2026 Winnipeg Blue Bomber Salaries

[Blue In BC]

BinBC: in this thread only.  In all previous threads you've been saying we probably blew the whole '25 cap including the extra $400k in reg season 2025 because of all the 1GIR use.

If you've morphed into thinking there was lots of '25 cap left, great, glad you're joining the club!

No I said we used some of the SMS by using the 1 game IR. Every team did that to one extent or another. Since the increase wasn't known early enough, they couldn't us it all / most of it in free agency. The fact we re-signed our top players before the end of the year suggests the excess SMS was higher than normal.

Maybe I worded some comments badly but that has always been my position about every team having more money left.

After the end of December teams have been using the full $400K + $200K SMS to sign some new players in free agency.

I don't think we went over in 2025 but we'll see how that shakes out. If we did go over it would suggest we had less SMS left than I imagined. If we didn't go over it would suggest we were using left over SMS as I've suggested.

[TBURGESS]

The fact we re-signed our top players before the end of the year suggests the excess SMS was higher than normal.

Teams always re-sign players at the end of the year. They always use what's left of the SMS. We never know how much was left or how much of the bonuses are in the last year's SMS. 

Last year there was an SMS 'bonus' that we used to 1 GIR players. How much was left after that is anyone's guess. 

The fact that there was a SMS 'bonus' suggests the excess was higher, not that we re-signed top players. 

[Blue In BC]

Teams always re-sign players at the end of the year. They always use what's left of the SMS. We never know how much was left or how much of the bonuses are in the last year's SMS.

Last year there was an SMS 'bonus' that we used to 1 GIR players. How much was left after that is anyone's guess.

The fact that there was a SMS 'bonus' suggests the excess was higher, not that we re-signed top players.

But we did re-sign top players: Oliveria, Demski, Holm, Nichols, Kramdi, Eli and Lawson all signed before the end of the year in December. There were some substantial increases for those players.

Compare that to December 2024 when we only re-signed Bryant.

Sure we don't know exactly how much was left but that's a strong indication there was a lot and we used it to our advantage.

On Feb 1 ( and T. White ) we gave out some very high contracts. That suggests that we're using 2026 SMS and didn't burn off most of that in December with those players being re-signed. Yes bonus payments could be pushed into 2026 but that wouldn't be the norm.

That seems like a reasonable 2 + 2 = 4 set of conclusions regardless of the exact amounts spent in December. Other teams are throwing around money in similar fashion.

When do we see the results of the 2025 SMS and whether anyone went over?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Teams always re-sign players at the end of the year. They always use what's left of the SMS. We never know how much was left or how much of the bonuses are in the last year's SMS.

Last year there was an SMS 'bonus' that we used to 1 GIR players. How much was left after that is anyone's guess.

The fact that there was a SMS 'bonus' suggests the excess was higher, not that we re-signed top players.

They extended Collaros an extra year on his existing contract on 05/23/25, so it's conceivable some of his 2026 bonus money also came out of the 2025 SMS.

[Jesse]

They extended Collaros an extra year on his existing contract on 05/23/25, so it's conceivable some of his 2026 bonus money also came out of the 2025 SMS.

We were also told that Collaros received 2 bonuses already this year. I'm pretty certain his whole contract is 2026 money.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

We were also told that Collaros received 2 bonuses already this year. I'm pretty certain his whole contract is 2026 money.

I thought that was a glitch, cause it didn't make any sense.

[TBURGESS]

But we did re-sign top players: Oliveria, Demski, Holm, Nichols, Kramdi, Eli and Lawson all signed before the end of the year in December. There were some substantial increases for those players.

Compare that to December 2024 when we only re-signed Bryant.

Sure we don't know exactly how much was left but that's a strong indication there was a lot and we used it to our advantage.

On Feb 1 ( and T. White ) we gave out some very high contracts. That suggests that we're using 2026 SMS and didn't burn off most of that in December with those players being re-signed. Yes bonus payments could be pushed into 2026 but that wouldn't be the norm.

