CFL (Non-Bombers) off-season news

[Jesse]

Speculation on my part but he took less in 2025 and he discussed taking a team friendly deal then.

Was it team friendly by choice or because he was 39 and had only played one full season in the previous 6 years with zero playoff success?

[Tecno]

Hypothetically, who has the $ to pay Brady? Montreal and BC, I'd say no. The Riders have a ton of big name guys to try to sign. Hamilton has some bigger contracts.

If Brady really wants to bail to be with a team "that can win GCs" then he is limiting his choices to BC, CGY, SSK, MTL.  SSK already has their guy and doesn't need the ratio help.  CGY is a run-first team (under Dickenson T.G.) and could use the ratio help... if anyone makes a big play for Brady, it'd be them.

MTL I think is happy with their Scott ELC wunderkind.  BC is a pass-first team with no ratio needs -- I can't see them being interested blowing $300k+.

(HAM will never get to a cup with BLM, so count them out.  And TOR is now in full rebuild mode.  OTT/EDM, nothing needs to be said.)

So CGY or WPG.  That's it.  We just need to get within $35k of CGY's offer and he'll probably stay.

[Tecno]

be interesting to see if there are more details, ie money hid behind marketing money similar to what they did with Roarke.

You bet.  The pundit leak was careful in its wording.  "hard money", not "salary".  MMM would count as "hard money".  They did the same misdirection when announcing Rourke in last FA -- gave the "hard money" first, and only told us about the $200k MMM later.

I bet Hatcher is $100k MMM easy.  Maybe $150k.

I would hope we sign Brady with $100k MMM to ease the SMS pain.  It's super easy with Brady -- just sponsor/video-record every dog-saving trip of his.  Voila -- justified MMM.

[RebusRankin]

Using the MM to offset Brady's salary is a good idea.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

If Brady really wants to bail to be with a team "that can win GCs" then he is limiting his choices to BC, CGY, SSK, MTL.  SSK already has their guy and doesn't need the ratio help.  CGY is a run-first team (under Dickenson T.G.) and could use the ratio help... if anyone makes a big play for Brady, it'd be them.

MTL I think is happy with their Scott ELC wunderkind.  BC is a pass-first team with no ratio needs -- I can't see them being interested blowing $300k+.

(HAM will never get to a cup with BLM, so count them out.  And TOR is now in full rebuild mode.  OTT/EDM, nothing needs to be said.)

So CGY or WPG.  That's it.  We just need to get within $35k of CGY's offer and he'll probably stay.

Dickenson has never been the biggest spender, it goes against the Stamps philosophy of being cheap.

[JockitchwithRich]

Would appreciate clarification on the acronym of MMM or MM in relation to contracts, nothing with Google

Love the Bombers and great athletes like Brady ...... however Walters is in tough and we already have Peterson

[Ridermania]

Riders sign QB Tommy Stevens for two more seasons.

https://3downnation.com/2025/12/05/mr-automatic-saskatchewan-roughriders-extend-short-yardage-specialist-tommy-stevens-through-2027/

[VictorRomano]

Riders sign QB Tommy Stevens for two more seasons.

https://3downnation.com/2025/12/05/mr-automatic-saskatchewan-roughriders-extend-short-yardage-specialist-tommy-stevens-through-2027/

Dang.  I was hoping he would hit FA and we might be able to take a run at him.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Dang.  I was hoping he would hit FA and we might be able to take a run at him.

Nah far too one dimensional, Strev. had more upside than Stevens, he can't even pretend to be a backup QB.

[Blue In BC]

Nah far too one dimensional, Strev. had more upside than Stevens.

12 pass completions in 68 games. Maybe he should switch to a DE with his size and speed. Or learn to block as a FB.  lol

[Pigskin]

12 pass completions in 68 games. Maybe he should switch to a DE with his size and speed. Or learn to block as a FB.  lol

Yes excellent SY guy. But your right. 68 games, 12/21 for 83 yards.

[DCM]

Would appreciate clarification on the acronym of MMM or MM in relation to contracts, nothing with Google

Love the Bombers and great athletes like Brady ...... however Walters is in tough and we already have Peterson

MM = marketing money I believe.

Not sure on MMM though. Maxmimum? Minimum?

[Tecno]

MM = marketing money I believe.

Not sure on MMM though. Maxmimum? Minimum?

I added the extra M when Rourke first blew it wide open:

Magic Marketing Money

"Magic" as in bogus and fairy dust complete cheating the CFL allows to work around the SMS being too low to lure super high end players like Rourke.  Show me what Rourke did in '25 to earn $200k MMM.  I rest my case.

Now let's cheat too, WFC has the biggest war chest -- especially after hosting a completely packed GC!  Revamp Zach to get $200k of his existing contract in MMM, and give Brady $150k MMM so his SMS hit is only $200k tops.

[Tecno]

Riders sign QB Tommy Stevens for two more seasons.

Smart move.  SSK learned (stole) from WPG that you need a great 97%+ SY guy to win playoffs/cups.

However, Stevens may have upped his ask, as he's now considered the best SY specialist bar none due to his size.  This may be hurting SSK SMS seeing as how they also have to carry "real #2" Maier, who also isn't cheap (as far as lame #2's go).

If they have to pay T.Harris more than his discount salary, they'll quickly have one of the most expensive QB rooms.

[Tecno]

Dickenson has never been the biggest spender, it goes against the Stamps philosophy of being cheap.

You are correct.  As such I revise my theory to only WPG can/will sign Brady.  There, everyone can stop worrying now.  KW will get it done, and probably for $275k SMS hit.

In any negotiation I would remind Brady how many times he's coughed up the ball, sometimes in critical games like the ESF when we were about to run away with the win.  And he's getting far less YPC than Oullette because a) he has a worse OL, and b) he doesn't have the magic coach AH33 and can't shed tacklers like AH used to.

As such Scott might be a better RB (right now, I won't speak long term), and Rankin too, and they are/were ELC IMPs!  Whatever premium we pay Brady is for his hometown hero status (which is worth it) and the passport (which is also worth it).  But nothing is worth $325k-$350k.  I'd take Oullette and his best buddy AH33 in tandem for under $200k before wasting $350k of SMS.  That said, if we can put $150k on the BC MMM plan, then by all means pay Brady $350k.