Have wee seen Neufeld's last game as a Bomber? Love the guy, love his service to the team, but with his age and injury history, recovery from yet another setback with his knee, I think its time. He's going to get his full 2024 salary, as he can't come off the 6 game before his year is guaranteed, but if he stays on the 6 game the rest of the year, that's a good chunk of $SMS, especially with his replacement on a min wage/ELC deal.
Hate to see guys end careers like this, far prefer them to walk away without crutches, but this is part of football.
Neufeld had an interesting career path. Struggled with injuries and finding his game early but morphed into a key cog in one of the best offensive lines of the last 10-15 years in the CFL. Struggled this year even before the injury. Seems like he could be done which is unfortunate but he can walk away with a pretty accomplished resume and for a guy that was given up on by his hometown Riders certainly reached an exceptionally high level of play and sustained it for longer than anyone would have thought.
Quote from: theaardvark on July 31, 2024, 04:18:29 PMHave wee seen Neufeld's last game as a Bomber? Love the guy, love his service to the team, but with his age and injury history, recovery from yet another setback with his knee, I think its time. He's going to get his full 2024 salary, as he can't come off the 6 game before his year is guaranteed, but if he stays on the 6 game the rest of the year, that's a good chunk of $SMS, especially with his replacement on a min wage/ELC deal.
Hate to see guys end careers like this, far prefer them to walk away without crutches, but this is part of football.
If he can recover and comeback for another year, I'd welcome it. 2 worse lineman on the inside and likely Bryant's last year could mean a massive overhaul next season, which could be painful.
In theory he could come off early or after 6 games. That would be for game 14. Depending on his rehab status, standings and how Randolph does in the meantime, will determine whether there is value in returning him to the AR.
Without knowing the actual extent of his injury, it's just speculation.
However there will be some SMS gained as a more probable result if he misses the balance of the season.
The unofficial roster shows Kolo @ $140K. Neufeld might be similar as a longer term vet. Even at that SMS, it's double what Randolph earns on an ELC or about $4K less per game.
Quote from: Blue In BC on July 31, 2024, 04:36:24 PMIn theory he could come off early or after 6 games. That would be for game 14. Depending on his rehab status, standings and how Randolph does in the meantime, will determine whether there is value in returning him to the AR.
Without knowing the actual extent of his injury, it's just speculation.
However there will be some SMS gained as a more probable result if he misses the balance of the season.
SMS savings is likely very minimal but whatever it amounts to is welcome.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on July 31, 2024, 04:39:39 PMSMS savings is likely very minimal but whatever it amounts to is welcome.
Why do you think it would minimal. He may miss the last 10 games and he's not on an ELC. I revised my earlier post with a guesstimate calculation. I would imagine a savings of $4K per game if he's earning $140K.
Quote from: Blue In BC on July 31, 2024, 04:43:42 PMWhy do you think it would minimal. He may miss the last 10 games and he's not on an ELC. I revised my earlier post with a guesstimate calculation. I would imagine a savings of $4K per game if he's earning $140K.
I would describe that as minimal. The very maximum savings, using your $140,000 and assuming there was no bonus (which is impossible to say), is about $40,000 when you factor in replacing him with an ELC. That's useful but amounts to less than 1% (0.7240%) saved in cap space.
He could be done. He is slightly over due for a better American replacement.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on July 31, 2024, 05:08:53 PMI would describe that as minimal. The very maximum savings, using your $140,000 and assuming there was no bonus (which is impossible to say), is about $40,000 when you factor in replacing him with an ELC. That's useful but amounts to less than 1% (0.7240%) saved in cap space.
Another $40K available during free agency equates being able to re-sign 2 players for another $20K each as an example. That's not chicken feed.
Nicholes, Holms and Ford are potential free agents going to be looking for more $$. That money has to come from somewhere.
Quote from: Blue In BC on July 31, 2024, 05:51:11 PMAnother $40K available during free agency equates being able to re-sign 2 players for another $20K each as an example. That's not chicken feed.
Nicholes, Holms and Ford are potential free agents going to be looking for more $$. That money has to come from somewhere.
But it probably will end up being chicken feed, because Neuf probably did receive a bonus and we're probably just breaking even, if that. And that's only if he stays on the 6 game and we do get the cap relief, otherwise we'll lose cap space.
Sad to see him get another injury. We'll see what Randolph can do. It's no mystery, the interior of our O line has been our weakness this season.
Quote from: Jesse on July 31, 2024, 06:06:05 PMBut it probably will end up being chicken feed, because Neuf probably did receive a bonus and we're probably just breaking even, if that. And that's only if he stays on the 6 game and we do get the cap relief, otherwise we'll lose cap space.
There is no advantage to giving any Canadian a signing bonus. And especially with an oft injured player, its just crazy to. Bonuses are given to sign a player for less by putting some upfront.
I can't see many of our players having been given bonues.
Quote from: theaardvark on July 31, 2024, 06:20:20 PMThere is no advantage to giving any Canadian a signing bonus. And especially with an oft injured player, its just crazy to. Bonuses are given to sign a player for less by putting some upfront.
I can't see many of our players having been given bonues.
Who knows? The league doesn't publish that information so none of us really knows. A small signing bonus wouldn't strike me as terribly irresponsible though. He's played 11 seasons and only missed one game in 2022, 2023 and up until this week.
