Blue Bombers Transactions - August 17, 2025

[Pigskin]

It's 100% embarrassing that our receiver depth is this week. Same as when we have to trot Streveler out there. It should not happen.

That said, it's an extremely biased take for you to claim Paterson is only here because he been afforded extra chances due to the ratio. He's absolutely proved he's belonged in every opportunity and is in his rookie season. He hasn't been hanging on for multiple years at the bottom of the roster playing only ST.

I think Peterson has been very good this season. The kid might get some good offers in FA.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

It's 100% embarrassing that our receiver depth is this week. Same as when we have to trot Streveler out there. It should not happen.

That said, it's an extremely biased take for you to claim Paterson is only here because he been afforded extra chances due to the ratio. He's absolutely proved he's belonged in every opportunity and is in his rookie season. He hasn't been hanging on for multiple years at the bottom of the roster playing only ST.

If there was no ratio and you could have rostered Quinton Cooley or Peterson with equal roster implications which one would you have chosen based on the pre-season and training camp? Peterson has had a year to develop because he's easy to roster. Cooley was given walking papers he's not.

Which one had the chance to be better? Which one was more talented? It's Cooley by a mile. But the CFL plays this game every year and the on-field product suffers for it. So many middling to below average Canadian players will never be stars but get ride the coat tails anyway due to an outdated and poorly implemented rule. Put another way, if you're American, you must be a walk on star (sorry in advance Quinton) and if you're Canadian you get several years to develop even if the projection is that you'll never be a good starter (let's start Peterson at receiver). So out of touch with today's sports landscape, the cost of tickets and what the majority of people actually want. In my opinion of course.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I think Peterson has been very good this season. The kid might get some good offers in FA.

Peterson is a rookie so he's here next season for sure, hopefully they can figure out in that time how to integrate him into the offence instead of parking him on the sidelines, because he is a play maker.  From his first game this season he knew what he was doing and he made a direct impact, it took MCI till the end of his second season to make his first big play.  Can't waste talent like that, they have to figure out a way to get him involved, it would actually help Brady's game.

I don't see him as a replacement for any receiver other than Demski and his unique receiver/RB combo, which will be very hard to replace when he's done.  A normal receiver is not going to take a hand-off and run it up the middle, they did that with Janarion Grant once and he broke.  Peterson has the power, the speed and hopefully the hands to replicate Demski's ability in the short game, probably asking too much to expect him to haul in home-run balls over his shoulder.

I never suggested they use Peterson as a receiver for the upcoming playoff games but would love to see him lineup beside Brady for a few snaps to open up more running options.  As we've seen in the past 2 seasons, if a defence intends to stuff Brady they can shut him down, just as they could occasionally with Harris. Difference is they had LaPo then who could scheme around a clogged up running game, now they have Hogan.

[Jesse]

If there was no ratio and you could have rostered Quinton Cooley or Peterson with equal roster implications which one would you have chosen based on the pre-season and training camp? Peterson has had a year to develop because he's easy to roster. Cooley was given walking papers he's not.

Which one had the chance to be better? Which one was more talented? It's Cooley by a mile. But the CFL plays this game every year and the on-field product suffers for it. So many middling to below average Canadian players will never be stars but get ride the coat tails. Put another way, if you're American, you must be a walk on star and if you're Canadian you get several years to develop even if the projection is that you'll never be a good starter.

Cooley did get rostered and did get playing time and didn't show any better than Peterson.

Saying he was clearly more talented is just an uniformed opinion based on very little.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Cooley did get rostered and did get playing time and didn't show any better than Peterson.

Saying he was clearly more talented is just an uniformed opinion based on very little.

True, as good as he was in pre-season Cooley failed to make much of an impact when given his chance.

