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[Well we do know anyone signed after Dec. 31st is paid with 2026 SMS dollars.]

#21

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

Last post by Tecno - Today at 12:01:39 PM

Well we do know anyone signed after Dec. 31st is paid with 2026 SMS dollars.

No we don't.  We'd like to think that.  But Pete is right, perhaps some of these deals were done before the 31st and we're just only hearing about them now.  Or perhaps we paid them out a bonus on the 31st with an understanding they'd finalize & sign in '26.

In fact, I'm kind of counting on the above, because if not then it would seem we didn't have much leftover from '25 to spend on EOY signings!!  We should have had our full $400k to play with!  1GIR usage notwithstanding.

[$900k tied up in 2 guys who turned the rock over waaaaay too much]

#22

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

Last post by Tecno - Today at 11:59:31 AM

$900k tied up in 2 guys who turned the rock over waaaaay too much for what they're getting paid. THAT better change in 2026 but I doubt it.

Too true.  Zach was an INT and FF machine in '25.  Crap OL didn't help though.

And Brady... Brady... fumble in the ESF when we were just about to put the dagger in.

AH would fumble early in games sometimes and get mad and go into beast mode.  Brady fumbles and then just deflates and does nothing.  And the whole team along with him.

I miss that about AH.  I used to look forward to his (infrequent) early game fumbles.

Maybe we need Lapo to run a seminar here.  Repeat after me: The Ball IS The Cup.

[He can start there and be our OC one day]

#23

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Blue Bombers announce coac...

Last post by Tecno - Today at 11:53:07 AM

He can start there and be our OC one day.  I've thought that for a while.

Patterson?  Interesting.  Expound?

[Hallett is another good ST player that I think doesn't get re-signed]

#24

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

Last post by Tecno - Today at 11:52:05 AM

Hallett is another good ST player that I think doesn't get re-signed.

You mean Nick?  I think he gets precedence above Ball.  Ball is younger, but he hasn't proven squat yet.  The difference maker would be if they think Ball can actually be good on D.  Nick has proven he's a very meh FS, and will get picked on if in.

But yes, will have to let 1-2 NATs walk for the new DPs.

I favor keeping Nick because his body type is vastly different to Cadwall.  He's the speed guy, also with super good fast twitch.  No one else is making those far edge FG rushes happen.

Noah Hallett or Jake Kelly might be sacrificed to keep the Natl. LB ratio pumped up on ST.  Pretty sure Gauthier won't be renewed, and he's already begun his second career as an electrician.

Noah is gonzo.  Pretty sure he's already been sent packing.  Virtually no chance we pick him up again.

We can live without Gauthier, though he was already being kept on as the "old man" wise-teacher role.  Who becomes the next Obi Wan?  Not sure there really is one currently!  So maybe Gauthier stays...

Kelly: I've never really gotten a bead on that guy.  He never stands out to me but gets the most D reps probably?  Gets picked on.  Doesn't stand out on ST much, though maybe his role dictates that.  Not super fast... is he smart?  Maybe HE'S the next Obi Wan if Gauthier is cut.

[Gauthier started games but was never "a starter]

#25

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

Last post by Tecno - Today at 11:49:46 AM

I think you guys are saying the same thing. ST players still get defensive snaps here and there. Gauthier started games but was never "a starter".

Ya, the only guy who really came close was Briggs.  Dude got a ton of reps on D and even started a hefty number of games when injuries hit.

[we have to get a Dustin Crumb here that when put into the game, gives us a hope]

#26

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: C. Streveler

Last post by Tecno - Today at 11:42:27 AM

we have to get a Dustin Crumb here that when put into the game, gives us a hope our offense can run more than 6 pass attempts in a game

At the rate we've already been blowing SMS, and given OL & DL are arguably much higher priorities/concerns, I don't see how we have any hope of hiring any legit/proven #2 not named Strev.

