Bomber Free Agents

[Blueforlife]

I feel like Lawler's ego is going to get in the way here. He thinks he's the best WR in the league and may balk if we're offering less than the new ceiling.

lots of assumptions there imo
Most players will go to the highest bidder, with the occasional deals being made for folks that want to stay put or want have a better chance at winning
I don't agree that he has an ego that gets in the way.  Highly confident yes. 
I don't think we will compete at that salary range.
I personally want him back bad but can't break the bank.
If I was him I would go where the money takes me, he is near the end and it's a short career and many sacrifices are made to get there

[Blueforlife]

https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/03/bombers-extend-american-ol-eric-lofton/

[Jesse]

More assumptions than facts there imo
Most players will go to the highest bidder, with the occasional deals being made for folks that want to stay put or want have a better chance at winning
I don't agree that he has an ego.  Highly confident yes. 
I don't think we will compete at that salary range.
I personally want him back bad but can't break the bank.

What's the difference between saying he has a ego and saying he's highly confident? He has expressed that he is the best on numerous occasions and has already left once for that reason.

I wonder what our offers have been to Kenny. You would think he prefer to stay here if money is close, and even at 250, he and Schoen are coming in at significantly less than last year (though paying more to Mitchell now).

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

What's the difference between saying he has a ego and saying he's highly confident? He has expressed that he is the best on numerous occasions and has already left once for that reason.

I wonder what our offers have been to Kenny. You would think he prefer to stay here if money is close, and even at 250, he and Schoen are coming in at significantly less than last year (though paying more to Mitchell now).

Walters hasn't spent really big on any FA yet and has already doled out a few salary cuts, it wouldn't be terribly surprised if they matched Lawler's offer as long as it remains around $250k.  I'm sure Zach would be happy.

[J5V]

Dan Ralph @danralphcp
And also hearing DL Celestin Haba has reached an agreement in principle with the Toronto Argonauts.
12:01 PM · Feb 3, 2025

As per SOP, 3DN banged out an article 15 minutes later and will get credit for breaking the news 

Oh no! WTH!

[Jesse]

Oh no! WTH!

No offence to Haba, but who cares ?

[Sir Blue and Gold]

No offence to Haba, but who cares ?

Good rookie year. Disappointing year two. Probably more talented than Garbutt but ultimately would have been hard pressed to make the game day roster this year. Hard to say where he goes from here. Likely he crashed out but I can see a reality where he puts it together and goes on to be an effective player.

[bunker]

Walters hasn't spent really big on any FA yet and has already doled out a few salary cuts, it wouldn't be terribly surprised if they matched Lawler's offer as long as it remains around $250k.  I'm sure Zach would be happy.

So word is that Lawler is not coming back (maybe signing with Hamilton). He was making ? 285,000 last year. We signed Mtichell for what, 150,000 instead. We lost Bighill at 165,000. Shoen took a 50-75,000 paycut. Where are we spending our money? Throw in losing Ford, and possibly Dobson, and many of our impact players being one year older, and its not exactly been an inspiring off-season so far. Hopefully, there's some good news yet to come.

[Blueforlife]

No offence to Haba, but who cares ?

People that liked him or seen promise in his play, people that value continuity and prefer to hold on to the players we develop.  I care and others do as well.

What's the difference between saying he has a ego and saying he's highly confident? He has expressed that he is the best on numerous occasions and has already left once for that reason.

I wonder what our offers have been to Kenny. You would think he prefer to stay here if money is close, and even at 250, he and Schoen are coming in at significantly less than last year (though paying more to Mitchell now).

Similar concept but don't agree his ego gets in the way.  Would be interesting to know what we put on the table.  Confidence to sign a top deal without letting ego cloud ones judgement is how I assume he is approaching his offers.

[DM83]

Not signing Lawler would be an enormous mistake.
He makes tough catches. Everyone else benefits from the need to cover him. He allows the Offence to function. Everyone else are complimentary players. Sign him.

[Jesse]

People that liked him or seen promise in his play, people that value continuity and prefer to hold on to the players we develop.  I care and others do as well.Similar concept but don't agree his ego gets in the way.  Would be interesting to know what we put on the table.  Confidence to sign a top deal without letting ego cloud ones judgement is how I assume he is approaching his offers.

More assumptions than fact imo.

[Jesse]

So word is that Lawler is not coming back (maybe signing with Hamilton). He was making ? 285,000 last year. We signed Mtichell for what, 150,000 instead. We lost Bighill at 165,000. Shoen took a 50-75,000 paycut. Where are we spending our money? Throw in losing Ford, and possibly Dobson, and many of our impact players being one year older, and its not exactly been an inspiring off-season so far. Hopefully, there's some good news yet to come.

Honestly, if we're planning on paying Dobson, that'll probably eat up most of what we're saving on receivers.

A few raises to guys eats up the difference we save on Bighill.

Some of our biggest problems last year were consistency on OL: which should be better even if we lose Dobson as our back-ups are entering their 2nd years; and the lack of a return game, which we've addressed.

[DM83]

Do tell....who replaces Dobson?

[Blueforlife]

More assumptions than fact imo.

No it's my take on Haba and also based on what others have said about him over the years.  No assumptions there.  A good player that you said  who cares is gone.  Some wouldn't yes, some would.  Haba provided steady player for us for a bit and I valued his time a Bomber. 

Your take on Haba and Kenny were wrong imo.  Agree to disagree and let's move on.

[Jesse]

Do tell....who replaces Dobson?

Without signing Kenny, I think we're still in on Dobson.

But we have Wallace and Randolph in the wings who are no longer rookies. Last year our depth was tested and we were dependent on rookies to fill in the gaps. This year, they're coming in with experience.