1st & 10 | The Blue Bombers Pending Free Agent List

Throw Long Bannatyne · January 06, 2026, 07:31:12 PM

Quote from: blue_or_die on January 06, 2026, 06:25:24 PMHolm boi is huge. Absolutely needed but never a guarantee (until now). This is worth getting excited over, for sure.

Easier to retain players recruited close to home in States to the South of MB, they should focus heavily on that region.

markf · January 06, 2026, 08:25:37 PM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 06, 2026, 07:31:12 PMEasier to retain players recruited close to home and in States to the South of MB, they should focus heavily on that region.

The Als do that with French Canadian players. Quite an advantage they have.

Tecno · January 07, 2026, 08:18:22 AM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 06, 2026, 04:49:51 PMI don't think they would part ways with Willie unless he thought he could make significantly more elsewhere in FA.

We also have to keep in mind he's the absolute team leader. Watch the warmups every game @PAS and the pep talk before they go back into the tunnel... it's all Willie. Before that it was AH.

Don't write off the importance of a good leader.

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 06, 2026, 04:49:51 PMBut one thing to note, both he and Neufeld negotiate their own contracts and are always first in line when it comes to locking in a deal in place that provides them security, so they're a bit behind schedule.

That also might be a reason they can accept well below FA-market contracts. Most players are paying, what, 15% to their agents. That money stays in Willie's pocket.

TBURGESS · January 07, 2026, 02:24:00 PM

We have enough leaders. What we need is players who are worth at least what we are paying them.

Sir Blue and Gold · January 07, 2026, 05:59:26 PM

Quote from: TBURGESS on January 07, 2026, 02:24:00 PMWe have enough leaders. What we need is players who are worth at least what we are paying them.

Agreed. Leadership and good culture should exist to produce wins. They aren't the goal in and of themselves and I think we have been too close to that line the last two seasons.

Tecno · **Today** at 01:43:08 AM

Quote from: TBURGESS on January 07, 2026, 02:24:00 PMWe have enough leaders.

But we don't. Not real, effective ones.

AH got ditched by us and went to TOR and TOR instantly won the GC. AH gets hired in SSK and Oullette turns into a legit beast and SSK instantly wins the GC. AH is a real leader. If we had found a way to keep him in WFC (not necessarily as a player) we'd have won more cups and not stunk the joint out last year; change my mind.

If Willie is the best leader we've got right now, don't flippantly dismiss him or that role. Who knows how weak our next leader will be.

The guys that get everyone wound up and pull them through the tough slog and make everyone better are few and far between.

Sir Blue and Gold · **Today** at 01:57:41 PM

Quote from: Tecno on Today at 01:43:08 AMBut we don't. Not real, effective ones.

AH got ditched by us and went to TOR and TOR instantly won the GC. AH gets hired in SSK and Oullette turns into a legit beast and SSK instantly wins the GC. AH is a real leader. If we had found a way to keep him in WFC (not necessarily as a player) we'd have won more cups and not stunk the joint out last year; change my mind.

If Willie is the best leader we've got right now, don't flippantly dismiss him or that role. Who knows how weak our next leader will be.

The guys that get everyone wound up and pull them through the tough slog and make everyone better are few and far between.

Andrew Harris was responsible for exactly zero wins for the Riders last season. The notion that keeping a specific running back coach leads to more wins is, frankly, absurd and plain wrong. No. That is not how football works.