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#21

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Blue Bombers re-sign recei...

Last post by Throw Long Bannatyne - January 16, 2026, 05:51:29 PM

I had him on my list of players I didn't think we'd re-sign. He didn't get many chances to play last year but it doesn't hurt to bring him back to TC. At the moment we don't have a lot of depth for Canadian receivers.

I doubt his SMS will be a significant increase. So perhaps with another year's experience and 2nd with the Bombers he gets more real looks to play and contribute.

Clercius still under contract going into his 3rd season but Corcoran started ahead of him in the playoffs.

#22

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...

Last post by Jesse - January 16, 2026, 05:51:15 PM

Have to wonder if Vaval would have a more lucrative and longer career as a DB now that salaries have dratically improved for the best few. He made a few mistakes but also had flashes of brilliance so I think a  career as a CB was a possibility before he exploded as a returner, that option has likely been taken away from him and he'll be forever characterized as a returner only, much like Grant.

Pretty rare for a returner to last more than 3-4 years and their effectivness often seems to peter out along the way.

We've used starters as returners before. He'll have every opportunity to be a DB as well.

#23

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...

Last post by Blue In BC - January 16, 2026, 05:37:07 PM

Alford is still reasonablly effective and capable of breaking longer returns, he was 7th in punt return yds. at 10.8 yd. avg. and 6th in kick off return yds. with a 28.3 yds avg. which is very good.

Janarion Grant is also a FA, so if Vaval does not return and they can't find a suitable replacement they have a couple of old reliable options they could look at to get them by.

A good returner gives the offence a headstart in lift, field position and momentum, I think it's a critically important part of the game.

If Grant gets to the tampering window I wouldn't be upset to make him an offer at the right price. IIRC Logan got $128K in 2025 and something like that could work. Grant is a more reliable option to Logan.

#24

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Blue Bombers re-sign recei...

Last post by Blue In BC - January 16, 2026, 05:34:28 PM

I had him on my list of players I didn't think we'd re-sign. He didn't get many chances to play last year but it doesn't hurt to bring him back to TC. At the moment we don't have a lot of depth for Canadian receivers.

I doubt his SMS will be a significant increase. So perhaps with another year's experience and 2nd with the Bombers he gets more real looks to play and contribute.

[It would be a pointless exercise.]

#25

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: 2026 CFL Winter Meetings

Last post by blue_gold_84 - January 16, 2026, 05:31:32 PM

...and once everyone was drafter they'd have to go on a neg list anyway that teams would want to constantly adjust the same as they do now.

It would be a pointless exercise.

But at least TSN could televise it! /s

[Blue Bombers re-sign receiver Gavin Cobb]

#26

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Blue Bombers re-sign recei...

Last post by Throw Long Bannatyne - January 16, 2026, 05:21:04 PM

Blue Bombers re-sign receiver Gavin Cobb

WINNIPEG, MB., January 16, 2026 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Canadian receiver Gavin Cobb.

Cobb (5-9, 170; University of Manitoba; born: January 28, 1998, in Victoria, B.C.) returns to the Blue Bombers in 2026 for his second season with the club and fourth in the Canadian Football League after spending the first two years of his career (2023-24) with the Edmonton Elks.

Cobb appeared in four regular season games with the Blue Bombers in 2025, plus the Eastern Semi-Final, including two starts. He finished the year with six catches for 51 yards, including four receptions for 44 yards in a win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on October 17th. He added two catches for 29 yards in the playoff loss to the Montreal Alouettes.

A fourth-round selection, 30th overall, by the Elks in the 2022 CFL Draft, Cobb has now appeared in 33 CFL games, including 10 starts.

Like this signing, didn't get much of a chance to see what he could do last season but what I did see, I liked.

[Yes, Alford would be ok to get you the reliable short return on every kick.]

#27

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...

Last post by Throw Long Bannatyne - January 16, 2026, 05:18:40 PM

We spent all of '24 "losing" 20Y field position on every exchange, and we still made the cup!  And we're talking disaster scenario anyhow, which doesn't always come to fruition.  You hope Vaval would remain healthy 90% of the games, and if he doesn't you can always look THEN for a couch sitter, aged-out vet, or trade.  Or just roll with the "just catch the darn ball" next man up.

