trade likely consistutes something for both teams and so therefore they don't call it that, strictly speaking.

Whatever the exact terminology is, it's just a slow day for Paul who got to sound indignant which is the only time he's ever been relevant.

[Jesse]

It is. My question is why they weren't nice to Ford?

1. Who cares about Ford?

2. It could literally be any number of reasons, including Ford not wanted to, hoping another team will still offer him a better deal.

3. This is not something anyone is obligated to do for anyone. Without knowing why one or more or the people involved initiated this process, hard to say why they aren't doing in a separate instance involving different people.

[Waffler]

1. Who cares about Ford?

I do and they should also since his twin brother is still employed by the Edm club. What they did was kind of dirty although they will say it's just business. Since no one profited by waiting all it did was tarnish the Elk brand.

When something happens that no team has ever done before and it's the same team that just gave the middle finger to their former starting QB, I'm just a little curious as to what is going on. I will also note that since this happened no other team has followed suit. Seems a one off initiated by the Elks. Only natural to wonder what the thinking is there. Bad Elk one week and good Elk the next?

[Jesse]

I do and they should also since his twin brother is still employed by the Edm club. What they did was kind of dirty although they will say it's just business. Since no one profited by waiting all it did was tarnish the Elk brand.

When something happens that no team has ever done before and it's the same team that just gave the middle finger to their former starting QB, I'm just a little curious as to what is going on. I will also note that since this happened no other team has followed suit. Seems a one off initiated by the Elks. Only natural to wonder what the thinking is there. Bad Elk one week and good Elk the next?

I guess I disagree that that did anything wrong in this instance. What middle finger did they give Ford other than handing him the starter position to start the year?

And also, what does Ceresna have to do with Ford in the first place? One thing has nothing to do with the other.

[Waffler]

What middle finger did they give Ford

I guess you didn't read him talking about how Edm treated him. They didn't even talk to him, Just made him wait until the day before his bonus. The classy thing to do was let him go early.

"I actually didn't hear from them until the day they released me. They called me, 'We're gonna make it public.' Knowing the situation and extending Cody, I wasn't oblivious to what was going to happen. I knew what was coming and then they gave me a quick phone call before the release."

Ford indicated there were no conversations with Edmonton about potentially restructuring his contract and staying in the Alberta capital as Fajardo's backup.  It's an idea he thought about on his own due to relationships with people on the team and owning a house in the city.

[theaardvark]

I guess you didn't read him talking about how Edm treated him. They didn't even talk to him, Just made him wait until the day before his bonus. The classy thing to do was let him go early.

"I actually didn't hear from them until the day they released me. They called me, 'We're gonna make it public.' Knowing the situation and extending Cody, I wasn't oblivious to what was going to happen. I knew what was coming and then they gave me a quick phone call before the release."

Ford indicated there were no conversations with Edmonton about potentially restructuring his contract and staying in the Alberta capital as Fajardo's backup.  It's an idea he thought about on his own due to relationships with people on the team and owning a house in the city.

What's interesting about these new fangled telephone we are using is they work both ways.

If Ford had wanted to restructure his deal, he could have called the Elks and told them a new number/deal that he would be willing to take.

Saying that they never called him is kinda lame.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I guess you didn't read him talking about how Edm treated him. They didn't even talk to him, Just made him wait until the day before his bonus. The classy thing to do was let him go early.

"I actually didn't hear from them until the day they released me. They called me, 'We're gonna make it public.' Knowing the situation and extending Cody, I wasn't oblivious to what was going to happen. I knew what was coming and then they gave me a quick phone call before the release."

Ford indicated there were no conversations with Edmonton about potentially restructuring his contract and staying in the Alberta capital as Fajardo's backup.  It's an idea he thought about on his own due to relationships with people on the team and owning a house in the city.

Don't think the Elks did anything nefarious, Ford was paid twice what Streveler received and won fewer games, plus he used that overpayment to set himself up in the B&B business with a couple of properities to rent out, including one near Hamilton which he will be moving into.  Also had 3 clubs bidding for his services and is ok with what transpired, watch the 3DN interview instead of reading the article and you may come away with a different interpretation.