I hope he can continue to play for us and retire strong
A good run for him until now
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on July 31, 2024, 06:27:45 PMWho knows? The league doesn't publish that information so none of us really knows. A small signing bonus wouldn't strike me as terribly irresponsible though. He's played 11 seasons and only missed one game in 2022, 2023 and up until this week.
Yes, he has been pretty healthy, considering 2018-2021 he only played in 9 games.
Quote from: theaardvark on July 31, 2024, 06:20:20 PMThere is no advantage to giving any Canadian a signing bonus. And especially with an oft injured player, its just crazy to. Bonuses are given to sign a player for less by putting some upfront.
I can't see many of our players having been given bonues.
We re-work deals all the time. He could have been given a bonus if he requested one or we could have re-worked his salary as a bonus at some point when we were moving things around this season or last.
Quote from: theaardvark on July 31, 2024, 06:20:20 PMThere is no advantage to giving any Canadian a signing bonus. And especially with an oft injured player, its just crazy to. Bonuses are given to sign a player for less by putting some upfront.
I can't see many of our players having been given bonues.
Right on. The whole reason for all the superstar IMP bonuses is IMPs pay less tax on bonus. There is no such tax break for Canadians (thanks CRA) so why would any NAT ask for a bonus, and why should we be keen on doing it? All pain, no gain.
Plus, we've all heard of IMPs getting huge bonuses specified at time of signing ("Kenny got $X and $Y of it is a bonus") but we have never (AFAIK) heard in the media the same of a NAT. If I'm wrong, show me the article. (Not saying NATs might not get a tiny bonus... just saying they aren't getting $100k bonuses like Kenny-level IMPs.)
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on July 31, 2024, 04:31:11 PMNeufeld had an interesting career path. Struggled with injuries and finding his game early but morphed into a key cog in one of the best offensive lines of the last 10-15 years in the CFL. Struggled this year even before the injury. Seems like he could be done which is unfortunate but he can walk away with a pretty accomplished resume and for a guy that was given up on by his hometown Riders certainly reached an exceptionally high level of play and sustained it for longer than anyone would have thought.
Riders did not give up on Paddy, he was traded for DL Alex Hall who helped the Riders win the Grey Cup. Good trade for both clubs.
Quote from: Ridermania on August 01, 2024, 01:15:01 PMRiders did not give up on Paddy, he was traded for DL Alex Hall who helped the Riders win the Grey Cup. Good trade for both clubs.
The Riders kind of did. He wasn't very good early in his career. When you trade a hometown Canadian offensive lineman for a 30-year-old (at the time) American defensive end that's speaks for itself when you remove the homer bias, no? They never would have done it had they known the career he was going to have, right?
What's more, the Riders subsequently had one of the worst offensive lines of the last 4-5 years while Neufeld played at a high level over here. So yea, they saw the early struggles, didn't think it projected well, and made the trade. That's defined as giving up on your prospect. All teams have done it, but the Riders certainly did it there.
Quote from: Ridermania on August 01, 2024, 01:15:01 PMRiders did not give up on Paddy, he was traded for DL Alex Hall who helped the Riders win the Grey Cup. Good trade for both clubs.
Sure they did. They traded him for a rental.
Neufeld was injured a lot early in his career but has been relatively healthy of late. His play has dropped off this season but that could have a lot to do with Hardrick not being beside him anymore.
More evidence that we were probably hoping the core would make it thru the home Grey Cup next year, but are dropping like flies both in terms of injury and performance.
Don't mean to do a negatron post, but we've seen so much of it this year. I say this as someone who loves the core - especially Paddy. Hoping he's able to return, but his time playing football is certainly limited.
On a positive note, maybe this is some unplanned load management and we get a healthy and ready Paddy back for a late season push? Yenno, get hot (and healthy) at the right time?
Quote from: blue_or_die on August 01, 2024, 06:45:41 PMMore evidence that we were probably hoping the core would make it thru the home Grey Cup next year, but are dropping like flies both in terms of injury and performance.
Don't mean to do a negatron post, but we've seen so much of it this year. I say this as someone who loves the core - especially Paddy. Hoping he's able to return, but his time playing football is certainly limited.
On a positive note, maybe this is some unplanned load management and we get a healthy and ready Paddy back for a late season push? Yenno, get hot (and healthy) at the right time?
Hope Paddy gets right, but definitely still have hopes for the late season push! All our byes and weaker opponents are still on the horizon. Only one game out of the play-off spot.
neufeld is a very good player. All the guys who won grey cups were. He is due to retire at his age, but it's not like he has to run a forty yard dash ever. Certainly he can recover from a non surgical injury. They all take time. If they are forecasting as only a few weeks, it certainly sounds recoverable.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on August 01, 2024, 01:24:47 PMThe Riders kind of did. He wasn't very good early in his career. When you trade a hometown Canadian offensive lineman for a 30-year-old (at the time) American defensive end that's speaks for itself when you remove the homer bias, no?
I think you're both right. Ridermania is right that stacking the team late with Hall did help win that cup. You can't discount how much that home cup (and winning!) meant to that fan base.
They destroyed their team for years to come to win that cup. Was it worth it? If you were there in Mosaic watching it wearing green, you might answer "yes". I can understand that. I may have made the same choice... and come 2025 I may not say boo if WFC does the same thing.
(Though we all know WFC won't...)