Paying Logan his decent fee in '25 was a complete bust: why would we repeat that on purpose with Alford?  No one signs an Alford-level guy just to be the backup, unless this is truly his final year before retiring (like Logan or Lucky).

If Alford was ELC+$10k, ya ok, why not.  But not for $110k+...  Unless Vaval is stuck in the NFL all season and nothing shows up at TC.  I seriously doubt that happens.

Yes, Alford would be ok to get you the reliable short return on every kick. Yes, that has some value.  And in that sense he's ideal if cheap and you have no other options.  But he's not busting anything anymore, and you'll find he's WAY less effective in WPG because we aren't the ST hold-fest that SSK is.

Alford is still reasonablly effective and capable of breaking longer returns, he was 7th in punt return yds. at 10.8 yd. avg. and 6th in kick off return yds. with a 28.3 yds avg. which is very good.

Janarion Grant is also a FA, so if Vaval does not return and they can't find a suitable replacement they have a couple of old reliable options they could look at to get them by.

A good returner gives the offence a headstart in lift, field position and momentum, I think it's a critically important part of the game.

[Blue Bombers re-sign receiver Gavin Cobb]

#28

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Blue Bombers re-sign receiver ...

Last post by ModAdmin - January 16, 2026, 05:18:28 PM

Blue Bombers re-sign receiver Gavin Cobb

WINNIPEG, MB., January 16, 2026 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Canadian receiver Gavin Cobb.

Cobb (5-9, 170; University of Manitoba; born: January 28, 1998, in Victoria, B.C.) returns to the Blue Bombers in 2026 for his second season with the club and fourth in the Canadian Football League after spending the first two years of his career (2023-24) with the Edmonton Elks.

Cobb appeared in four regular season games with the Blue Bombers in 2025, plus the Eastern Semi-Final, including two starts. He finished the year with six catches for 51 yards, including four receptions for 44 yards in a win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on October 17th. He added two catches for 29 yards in the playoff loss to the Montreal Alouettes.

A fourth-round selection, 30th overall, by the Elks in the 2022 CFL Draft, Cobb has now appeared in 33 CFL games, including 10 starts.

#29

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...

Last post by Blue In BC - January 16, 2026, 05:16:16 PM

Have to wonder if Vaval would have a more lucrative and longer career as a DB now that salaries have dratically improved for the best few. He made a few mistakes but also had flashes of brilliance so I think a  career as a CB was a possibility before he exploded as a returner, that option has likely been taken away from him and he'll be forever characterized as a returner only, much like Grant.

Pretty rare for a returner to last more than 3-4 years and their effectivness often seems to peter out along the way.

I agree that he may have taken himself out of chances as a DB starter by doing so well as a returner. He could see time as an in game injury DB being a DI as a returner. That has an advantage for the team but won't do much for his salary.

#30

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...

Last post by Throw Long Bannatyne - January 16, 2026, 05:03:12 PM

I think it was in the GC Saturday show (or maybe (and/or) elsewhere?) Vaval did another interview and he was saying all of the right things.  I know we always say "seems like a MOS guy", but with Vaval it seems uber genuine.  He seems like a wants-to-learn-aholic.  Seems to want to be here.

I have little doubt that he, at bare minimum, would have made the PR all season as backup DB, if not the AR -- even if he didn't pan out as returner.  All in all I think he did very well as a raw rookie corner.  Not the instant natural DB like Nichols or Holm or D.Alford, but certainly as good as many others have done in their first handful of starts.

Have to wonder if Vaval would have a more lucrative and longer career as a DB now that salaries have dratically improved for the best few. He made a few mistakes but also had flashes of brilliance so I think a  career as a CB was a possibility before he exploded as a returner, that option has likely been taken away from him and he'll be forever characterized as a returner only, much like Grant.

Pretty rare for a returner to last more than 3-4 years and their effectivness often seems to peter out along the way.