Bomber Free Agents

[Pigskin]

I will open this up Tanner Schmekel. Bomber for 4 years has a total of 13 DTs.

Jake Kelly: also has been a Bomber for 4 years, 32DTs, 8 STs this season. Jake has improved, but is it enough.

MCI: Big man with a ton of speed, but never gets the ball. However this year he has been outstanding on teams. with 13 STs.

CLercius: 6'3" 210, 8/73 yards 1 TD.

Hallett:  Nick will be 34. Still very solid on teams and doesn't miss many games. 11 STs this season.

[Blue In BC]

I'd keep MCI but like everything else, what is his SMS? Who do we draft in 2027 in roles on ST's. Quite a few of the 2026 draft choices had injuries this year but may be stepping up next year.

Schmekel isn't listed as a potential free agent but we should try to replace him.

My list to move on from: Corcoran, Cobb, Vibert, Peterson ,Bryant, Vanterpool, K.WIlson, Dixon, JSK and Jefferson. Noting that 5 of those players are on the PR and as good as gone.

They don't seem to think enough of Peterson to add him to the AR so it seems probable he's not back one way or the other.  Same comment about Vanterpool.

A few on the IR that aren't all potential free agents: Ayers, Allen, Jaworski and Woodbey. There time has come and gone IMO.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'd keep MCI but like everything else, what is his SMS? Who do we draft in 2027 in roles on ST's. Quite a few of the 2026 draft choices had injuries this year but may be stepping up next year.

Schmekel isn't listed as a potential free agent but we should try to replace him.

My list to move on from: Corcoran, Cobb, Vibert, Peterson ,Bryant, Vanterpool, K.WIlson, Dixon, JSK and Jefferson. Noting that 5 of those players are on the PR and as good as gone.

They don't seem to think enough of Peterson to add him to the AR so it seems probable he's not back one way or the other.  Same comment about Vanterpool.

A few on the IR that aren't all potential free agents: Ayers, Allen, Jaworski and Woodbey. There time has come and gone IMO.

Did they actually put Vanterpool on the PR?  I thought he spent his 3rd season with the team shuffling between the 6 game and the RR waiting patiently for Stan to go down.

[Tecno]

Vibert is the Eli replacement/backup.  Doubt he goes anywhere.  Haven't seen enough of him to judge anyhow.  Cupboard is bare anyhow: no other NAT hoggies, and kiss our draft picks goodbye...

Hallett is ageing but fine.  Hallett will be here until some younger guy proves better.  Has someone yet?  Maybe if Ball can stay healthy (big "if").  And we'll have to see what the '27 draft looks like.  Hallett's still very fast and brings the wood.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I will open this up Tanner Schmekel. Bomber for 4 years has a total of 13 DTs.

Jake Kelly: also has been a Bomber for 4 years, 32DTs, 8 STs this season. Jake has improved, but is it enough.

MCI: Big man with a ton of speed, but never gets the ball. However this year he has been outstanding on teams. with 13 STs.

CLercius: 6'3" 210, 8/73 yards 1 TD.

Hallett:  Nick will be 34. Still very solid on teams and doesn't miss many games. 11 STs this season.

I thought Schmeck would bloom this season, but he hasn't. Pretty difficult to find a second rate Natl. DT that would be better than him, so better to keep him, at least he's inexpensive.

Didn't think Jake Kelly would bloom this year, but he has.  Holm seems to have taken him under his wing and Kelly is playing a lot like Holm did in his first season, he's getting the speed side down but he needs to bulk up a bit and do a better job securing tackles.

I expect MCI and Clercius to test FA and head back East, if they're not going to amount to more than utility players they might as well do it closer to friends and family.  MCI is from Hamilton and Clercius is from Montreal and I could see them signing with each of those teams, offered the same pay they'll go.

[Blue In BC]

Did they actually put Vanterpool on the PR?  I thought he spent his 3rd season with the team shuffling between the 6 game and the RR waiting patiently for Stan to go down.