[Blueforlife]

We tried several different options last season and very few have been successful. I am not suggesting we change his position.  Give him opportunity to see if he can play more than one position.  I can almost guarantee you that when he becomes available, and assuming he stays on the same trajectory, another team will try to sign him.  He is from Alberta and does not have same ties to Manitoba that Brady O. does.

With the talent he SEEMS to have, he will not patiently sit behind Brady for several seasons.

Hard stop not having him play two positions imo.  He is a good RB, chances are we will always have better options on the roster or PR than him at receiver.  Emergency situation yes, other than that, hard pass.

Pay the man to stay and he might.  He will get reps when Brady is hurt or rested and could take over when he is done.  I'm with Techno, we need Canadians at RB till the end of time.  Unless Charlie 2.0 comes around lol.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Cooley did get rostered and did get playing time and didn't show any better than Peterson.

Saying he was clearly more talented is just an uniformed opinion based on very little.

Cooley was given a grand total of 10 rushing attempts on the season. There was never a fair competition between them because of where they were born. If Peterson was born in North Carolina and Cooley was in Alberta, we'd have had a full year of Cooley and Peterson wouldn't have even been invited to a CFL camp.

[ModAdmin]

Hard stop not having him play two positions imo.  He is a good RB, chances are we will always have better options on the roster or PR than him at receiver.  Emergency situation yes, other than that, hard pass.

Pay the man to stay and he might.  He will get reps when Brady is hurt or rested and could take over when he is done.  I'm with Techno, we need Canadians at RB till the end of time.  Unless Charlie 2.0 comes around lol.

Nope. Any team looking for a starting running back would be crazy not to go after Peterson. Bombers can't give him a starter's salary if he is a backup here. "Pay him" (presumably a starting RB salary) is a non-starter.

[Tecno]

So out of touch with today's sports landscape, the cost of tickets and what the majority of people actually want. In my opinion of course.

The majority of fans have no idea who their RB is if it's not a star.  You think the avg WPG fan had any idea it was Peterson on or Cooley on in the games they played?  Some dude got the ball and ran forward into a pile.  That's all most people see.

Unless your RB is Brady, no one is buying tickets (or not) because of a couple of starting NATs at RB or REC vs more talented IMPs.  Most casual fans couldn't tell you 2 NATs on their team.

[Tecno]

Which one had the chance to be better? Which one was more talented? It's Cooley by a mile.

I'd say Peterson was/is better.  Yes, like you said, he got extra time to dev because of the passport.  But in the end, he turned out better.

The proof?  Not a single other team picked up Cooley, not even the ones who start IMP RBs, and not even the ones suffering RB injuries.

[Tecno]

To put it another way, how much worse would Quinton Cooley have done if we gave him the ball this season at $70,000 backed up by Chris-Ike and an American RB on the PR? How much better a team would we have been if that $350,000 was directed to the offensive and defensive line?

I argue much better.

It's a fair thought experiment.  I'd say Brady directly won 1-2 games this season.  Once you factor in that he makes teams focus on stopping our run (opening up the RECs, in theory), he maybe won us 2-3 more.  If we started Cooley instead, no one will key on our run, and Cooley isn't getting us those extra wins.  Everything would be that much harder on Zach & the REC corps.  Our team isn't built like BC or MTL to be pass heavy.

And this could probably be considered an "off year" for Brady, because we generally stunk so much.  His value to us would increase if we were having a 2021 year.

But starting a non-ELC IMP would still cost $150 or so... so you're really only saving $100 (unless factoring in future Peterson-retention costs).  I don't think getting 1 extra superstar OL would make up for the loss of Brady.

Besides, it's all moot.  WM has decided Brady is the face of the Bombers for the next long while and that's that.

[Tecno]

Cooley was given a grand total of 10 rushing attempts on the season. There was never a fair competition between them because of where they were born. If Peterson was born in North Carolina and Cooley was in Alberta, we'd have had a full year of Cooley and Peterson wouldn't have even been invited to a CFL camp.

