For whatever it's worth at the moment. It does show Dobson at LG. It's also missing Lawler for some reason. Based on that, 6 new starters although the " who " may change of course. Dobson wouldn't be a rookie but new as a starter. A couple of the other potential new starters were on the PR for while in 2023.
https://www.cfl.ca/2024/05/07/top-of-the-depth-chart-winnipeg-blue-bombers-2/
CFL.CA shows 3 more import LB's plus the 1 global LB drafted signed today. Also added 1 more import OL and 2 more import DB. We were a bit thin on LB's to compete but wow do we ever have a bunch of DB's to assess in a short time.
I wonder how many of those were from the mini camp auditions.
The DL really stands out to me as looking "most revamped". I really hope we find the next-star-up amongst the rookies and sophomores at all open positions. We're going to need at least 2ish of these guys to be legit to have a GC-winning team.
Quote from: Blue In BC on May 07, 2024, 05:36:57 PMCFL.CA shows 3 more import LB's plus the 1 global LB drafted signed today. Also added 1 more import OL and 2 more import DB. We were a bit thin on LB's to compete but wow do we ever have a bunch of DB's to assess in a short time.
I wonder how many of those were from the mini camp auditions.
Dylan Moses could be a boon, good player for Alabama, got hurt and kind of fell off the radar.
No returner is one of the bigger holes to fill, IMO.
Shame they couldn't retain Grant.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on May 08, 2024, 02:57:25 PMNo returner is one of the bigger holes to fill, IMO.
Shame they couldn't retain Grant.
Did he sign anywhere ?
Quote from: The Zipp on May 08, 2024, 05:11:30 PMDid he sign anywhere ?
He's still a free agent. It just doesn't sound like the Bombers have the room to re-sign him.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on May 08, 2024, 05:30:28 PMHe's still a free agent. It just doesn't sound like the Bombers have the room to re-sign him.
Walters said that they did earlier, but the clock is ticking. If he's not signed by the main TC, he's probably not coming back.
Quote from: Blue In BC on May 08, 2024, 05:51:25 PMWalters said that they did earlier, but the clock is ticking. If he's not signed by the main TC, he's probably not coming back.
I wonder if they ever got a hold of him, could be a big surprise that he's not coming back to him as well. He could easily play another 3-4 years if they would only take care of business and get it done.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on May 08, 2024, 08:42:15 PMI wonder if they ever got a hold of him, could be a big surprise that he's not coming back to him as well. He could easily play another 3-4 years if they would only take care of business and get it done.
He has a phone. If he was interested he could have made a call and determination long ago. He could have had his agent contact the other 8 teams. He may have just decided to move on from football.
Quote from: Blue In BC on May 08, 2024, 10:02:16 PMHe has a phone. If he was interested he could have made a call and determination long ago. He could have had his agent contact the other 8 teams. He may have just decided to move on from football.
From past years evidence I'm not sure Janarion is the kind of guy that ever answers his phone, he's always been a difficult guy to track down. In my imagination I see him hanging out at a Rastafarian retreat on a Jamaican beach without electricity during most of the off season. :D But who knows?
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on May 08, 2024, 10:54:05 PMFrom past years evidence I'm not sure Janarion is the kind of guy that ever answers his phone, he's always been a difficult guy to track down. In my imagination I see him hanging out at a Rastafarian retreat on a Jamaican beach without electricity during most of the off season. :D But who knows?
LOL. Sounds about right. However, he has to know TC is starting and if he wants to play he'd take an action if necessary.
IDK if there is a gap between what he wants and what the Bombers offered. The fact he hasn't signed elsewhere suggests he's not looking to play.
Quote from: Blue In BC on May 08, 2024, 11:11:47 PMIDK if there is a gap between what he wants and what the Bombers offered. The fact he hasn't signed elsewhere suggests he's not looking to play.
Or all the teams saw how he's getting injured more/longer now. And when he returned from injury he didn't do too much for us: None of his usual post-season TDs.
I bet he wants to play here but we also know the above and thus our offer is lower than '23. Grant has held out for better offers / signed late before. I bet we're only offering $100-$120 vs maybe $145 last season? Just guessing.
And if he's going to accept $120, I'm sure he'd rather do it here than start over with a new team.
I actually see a decent chance there's a last minute announcement that he re-signed.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on May 09, 2024, 01:45:50 AMOr all the teams saw how he's getting injured more/longer now. And when he returned from injury he didn't do too much for us: None of his usual post-season TDs.