He's on the PR now and so is Vibert. We can re-sign players that end the season on the PR. The question is will we want to and will they want to.

[Blue In BC]

Vibert is the Eli replacement/backup.  Doubt he goes anywhere.  Haven't seen enough of him to judge anyhow.  Cupboard is bare anyhow: no other NAT hoggies, and kiss our draft picks goodbye...

Hallett is ageing but fine.  Hallett will be here until some younger guy proves better.  Has someone yet?  Maybe if Ball can stay healthy (big "if").  And we'll have to see what the '27 draft looks like.  Hallett's still very fast and brings the wood.

I thought Ball and Stuart would replace him after this season. Both were injured most of the time, so it may have bought Hallett another year.

[Tecno]

I thought Ball and Stuart would replace him after this season. Both were injured most of the time, so it may have bought Hallett another year.

Ball seems to get hurt as much as Noah H did.  We may be reluctant to put our eggs in that basket.  Plus, Hallett is one of the Wise Old Men (WOM) on the ST now, assuming he's out of his shell enough now to help the new kids.  WOM get extended careers in the Mafia system.  Would he accept PR until the young'ins get injured in '27??

What was Gauthier, Rush, Briggs age when they were finally released??  That will hint at how long Hallett has.

[Blue In BC]

Ball seems to get hurt as much as Noah H did.  We may be reluctant to put our eggs in that basket.  Plus, Hallett is one of the Wise Old Men (WOM) on the ST now, assuming he's out of his shell enough now to help the new kids.  WOM get extended careers in the Mafia system.  Would he accept PR until the young'ins get injured in '27??

What was Gauthier, Rush, Briggs age when they were finally released??  That will hint at how long Hallett has.

Gauthier retired after 2025 when he was 33 years old. Hallett turns 33 at the end of this year. I agree Hallett can still play at a good level. SMS is not a particular problem. He is the 2nd oldest Canadian behind only Neufeld and a month older than Demski.

The issue is roster size and players drafted in 2026 and those that will be drafted in 2027.  We also added Novak , Clark and Boulianne in 2026. Overall that's 5 2026 draft choices on the roster.

Not everyone will accept a PR role. Oldest players are most likely to have a harder time making the roster as newbies get drafted.

[Blue In BC]

On a slightly smaller issue. Our 4 week expanded PR may be over and we may need to trim some players today. The rest are potential free agents as soon as our season is over which could be this week.

We often re-sign some PR players for further opportunity in TC. Without seeing any of them practising it's difficult to determine who will return. Those that have been here the longest aren't necessarily those that return.

[tlf]

How much of these player's defensive woes is on Younger? Would they thrive on other teams with better schemes like others have? Just a thought.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

He's on the PR now and so is Vibert. We can re-sign players that end the season on the PR. The question is will we want to and will they want to.

It seems clear in their eyes Elsbury has replaced Vanterpool, I'm not sure what that decision is based on as Elsbury hasn't demonstrated versatility or great ability yet. 

The off-season should determine if they stick with the 3 Natl. O-line or seek major personnel upgrades, at most I expect 2 alterations to the existing O-line. Should have forced Stan out last season and retained Randolph as he was the definition of adequate at RT.

[Blue In BC]

It seems clear in their eyes Elsbury has replaced Vanterpool, I'm not sure what that decision is based on as Elsbury hasn't demonstrated versatility or great ability yet. 

The off-season should determine if they stick with the 3 Natl. O-line or seek major personnel upgrades, at most I expect 2 alterations to the existing O-line. Should have forced Stan out last season and retained Randolph as he was the definition of adequate at RT.

We have 6 OL on the PR at the moment. Elsbury is on the AR and signed through 2028 ( no idea why ). Who is brought back for TC 2027 is all guess work but there will be many looked at. That includes free agency and try out camps before we even get to TC.