Bombers Release Chris Kolankowski

VictorRomano · January 12, 2026, 09:56:01 PM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 11, 2026, 05:31:04 PMYep, I think Kolankowski just had his second baby too. Tough job but a good GM exists as a bit of an outsider and never becomes part of the team in spirit, he has to remain neutral to circumstance and see players as no more than assets on a chart. I think that's reason #1 MOS will never become a GM as he loves his players too much, I imagine that was the source of a lot of disagreements with Walters back in the early days.

I saw a quote from OSH after his re-signing where he was asked about his relationship with KW, and he said something along the lines of "we don't scream at each other as much any more."

dd · January 12, 2026, 10:17:15 PM

Quote from: theaardvark on January 12, 2026, 03:19:16 PMSo, the decision had been made to move on from him. Walters/MOS aren't ones that move on without a plan in place, though, so I fully expect to see Eli getting the C spot going into camp, it being his to lose.

We don't tend to buy FA Oline, can't remember ever signing a FA Olineman to start. We've lost a lot of starting Oline to higher bidders, and while some of those stung a bit, no way we could have matched, we'd have a million dollar Oline now.

Not saying we can't sign a FA OC, just saying anyone worth signing will be expensive, and I'm not sure they are in the budget.

Stan Bryant and worth every penny we've ever paid him. Centre is an important cog on the LO, and I woudn't be adverse to spending $$ to get an above average one

BLUEBOMBER · January 13, 2026, 07:26:23 AM

Clearly Kolankowski wasn't getting it done...

Throw Long Bannatyne · January 13, 2026, 06:58:07 PM

Blue In BC · January 13, 2026, 07:14:22 PM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 13, 2026, 06:58:07 PM

Interesting. Troubles signing Woodmansey?

Throw Long Bannatyne · January 13, 2026, 07:52:45 PM

Quote from: Blue In BC on January 13, 2026, 07:14:22 PMInteresting. Troubles signing Woodmansey?

Poor shotgun snapper, might be why they made this move.

Ridermania · January 13, 2026, 08:50:32 PM

Woodmansey is a free agent, maybe over to the Bombers???

Thoughts.

Pigskin · January 13, 2026, 10:19:22 PM

Quote from: Ridermania on January 13, 2026, 08:50:32 PMWoodmansey is a free agent, maybe over to the Bombers???

Thoughts.

Bigger and younger. Kolski 6'1, 305 (33). Woodmansey, 6'4" 310, (28).

dd · January 13, 2026, 10:43:37 PM

Quote from: Ridermania on January 13, 2026, 08:50:32 PMWoodmansey is a free agent, maybe over to the Bombers???

Thoughts.

If the Ticats don't want him and picked up Koko, why wou1d we pickup the centre they dumped??

bunker · January 13, 2026, 11:09:38 PM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 13, 2026, 06:58:07 PM

Wish him well there. Wasn't a great blocker here, but gave it his all. He's from the area around Hamilton. Maybe he wanted to be closer to home? Must be better than I thought he was if Ticats wanted to give him a look.

Jesse · January 13, 2026, 11:26:41 PM

Quote from: bunker on January 13, 2026, 11:09:38 PMWish him well there. Wasn't a great blocker here, but gave it his all. He's from the area around Hamilton. Maybe he wanted to be closer to home? Must be better than I thought he was if Ticats wanted to give him a look.

Multiple people have talked about how poor Hammy's snapping was from the centre postion. That's something that Kola did well. A vet like Bo might appreciate the consistency. If they OL is strong around him, he'll still do well.

Throw Long Bannatyne · January 13, 2026, 11:45:29 PM

Quote from: Ridermania on January 13, 2026, 08:50:32 PMWoodmansey is a free agent, maybe over to the Bombers???

Thoughts.

Could be he's asking for too much Woodmansey was #15 on top paid O-linemen list last season with Dobson above him at #9 and Revenberg at #5, the Ti-Cats had a lot of cash tied up in their O-line and needed to find some savings. Kolo probably signed for around $120k with no bonuses just to keep his career rolling.

15) Coulter Woodmansey, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (N)

Hard money: $170,500
Maximum value: $183,700

The University of Guelph product got a $15,000 offseason roster bonus on Feb. 1 ahead of his fifth season with the Tiger-Cats. Woodmansey will also make $131,700 in base salary, $13,800 in housing money, and $10,000 in marketing money this year, plus an additional $250 each time he plays more than half of Hamilton's offensive snaps in a game.

To put in perspective Stanley is the only Bomber on that list, he shows up at #14 exactly the same salary as Woodmansey.

Hard money: $170,700
Maximum value: $183,700

Tecno · Reply #57 - Re: Bombers Release Chris Kolankowski

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 13, 2026, 11:45:29 PMKolo probably signed for around $120k with no bonuses just to keep his career rolling.

No way Ko-man took $120k. I bet Eli is earning over $100k, and he's never started squat. For $120k maybe we keep Ko-man around as a NAT backup!

I doubt he took much of a discount from what he was getting here.

Tecno · Reply #58 - Re: Bombers Release Chris Kolankowski

Quote from: bunker on January 13, 2026, 11:09:38 PMMust be better than I thought he was if Ticats wanted to give him a look.

Clearly HAM hasn't totally given up on being Bombers-Lite/Redux.

And I'm pretty sure my ranking of Ko-man as middle-of-the-pack is more accurate than the guesses that he was bottom-of-the-barrel.

Tecno · Reply #59 - Re: Bombers Release Chris Kolankowski

Quote from: dd on January 13, 2026, 10:43:37 PMIf the Ticats don't want him and picked up Koko, why wou1d we pickup the centre they dumped??

Because until he started snapping balls 5' over Bo's head he was pretty darned good and known as a pretty high tier C.

There was 1-2 games BLM was getting VERY mad at him. Like livid, on field, on camera. That may have sealed his fate in HAM.

I don't recall him having snapping problems in prior years, so maybe it was just a short-term problem.