I bet he wants to play here but we also know the above and thus our offer is lower than '23. Grant has held out for better offers / signed late before. I bet we're only offering $100-$120 vs maybe $145 last season? Just guessing.
And if he's going to accept $120, I'm sure he'd rather do it here than start over with a new team.
I actually see a decent chance there's a last minute announcement that he re-signed.
Even at $120K that's nearly $50K above ELC. That's a bit of a tough call on the SMS that might be used elsewhere to more advantage. Not sure where that would be this long after free agency but maybe at the end of the season.
It will come down to what the rookies show.
Sounds like we have a Grant clone in KJ Hill, right down to his alma mater, at camp. I don't think we will be missing Janarion all that much. He was a highlight reel, and could be a game changer, but I think the staff has found enough guys to winnow out the "next one"
https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/bombshells-receiver-k-j-hill-says-advice-from-austin-mack-convinced-him-to-join-bombers
I think kick returners are being devalued with new rules coming in.
The position is simply going the way of the dodo bird.
Quote from: Jesse on May 09, 2024, 04:35:33 PMI think kick returners are being devalued with new rules coming in.
The position is simply going the way of the dodo bird.
What new rules have actually been accepted for 2024? We still have K/O's, missed FG or convert returns and punt returns.
There is no fair catch in Canada.
Quote from: Jesse on May 09, 2024, 04:35:33 PMI think kick returners are being devalued with new rules coming in.
The position is simply going the way of the dodo bird.
Changes were discussed at the combine, but not voted on...
Discussions centred on two possible plans:
— Giving teams the choice of scrimmaging at their own 40-yard line after opposition touchdowns and not receiving a kickoff at all.
— Having teams line up differently for kickoffs — the teams would line up five yards apart in the receiving zone, with only the kicker standing behind the line of scrimmage — something that was used by the now-defunct XFL and is expected to be adopted by the NFL.https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/makes-no-sense-for-our-game-proposed-changes-to-kickoff-rules-hotly-debated-at-cfl-combine
With the amount of emphasis put on special teams, and the number of Nat players whose roster existence depends on that, even the CFLPA isn't that interested in changing the rules...
Quote from: TecnoGenius on May 09, 2024, 01:45:50 AMOr all the teams saw how he's getting injured more/longer now. And when he returned from injury he didn't do too much for us: None of his usual post-season TDs.
I bet he wants to play here but we also know the above and thus our offer is lower than '23. Grant has held out for better offers / signed late before. I bet we're only offering $100-$120 vs maybe $145 last season? Just guessing.
And if he's going to accept $120, I'm sure he'd rather do it here than start over with a new team.
I actually see a decent chance there's a last minute announcement that he re-signed.
I'd be pretty surprised if Grant was making much more than $100k, returners have never earned much in the CFL, that's why they're always striving to become receivers.
EDIT:Accordong to 3DN's list of top returners Grant was making $110-$115k in 2023. Missing over half the games last season, he really didn't cost them much.
https://3downnation.com/2023/04/24/the-cfls-15-highest-paid-specialists-for-the-2023-season/
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on May 09, 2024, 06:07:34 PMI'd be pretty surprised if Grant was making much more than $100k, returners have never earned much in the CFL, that's why they're always striving to become receivers.
EDIT:Accordong to 3DN's list of top returners Grant was making $110-$115k in 2023. Missing over half the games last season, he really didn't cost them much.
https://3downnation.com/2023/04/24/the-cfls-15-highest-paid-specialists-for-the-2023-season/
That link shows Castillo playing for the Elks not the Bombers so it was info from 2022 not 2023.
Quote from: theaardvark on May 09, 2024, 05:20:55 PM— Having teams line up differently for kickoffs — the teams would line up five yards apart in the receiving zone, with only the kicker standing behind the line of scrimmage — something that was used by the now-defunct XFL and is expected to be adopted by the NFL.[/i]
Ugh, please nooooooooo! The XFL kickoffs were mega-lame. Is that the one where they can't move until the ball hits the kicker's foot??
Our kicking game is one of the main selling points that really sets us apart. How any NFL fan can come up here, watch a game, and then go back to the USA and think the NFL kicking game isn't a joke is beyond me.
Aards is 100% right that NAT STers would be in for a world of financial/job-loss hurt if our CFL kick game was neutered. And great point about the CFLPA being slanted towards NATs...