Our Free Agent's Signings Are in Limbo Until Brady & Dalton Make Their Moves

[bunker]

Apparently BC was offering Brady 250,000 plus over 3 years
https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/~2818618

[kkc60]

Apparently BC was offering Brady 250,000 plus over 3 years
https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/~2818618

wow! even happier we brought him back

[ModAdmin]

Apparently BC was offering Brady 250,000 plus over 3 years
https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/~2818618

The cost of living in Vancouver is a killer.  I'd bet he is financially better off with the lower salary in Winnipeg.

[Lincoln Locomotive]

The cost of living in Vancouver is a killer.  I'd bet he is financially better off with the lower salary in Winnipeg.

He's better off in so many ways....he has the backing of the entire community which he wouldn't have in Vancouver.   He did manage to reset the salary boundaries for RBs and KW was willing to ante up to keep him.    There will be consequences however and we're starting to see the results however it was really unavoidable along with our signing of Dalton Schoen

[theaardvark]

The cost of living in Vancouver is a killer.  I'd bet he is financially better off with the lower salary in Winnipeg.

With him already living here, vs. finding a spot in Van, $20k might not have led to him actually making more. And that third year, after the cap has gone up... in 2 years he will probably be in even a better position to write his own ticket.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The other aspect is the increase these players got compared to 2023:
Collaros: 550,000 to 600,000, increase of 50,000 (assuming he does not restructure his contract)
Lawyer: 258,000 to 285,000, an increase of 17,000 (plus his suspension resulted in Bombers saving some salary in 2023)
Oliveira: 114,000 to 230,000, an increase of 116,000
Schoen: 70,000 minimum to 230,000, an increase of 160,000
Demski: 175,000 to ? 190,000 or 200,000, an increase of 15-25,000

The total increase is depending on Demski's 2024 salary, about 358,0000 to 368,000. That's alot of SMS eaten up. The cap is going up by 135,000 for 2024, but that's still about 223,000 to 233,000 that needs to come off other salaries. I would guess we save about 100,000 if we go from Hardrick at RT to a rookie American (less of a saving is we sign Gray for RT). We probably save about another 100,000 going from Jeffcoat to an entry level American like Haba. Then there are probably some savings to be had in the secondary (Houston and Rose replaced with entry level contracts) and in our Canadian special team vets being replaced by younger players, plus Jake Thomas taking a bit of a cut now that Lawson will be the starter. Also, apparently Bryant took a bit less. So I assume this is how Walters made it all work.

When you add all the numbers up it really does become a daunting task to maintain the continuity that has carried the Bombers through the last 4 seasons. The big names may be back in place but there's going to be a few worthy soldiers that won't be re-signed. Hopefully the changes do not hamstring either the O or the D sides of the ball.

[Blue In BC]

Bombers are bringing in a lot of returner type players. IMO that suggests we aren't / can't re-sign Grant which would be a shame. I didn't think McCrae would be back either as the back up jack of all trades guy.

Still have to think we will sign a few more of our free agents since they haven't accepted offers elsewhere yet.
In some cases opportunities have faded elsewhere as teams made different choices.

There have been about 16 players that have decided to changes teams in the " tampering " window so far.

[ModAdmin]

Here are the remaining Blue Bomber players who are headed to free agency according to information provided by Ed Tait...

16 pending free agents: safety Brandon Alexander, DEs Jackson Jeffcoat and Thiadric Hansen, DT Ricky Walker, DBs Winston Rose and Kerfalla Exumé, RB/Rec Greg McCrae, OL Geoff Gray, LBs Shayne Gauthier, Jesse Briggs, and Malik Clements, WRs Rasheed Bailey, mentioned above, Brendan O'Leary-Orange, kicker Sergio Castillo and receiver/returner Janarion Grant and QB Dakota Prukop.

Players have until Sunday to shop their services in the CFL's negotiating window before the market officially opens next Tuesday at 11 a.m.

[Blue In BC]

Here are the remaining Blue Bomber players who are headed to free agency according to information provided by Ed Tait...

16 pending free agents: safety Brandon Alexander, DEs Jackson Jeffcoat and Thiadric Hansen, DT Ricky Walker, DBs Winston Rose and Kerfalla Exumé, RB/Rec Greg McCrae, OL Geoff Gray, LBs Shayne Gauthier, Jesse Briggs, and Malik Clements, WRs Rasheed Bailey, mentioned above, Brendan O'Leary-Orange, kicker Sergio Castillo and receiver/returner Janarion Grant and QB Dakota Prukop.

Players have until Sunday to shop their services in the CFL's negotiating window before the market officially opens next Tuesday at 11 a.m.

I'd like about half of them back. I think a couple of them will be out of the CFL when all things are done and said.

The others have time to see which teams have interest and haven't agreed to new deals. Not sure that changes when we actually get to free agency?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'd like about half of them back. I think a couple of them will be out of the CFL when all things are done and said.

The others have time to see which teams have interest and haven't agreed to new deals. Not sure that changes when we actually get to free agency?

All the big fish will be sorted out well before FA actually opens, those left will have to take whatever they can get and consider if a minor bump is worth the hassle of switching teams.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Apparently BC was offering Brady 250,000 plus over 3 years
https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/~2818618

From that article it sounds like Wade Miller stepped in to push Walters past the line he had previously drawn in the sand.

[theaardvark]

From that article it sounds like Wade Miller stepped in to push Walters past the line he had previously drawn in the sand.

That's Wade's job, Walters manages the roster, Wade intercedes for the best interest of the team.  Wondering if the $100k buffer was the key here.  Dollar for dollar match in the overage, I'm guessing Walters might get some sort of bonus if he doesn't incur a penalty there, and Wade stepped in and said "Spend the $100 and sign these guys". 

Lets hope 1 game injuries don't end up costing us a lot, and that if we do get an injury we can use the 6 game... and win through it...

[Pete]

Here are the remaining Blue Bomber players who are headed to free agency according to information provided by Ed Tait...

16 pending free agents: safety Brandon Alexander, DEs Jackson Jeffcoat and Thiadric Hansen, DT Ricky Walker, DBs Winston Rose and Kerfalla Exumé, RB/Rec Greg McCrae, OL Geoff Gray, LBs Shayne Gauthier, Jesse Briggs, and Malik Clements, WRs Rasheed Bailey, mentioned above, Brendan O'Leary-Orange, kicker Sergio Castillo and receiver/returner Janarion Grant and QB Dakota Prukop.

Players have until Sunday to shop their services in the CFL's negotiating window before the market officially opens next Tuesday at 11 a.m.

looking at where we stand, I'm not sure that we have any money left, only option other than exceeding the cap may be to go with rookies. I'm hoping we can find some space for a dlineman but even that may be tough. That is likely why the long list of vet players weren't signed .
we may have to wait til later in free agency to see if there's anyone we can get for a bargain signing.

[theaardvark]

Its one thing to be bargain shopping the FA market, we do seem to get a few "team friendly" deals each year, but its another having to fill out a roster with guys who are on min wage offers, they generally aren't players with upside or potential. 

With 10 picks in the draft, and a boatload of players signed to training camp looks, lets keep our fingers crossed that we strike gold some more and get some guys on ELC's that exceed expectations and catch on to the 3 down game fast.

I'm much more hopeful that we develop players than sign retreads that may have CFL experience, but no one else wants...

[Ridermania]

DL Ricky Walker to Calgary.

https://3downnation.com/2024/02/07/sources-calgary-stampeders-agree-to-terms-with-dl-ricky-walker/