Retiring QB's?

[Pete]

I still say the SSK RECs look better than they are because of that stout OL, legit run game, OC plan, and pin-point all-short QB Trevor.

The only potential great RECs are Johnson and Emilus (for a NAT).  Emilus could reach Demski levels, maybe.  But none of those guys are reaching Kenny levels.  Robustelli is just another dime a dozen Eberhardt-type guys.  KSB is another Woli.  Busby isn't even Clercius.

Yes, they are all competent and solid, but none are going to be league top-5 in talent (I don't care what their yards stats say).  None will ever command Kenny/Gino money.

And that's my whole point: imitate SSK and get solid moneyball type RECs and put all the savings into the OL.  Our highest paid should be Demski, and that's ONLY because he's a hometown hero and BFL.

Schafer Baker can be very good as well if he could stay healthy

[RebusRankin]

Or he saved himself from a tough negotiation by re-upping him before the salary cap went up.

He's not worth the $ when Harris, BLM and VAJ all make between 375,000-450,000 and were better than he was.

[dd]

I still say the SSK RECs look better than they are because of that stout OL, legit run game, OC plan, and pin-point all-short QB Trevor.

The only potential great RECs are Johnson and Emilus (for a NAT).  Emilus could reach Demski levels, maybe.  But none of those guys are reaching Kenny levels.  Robustelli is just another dime a dozen Eberhardt-type guys.  KSB is another Woli.  Busby isn't even Clercius.

Yes, they are all competent and solid, but none are going to be league top-5 in talent (I don't care what their yards stats say).  None will ever command Kenny/Gino money.

And that's my whole point: imitate SSK and get solid moneyball type RECs and put all the savings into the OL.  Our highest paid should be Demski, and that's ONLY because he's a hometown hero and BFL.

Meyers made several big plays this year as well. I m sure he ll be looking for a pay raise and Emilius will for sure due to his NAT stature, but where does that leave KSB?? I m thinking we ll pickup where we left off, taking whatever sask doesn't chose to re sign.

[Jesse]

He's not worth the $ when Harris, BLM and VAJ all make between 375,000-450,000 and were better than he was.

Those particular guys were values in this particular year. I think all three were on significantly higher contracts previously on other teams but got shafted and had to renegotiate.

If all sign new contracts in 2025 under the new salary cap, I don't tbh in they sign at those numbers anymore.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Those particular guys were values in this particular year. I think all three were on significantly higher contracts previously on other teams but got shafted and had to renegotiate.

If all sign new contracts in 2025 under the new salary cap, I don't tbh in they sign at those numbers anymore.

They had to renegotiate because they had some bad and/or injury plagued years just prior.

Look at Collaros this year and last year and draw up a contract based on that. He's exactly where those guys were when they signed smaller deals.

[Tecno]

I m thinking we ll pickup where we left off, taking whatever sask doesn't chose to re sign.

Sometimes feels that way.  We love sniping guys from SSK and EDM under Mafia rule, don't we?

I think it was Zach in his season-ender presser that said something that really resonates: we didn't find our identity as a team this year.  I can't recall if he meant O or both O & D.  But he's right about the O.  They never figured out who they were or what they were good at.  Kind of meh at everything.

In contrast, everyone knows SSK's identity (dink & dunk & run all the way).  Everyone knows MTL's (screens galore, Alexander escaping, and long bombs).  Everyone knew our identity when AH33 was here (run first, run mostly, run always).  Everyone knew it when Lapo was here (also dink & dunk, plus crazy complicated looks).

We never found our identity in 2025, and thus couldn't focus & specialize and use that to hammer opponents.  I hope this is solved in '26.  Not sure what the solution is, though.

[ichabod_crane]

I dunno, the OC looked pretty darn good in the 3rd Q in the ESF.  He had a decent plan to beat MTL.  I was actually quite surprised.  If only our D could have held Alexander a little bit more...

One quarter of decent play calling vs a mostly sad year is not giving me hope!

[ichabod_crane]

$684k is crazy money for a CFL team to pay anyone, especially for a guy who hasn't won anything, forget the Grey Cup, he hasn't even won a playoff game!!

He's won two semifinals to be fair.

[DM83]

None of those guys will retire.
They are all productive in their job. Masoli would be the most likely to retire, but why not hang around and. Collect $100,000 to watch games. Or a few QB sneaks. Heck bring him in here.  All the other guys will retain their roles.  Ottawa is a toss up.  Crum did look better than our former injury plagued guy.  A good back up for Collaros could be that former starter in Edmonton. He needs to learn how to read a defence, but if not he can just run.

[DM83]

Why would you retire on top? Plus have a good core group? Collaros was fine, except as soon as he looked up he had three defensive line in his face.  Give him protection and he will be fine.

  Plus add an offensive coordinator, not a non experienced water boy grad. Sorry. You need some experience, as a play caller, not an experiment. You saw what we got. Oh, and I won't buy another pinnacle lounge seat either, with what we had as coaches, and a crap tackling group of flimsey DBs. And yes I did quit attending after four home games.

[Blue In BC]

Why would you retire on top? Plus have a good core group? Collaros was fine, except as soon as he looked up he had three defensive line in his face.  Give him protection and he will be fine.

  Plus add an offensive coordinator, not a non experienced water boy grad. Sorry. You need some experience, as a play caller, not an experiment. You saw what we got. Oh, and I won't buy another pinnacle lounge seat either, with what we had as coaches, and a crap tackling group of flimsey DBs. And yes I did quit attending after four home games.

Repeating is very difficult. Retiring at the top is better than retiring at the bottom. Age and family considerations after a long career. With age comes greater risk for injury. Past injuries related to concussions etc.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Rider fans are already chanting "back to back", my anticipation for next season is heavily focused on their demise.

[DM83]

Strev should retire...but then again, he can do QB sneaks forever. He comes cheap because. Of his NFL pension. This time let his knee heal for a year, not five months.

Bombers just signed a superstar QB.  Now can he read a defence.  Not that he has to, sounds like he can just run away. Did his 40 time get posted....anywhere.

[Tecno]

Rider fans are already chanting "back to back", my anticipation for next season is heavily focused on their demise.

They are going to get their first taste of FA big$$ defections in a looong time.  I think half their REC corps will walk.  Might be hard to keep Sayles and Milligan on the same team.  The DL guys will want raises.  Thor will want more.

And they'll still have the same problem that they don't have a real backup QB that will win squat.  Trevor will be over 40 next season.  He's not going to last the season -- they got super lucky once, won't happen again.

[BlueInCgy]

They are going to get their first taste of FA big$$ defections in a looong time.  I think half their REC corps will walk.  Might be hard to keep Sayles and Milligan on the same team.  The DL guys will want raises.  Thor will want more.

And they'll still have the same problem that they don't have a real backup QB that will win squat.  Trevor will be over 40 next season.  He's not going to last the season -- they got super lucky once, won't happen again.

Sigh.....Harris/Mayer/Stevens is one of the deepest QB rosters in the league, but don't let facts get in the way of a narrative.  And the #1 team winning the GC isn't "super lucky".  Finishing first in the division because of a gust of wind in Montreal is "super lucky", except that team couldn't get the job done.