That seems like a reasonable 2 + 2 = 4 set of conclusions regardless of the exact amounts spent in December. Other teams are throwing around money in similar fashion.

When do we see the results of the 2025 SMS and whether anyone went over?

It doesn't matter how big the contracts are, contracts are paid in 2026. The only thing we could back date to 2025 SMS is bonus money. 

Giving big contracts this year, doesn't suggest we didn't burn SMS in December, it indicates that we had to upgrade to even make the playoffs this year. It suggests that top players will get more money because of the SMS bumps in 2025 & 2026.

Whether or not anyone went over the 2025 SMS is a moo point. (No one cares what a cow thinks) It has absolutely nothing to do with the disagreement.

[GCn19]

It doesn't matter how big the contracts are, contracts are paid in 2026. The only thing we could back date to 2025 SMS is bonus money.

Giving big contracts this year, doesn't suggest we didn't burn SMS in December, it indicates that we had to upgrade to even make the playoffs this year. It suggests that top players will get more money because of the SMS bumps in 2025 & 2026.

Whether or not anyone went over the 2025 SMS is a moo point. (No one cares what a cow thinks) It has absolutely nothing to do with the disagreement.

We saved substantial SMS for 2026 in December. We signed most of our bonus heavy players in that time and they had pretty big signing bonuses that were paid. The reason those deals were done early was to use up 2025 SMS. Walters hinted at that in the interview he gave.

[Blue In BC]

It doesn't matter how big the contracts are, contracts are paid in 2026. The only thing we could back date to 2025 SMS is bonus money.

Giving big contracts this year, doesn't suggest we didn't burn SMS in December, it indicates that we had to upgrade to even make the playoffs this year. It suggests that top players will get more money because of the SMS bumps in 2025 & 2026.

Whether or not anyone went over the 2025 SMS is a moo point. (No one cares what a cow thinks) It has absolutely nothing to do with the disagreement.

I'll stick with the probability that many have mentioned. I think that you are just being negative.

Yes going over the SMS is a valid question as it relates to teams that re-signed players in December that appear to have significant early bonus money. It's all part of the evaluation.

[Jesse]

Every contract which we've seen the details of has included a sigficant signing bonus. Up to half the total value of the deal.

It's not a huge leap to assume the same of our December deals. Especially considering the circumstances.

[TBURGESS]

We saved substantial SMS for 2026 in December. We signed most of our bonus heavy players in that time and they had pretty big signing bonuses that were paid. The reason those deals were done early was to use up 2025 SMS. Walters hinted at that in the interview he gave.

That's your opinion; now prove it.

I'll stick with the probability that many have mentioned. I think that you are just being negative.

Yes going over the SMS is a valid question as it relates to teams that re-signed players in December that appear to have significant early bonus money. It's all part of the evaluation.

It's not negative to point out facts.

Going over the SMS is a red herring. Teams have a choice in December of where to put the bonus money. Once last year's SMS is gone, they would put it into 2026.

[TBURGESS]

Every contract which we've seen the details of has included a sigficant signing bonus. Up to half the total value of the deal.

It's not a huge leap to assume the same of our December deals. Especially considering the circumstances.

Now that's the way to state an opinion. 

[Blue In BC]

That's your opinion; now prove it.It's not negative to point out facts.

Going over the SMS is a red herring. Teams have a choice in December of where to put the bonus money. Once last year's SMS is gone, they would put it into 2026.

You're the odd man out. You prove your theory.

[theaardvark]

By mid Dec, there should be 100% accurate accounting of how much cap we have left in that fiscal year.  Any players that we are going to re-sign, and who want to stay, and that you can get to sign then, should be offered 2025 dated bonuses that use up that allotment, plus $99k.

There is literally no downside to leaving that $SMS on the table.  Especailly when the books are as black as ours are.

Of course, no bonuses are offered to oft injured players, as we WANT to garner 6 game IR recoup should they end up there.  But guys who have play a number of years for us, and the vast majority of the games in that time, bonus the heck out of them.