Where on earth are we getting a $100-$150k above '25 QB room cost to hire a Crum or Powell or Maier.  Maybe we could afford a Masoli.  That's about it.

Money issues could mean we are rolling with Wilson #2 and Greek #3.  Careful what you/we wish for regarding dropping Strev!

Then again, if we put $400k more into our OL and make some great week 1 starter DPs and scouting finds, there's a good chance we won't ever need a #2!

[might create a problem re=signing Sheehan or cost us more to keep him]

#27

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

Last post by Tecno - Today at 11:36:34 AM

That might create a problem re=signing Sheehan or cost us more to keep him?

Maybe.  Maybe meh.  The Ozzie punters are kinda everywhere now.  And if we get in a bidding war with, say, HAM, we're probably talking an extra $10-$15k only... do we really care?

With Ted gone, I think HAM will cease to try to be Bombers Redux.  And rightly so: you want to try to emulate the 6th best CFL team from 2025?

Plus, their dude will probably be back, as 90% of CFL punters do...

[Wasn't that hard to find.]

#28

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Deatrick Nichols signs one...

Last post by Tecno - Today at 11:32:23 AM

Wasn't that hard to find.

LOL, that's useful.  Part of the value of the form is people generally provide links or citations to new info so we can all save our collective time having to look it up and pore through 3down articles.

This was the first mention of a $ number for Nichols I had seen, that's why I asked.  And if I didn't immediate have a source, I bet a ton of other people didn't either.

[2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023]

#29

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: 1st & 10 | The Blue Bomber...

Last post by Tecno - Today at 11:29:48 AM

2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023: all years in which a team with Harris on its roster didn't win a championship.

I guess some people can't see the forest for the trees.  It's like the distinct and odd lack of curiosity I often experience here.  Some people just can't make the mental leap to understand something that isn't concrete black & white.  It's like all things point to Z, but because an authority didn't say it, or the path is convoluted, or it required more mental or time effort, it just doesn't exist for them.

I've grown to accept it, but it still stuns me how prevalent it is.  For the few who get it: I got your back.  And... We're coming home with that cup, WOOOOOOOOOOOO!

P.S. Yoshi was another of those 5% nudges.  Dude's effect on demoralizing D's cannot be understated.  The dude actually teabags and toots on DL and LBers on the regular, on camera.  And he's another perennially positive guys who lift everyone around them up to higher heights.  Just like AH.  Funny how we let SSK have probably the 2 biggest difference makers from our winning formula, eh?  What's next, letting Willie walk to SSK too?  LOL, that would be hilarious, albeit following precedent!

[Teams win championships.]

#30

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: 1st & 10 | The Blue Bomber...

Last post by Tecno - Today at 11:20:10 AM

Yes, it is just a coincidence.

Teams win championships.

And once you get near the top it is the little 5% nudges that change you from a contender to a winner.  The entire Mafia tenure is an illustration of this.

AH was the 5% nudge that pushed potential contenders into GC appearances and wins.  As was other things, like Mace in SSK and Dinwiddie in TOR.  But each of those 5%'s were critical.  To say AH was a 0% nudge and made no difference either way is blind.

If AH wasn't in WPG in 2019 we don't win that cup.  We don't even win the WSF.

Clearly many of you didn't watch all the pressers and vignettes and Bomber vids and GC-Saturdays and post-games and pep talks.  I've literally never seen anything like what AH brought to our team.

After the '19 cup a lot of stories came out about how they were in the locker in the WSF halftime down a bit and AH starts telling the guys/leaders that they aren't just going to let this one be lost like all the other previous years.  He picked them up and told them they were going to win it.  And that's what they did.

Oh ya, and as soon as he left we started going downhill.  Sure, the coattails got us to many more cups... but did we get the nudge needed to win them??

Brady's a great back, but he has NONE of the leadership qualities AH had.  And no one else has stepped up to take us to that level of hype.  And so we struggle.

But whatever, if some want to think it's just athleticism or raw talent that wins cups (especially with SMS limitations), you do you.