Nield

[Tecno]

Nield:

opp comp/att yds avg-long
CGY 3/4 52 (17-18)
HAM 7/9 111 (16-24)
EDM 2/3 12 (6-10)
HAM 0/0
TOR 4/4 58 (14-19)
OTT 4/7 48 (12-16)
CGY 1/4 8 (8-8)

It's just not good enough.  He had 1 good game, 2-3 modest games, and 3 useless games.  He's not supposed to be Cobb and Corcoran, he's supposed to be a solid #3 option.  And besides that one good game I have seen zero flash or circus or difficult catches.  The stuff he's gotten has been easy, like uncontested zone sits.  I think his stats flatter him.

In the original signing thread, peg_city said Nield cost us $175k.  That's extremely high for a guy with this (lack of) effectiveness.  In fact, he may be the most lackluster NAT REC earning more than $125k.  If you're in year 6 and you're earning $175k then you have to do better.  I'd take nearly every single NAT over $125k (and under $175k) instead of him.

The main reason we brought him in is he's 6'3 and we wanted that 50/50 & jump ball threat.  Except his 1 good game, I don't think he's made any 50/50 balls.  We gave him 2 tough/jump balls in the last game, and he just looked foolish.  His ladder is more like a stool.  What's the point of a tall/big-body REC who can't get the high balls?

We also wanted better blocking, and thought his beef would help.  The jury is still out on that.  I grade out every game now and including important blocks, and I'm not sure I've seen him do anything of substance yet.  He's just not near where he can do any good.

And he has a bad case of the dropsies.  He'll whiff on at least 1 catchable ball every game.  And he always looks deflated and beaten, which drags down everyone around him.

If he was earning ELC or old Woli-type money, that would be great.  I'd be all for that.  But he was clearly brought in to be a solid #3 target, as well as a specialist on clutch 50/50's, and probably a legit EZ high-throw or body-block-out threat.  He's accomplished none of that.  Look who we went to on the critical 2PATs to win vs OTT; hint, not Nield!  He's a drive killer on 2nd down, and I don't even want to see him get targets on 2nd anymore.

We signed him for 2 years, but I hope we have an easy out in the off-season, if not before vet cut-down day.  Clercius/Corcoran may not get as many looks, but at least they are upbeat and seem to try.  Who's to say they can't get this level of production if put in that role?

Again, I'm not saying he's crap, he's just crap for $175k.  He should be $110k and 5th read in a normal-functioning team.  Keep in mind... SSK decided Busby was the keeper over this guy!!  We got played.  We overpaid.

[Blueforlife]

At 1st I thought he might start to get better but that window is quickly closing

[Tecno]

At 1st I thought he might start to get better but that window is quickly closing

I agree.  I was hesitant in the original signing thread because I thought he cost us around $135k.  Now it seems he was $175k.

I don't know about you, but I thought he was maybe year 3 or 4?  I never would have guessed he was year 6!  He was pretty invisible in TOR all those years.  And in SSK he was pretty under the radar until that WDF.  Fans there complained about him all season long, and no one cried when he left.

As of right now his stats are on pace to match what he did (per game) in SSK, which amounted to 535Y in 13 games.  The difference, though, is he got 5 TDs in SSK, and he's on pace for ... zero ... TDs in WPG.  That's not a good sign at all.

Yes, I agree he needs to step it up, or I bet we cut him loose by FA, because his abilities do not remotely match his price tag.  I guess he could suddenly wake up, and I'll be the first to applaud him.  But I won't bet money on it.

[Tecno]

An interesting comparison is with Sterns.  Sterns was 530Y in 14 games for us, 4 TDs.  In that sense we could consider Nield a Sterns-replacer.  The only problem is Sterns was more around $125k from what I recall.  So the question is then: is the ratio bonus for a similar-stats player worth an extra $50k?  Or is our hope for Nield's blocking ability worth $50k?

If either answer is "yes", then Nield is justified at current production.  If the answer is "no" then we need to keep looking.

The names I always mention are Brissett and Gittens (pneumonic: mustard in curly hair), because those guys are Nield-like, can block etc, but have also been big-game playmakers: both destroying us in GCs.  And I'm nearly positive both are cheaper (though maybe only slightly).  Both bounce around FA fairly often.  Mital is going to be the next one like them.  My question is why did we pick Nield and not them?

Aside: Brissett and Gittens have been around as long as Nield, and may have peaked, as pointed out on other threads.  We shall see if they pick it up for the remainder of '26.  But if they are on the downslope, where does that leave Nield if not following them?

[Jesse]

You call him a #3. Is he supposed to be getting more targets than Wilson, White, or Demski?

[Jesse]

You call him a #3. Is he supposed to be getting more targets than Wilson, White, or Demski?

And to add to this point, last year Brady was our #2 most targeted player and in this offence should absolutely be getting more targets than our #4 receiver. So Neild should really be judged as a 5th read.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I'm not sure what all the hype was about. He's the quintessential Canadian depth receiver. He's training camp fodder level talent if he doesn't have the ratio backing him. That's just the reality. He quite literally wouldn't be playing if Singer was born in Ontario. Yay for the game!

[dd]

Tommy is exactly what he's always been, a big slow average #4 or 5 NAT receiver. He should be on a $100-125k contract but we decided he was worth $175, that's not his fault it's ours. But he is exactly what he's always been

[Jesse]

I'm not sure what all the hype was about. He's the quintessential Canadian depth receiver. He's training camp fodder level talent if he doesn't have the ratio backing him. That's just the reality. He quite literally wouldn't be playing if Singer was born in Ontario. Yay for the game!

Singer has literally done zero. He's just a guy unless proven otherwise.

[Pigskin]

Tommy is exactly what he's always been, a big slow average #4 or 5 NAT receiver. He should be on a $100-125k contract but we decided he was worth $175, that's not his fault it's ours. But he is exactly what he's always been

Agree. If your unhappy with Tommy's contract talk to Mr. Walter's.

Clercius. is in his 3 year with the Bombers. 37 games, 767 yards, 1 TD.

 

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Singer has literally done zero. He's just a guy unless proven otherwise.

Or any other guy of his ilk. We could have kept Wheatfall probably for similar money.