Blue Bombers re-sign DB Nick Hallett

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

No doubt he will get a paycheck, and it will be more than he makes as an electrician.

Obby, Harris, Biggie... all got paychecks after the Bombers moved on, but none recaptured past glory, and Shayne, bless his heart, doesn't have much past "glory".

No doubting his heart, his football knowledge, and his ability/desire to make those special ST plays, chasing down players he shouldn't be able to. But its a numbers game, and we just have too many good, young, NAT LB's on the roster, even with SG44's space open, we're still going to lose a player who was a decent draft pick after camp.

I seriously doubt another team is going to sign him at 34 yrs. old to play ST only, he'd create the same problem for them that he has for the Bombers, blocking younger Natl. talent from developing by taking a spot on the roster.  It's kind of amazing how many of these older guys choose not to recognize the end of their playing careers.

His earnings may not be as high as an employee, but once he becomes an electrical contractor the sky is the limit. 

[Tecno]

Sometimes you gotta shake things up. Gauthier was getting complacent and wasn't getting it done.

I wouldn't say that's true.  It's more that he was finally getting way too old for that role (same as Mike Miller was).  Especially when you're competing against 2-4 new DP young bucks every season.

Case in point: Gauthier was the reason for the failure of Patterson's first SY attempt at the GL in the '25 ESF.  He did the ol' Biggie leap over the top of the pile.  Gauthier had enough beef on him to stop it... does Shay or Ball?  Hallett certainly doesn't!

Actually that's a great question: if you need beef, who's becomes our new "beefy NAT LBer" for that role??  Cadwall, I guess?

Gauthier should make a pitch to MTL to be a coach in some way.  They really love their Francophones over there.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I wouldn't say that's true.  It's more that he was finally getting way too old for that role (same as Mike Miller was).  Especially when you're competing against 2-4 new DP young bucks every season.

Case in point: Gauthier was the reason for the failure of Patterson's first SY attempt at the GL in the '25 ESF.  He did the ol' Biggie leap over the top of the pile.  Gauthier had enough beef on him to stop it... does Shay or Ball?  Hallett certainly doesn't!

Actually that's a great question: if you need beef, who's becomes our new "beefy NAT LBer" for that role??  Cadwall, I guess?

Gauthier should make a pitch to MTL to be a coach in some way.  They really love their Francophones over there.

[Pigskin]

I wouldn't say that's true.  It's more that he was finally getting way too old for that role (same as Mike Miller was).  Especially when you're competing against 2-4 new DP young bucks every season.

Case in point: Gauthier was the reason for the failure of Patterson's first SY attempt at the GL in the '25 ESF.  He did the ol' Biggie leap over the top of the pile.  Gauthier had enough beef on him to stop it... does Shay or Ball?  Hallett certainly doesn't!

Actually that's a great question: if you need beef, who's becomes our new "beefy NAT LBer" for that role??  Cadwall, I guess?

Gauthier should make a pitch to MTL to be a coach in some way.  They really love their Francophones over there.

Gauthier 218, Cad 216, Shay 225, Smith 227, Novak 225.

Bighill 232, Jones 235, Knox 233, Wilson 227.

[Blueforlife]

Gauthier was a steady depth player that was good against the run.  I'm with Techno, just aged out. I am proud of what he did here.  He added physically when needed.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

A classic 'good for a Canadian' player that the CFL (and some fans) find so thrilling. Yes, yes, I know, "but he's good at special teams".

[Pigskin]

Gauthier: 9 years, 123 games, 64 DTs, 78 STs, 2 Sack, 2 FF. Solid, reliable player. The man was smart. He got his journeymen electrical ticket before he finishing his football career. Nice trade to move on to at $45-$50 per hr.   

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Gauthier: 9 years, 123 games, 64 DTs, 78 STs, 2 Sack, 2 FF. Solid, reliable player. The man was smart. He got his journeymen electrical ticket before he finishing his football career. Nice trade to move on to at $45-$50 per hr.   

All of that is true. So is the fact that if there wasn't a ratio his stats would be 0 for 0 for 0.

[Blueforlife]

Gauthier is what makes this league great.  It's why our Canadian content is critical.  Some fans simply don't respect or see the impact the league has on this great country and vice versa.  Young athletes all across this great country having dreams of playing pro ball and we provide an excellent option, inspiring generations to play sports and never give up regardless if they are the next star that might get a chance to be drafted by the NFL to be a star or play teams at home (and everything in between).  It's not easy to make this league and Gauthier's longevity isn't common and should be celebrated.  Some want to see our ratio changed and league to merge with American rules, that would not only take the heart out CFL, it would also eliminate a uniqueness like no other pro sports league on the planet.  Role players matter and are the glue of the room.  They help win championships and hats off to Gauthier, he earned everything that he accomplished.

Canadian culture is critical to keep the CFL great.  Our values have influenced this great league and years ago we celebrated and encouraged diversity in sport.  Ones impact goes well beyond the football field.  The work our CFL players do in the community is as important and wins and losses imo.

Players like this that stick around long term are critical to creating and maintaining the winning culture that we so desperately need when MOS came on the scene.  I really liked Briggs but have much respect for Gauthier.  They were an incredible combo for years here as backups / ST / starting at times and at the right price to boot!   Hallett is another example of this in the making.  Not everyone is a star in any sports team.  The diversity of the room is your strength as you balance being competitive while keeping under the cap.

Very happy to know he has a good career lined up.  We need more leaders in the trades.  Heck I even know someone what would hire him.

I love cheering for the Canadians in this league, from PR players to star QBs.  The talent level doesn't matter, it's how all the pieces of the puzzle fit.  Forest through the trees and we are growing just fine.

[Tecno]

Gauthier 218, Cad 216, Shay 225, Smith 227, Novak 225.

You left out the equally important part:

Gauthier 218 5'10
Cadwall 216 5'11
Shay 225 6'1
Smith 227 5'10
Novak 225 6'1

Because Shay & Novak are so tall they look lankier.

Smith seems to be the new best choice for that beef, but his name means nothing to me (yet) as he was basically never on D.  Cadwall is like a Gauthier clone, and since he's been here the longest is probably going to get Gauthier's role.

[Tecno]

A classic 'good for a Canadian' player that the CFL (and some fans) find so thrilling.

That run down in that playoff game that many keep mentioning was pretty thrilling!  Might be the best play of that game, and certainly the only one people are still talking about.

Dude was a) smart enough to spot it first, b) independent enough to do the right thing rather than just go with what everyone else was doing, c) fast enough to catch up, d) wise enough to take an impossible field-long correct angle to make the tackle, e) nimble enough to avoid the several blockers who were there at the end.

That was special, and thrilling.  All the IMPS that were on that play were stuck there with their fingers in their noses wondering where da ball went.