Maybe.  Probably.  NATs do get the extra breaks, but it often pays off.  In they end they still have to be good, unless they are just a ratio-hider like Hurl.  Luckily for the CFL, there are a lot less ratio-hiders than there used to be -- used to be at least one on every team.  Most teams now have quality NATs that are starting.

It is the CFL and I'm fine with letting our boys get extra time to dev & flourish.  Not like the IMPs didn't get zillions of opportunities and dev in the US of A!

[Blueforlife]

Nope. Any team looking for a starting running back would be crazy not to go after Peterson. Bombers can't give him a starter's salary if he is a backup here. "Pay him" (presumably a starting RB salary) is a non-starter.

Yup, over simplifying it.  Yes a chance clubs try to sign him.  Also a chance many others are happy with an American back that are a dime a dozen.  Paying him a reasonable offer is a great value, insurance policy and future proofs our positon.  You 1st said we should try him at receiver which is a long shot a little out there idea imo.  Now you claim he is as good as gone unless we pay him starter money.  Not buying what you are selling which is pretty normal.  Agree to disagree.  A great talent that we should retain at RB.  Make him an offer he can't refuse. Don't have to break the bank imo.  If we have success this post season and next players will want to stay here.  Bombers are the class of the CFL with steady coaching, good management and the best stadium and fans imo.

Cooley was given a grand total of 10 rushing attempts on the season. There was never a fair competition between them because of where they were born. If Peterson was born in North Carolina and Cooley was in Alberta, we'd have had a full year of Cooley and Peterson wouldn't have even been invited to a CFL camp.

This is the CFL, even though you want us to be NFL Jr. we are not and Canadians have the advantage due to the ratio rules and I sure hope that how it will always will be.  Your argument holds no weight imo as that just how the league is structured.

Cooley was good, American RBs at his level are not hard to find.  Peterson at his age is a rare talent to have immediate success.  I don't agree with your assessment of Cooley vs. Peterson.  Both good, need more sample size to make a determination of the talent, effectiveness comparison.  Different types of backs.  I have a lot of faith in Peterson having a decent career in the CFL.  Cooley is likely one and done, which he doesn't deserve but its how it is.

I'm with Techno, TLB and Jesse on this one.

[Tecno]

And like someone already said, Peterson is a lock on ELC for 2 years (1 year - 2026 - left).  At least that's what it appears to be...

Was he a '25 DP by HAM and they immediately traded him to us, and thus the original '25 ELC continues on, but now in WPG?

Therefore all of this discussion can easily be put off until FA27.

[ModAdmin]

Yup, over simplifying it.  Yes a chance clubs try to sign him.  Also a chance many others are happy with an American back that are a dime a dozen.  Paying him a reasonable offer is a great value, insurance policy and future proofs our positon.  You 1st said we should try him at receiver which is a long shot a little out there idea imo.  Now you claim he is as good as gone unless we pay him starter money.  Not buying what you are selling which is pretty normal.  Agree to disagree.  A great talent that we should retain at RB.  Make him an offer he can't refuse. Don't have to break the bank imo.  If we have success this post season and next players will want to stay here.  Bombers are the class of the CFL with steady coaching, good management and the best stadium and fans imo.
This is the CFL, even though you want us to be NFL Jr. we are not and Canadians have the advantage due to the ratio rules and I sure hope that how it will always will be.  Your argument holds no weight imo as that just how the league is structured.

Cooley was good, American RBs at his level are not hard to find.  Peterson at his age is a rare talent to have immediate success.  I don't agree with your assessment of Cooley vs. Peterson.  Both good, need more sample size to make a determination of the talent, effectiveness comparison.  Different types of backs.  I have a lot of faith in Peterson having a decent career in the CFL.  Cooley is likely one and done, which he doesn't deserve but its how it is.

I'm with Techno, TLB and Jesse on this one

Again, nope.  As you have stated numerous times we agree to disagree - on numerous levels.