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[Blue Bombers Transactions - May 5, 2026]

#21

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Blue Bombers Transactions - Ma...

Last post by ModAdmin - Today at 04:36:47 PM

Blue Bombers Transactions - May 5, 2026

WINNIPEG, MB., May 5, 2026 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the following roster moves.

Added to roster:

American linebacker Ja'Kobe Clinton (6-2, 230, West Florida)

[Blue Bombers Rookie Camp Primer]

#22

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: 2026 Rookie Training Camp

Last post by ModAdmin - Today at 04:05:53 PM

Blue Bombers Rookie Camp Primer

It is a seven-hour audition spread out over three days and with a definite 'outwit, out play, outlast' Survivor-type feel to it all.

One mistake, after all, could be critically devastating, just as one shining moment might make a massive positive first impression.

So, given all that — the high stakes involved with potential future employment very much hanging in the balance — Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie camp annually serves as both a gruelling, cutthroat job interview and compelling theatre.

Case in point: Blue Bombers rookies will be on the field Wednesday morning for the first of three practice sessions and by the time Friday rolls around some of them may soon be on the highway, what with main training camp starting Sunday morning and the roster needing to be set at 85, not including 2026 CFL Canadian Draft picks. By next Tuesday, that number needs to be at 75 — again not including draft picks.

As of this writing there are 107 players on the Blue Bombers roster so very soon it will be a case of the math ain't mathing for some.

All that said, there is opportunity here for some of the newcomers.

Familiar faces gone from last year's roster include quarterbacks Chris Streveler and Chase Artopoeus, receivers Dillon Mitchell, Jerreth Sterns, Keric Wheatfall and Dalton Schoen, centre Chris Kolankowski, defensive linemen Jake Thomas, James Vaughters, Devin Adams and Jamal Woods, linebacker Shayne Gauthier and defensive backs Demerio Houston, Jamal Parker, Jr., Dexter Lawson, Jr. and Terrell Bonds.

The club was busy over the winter in free agency, adding defensive tackle Jake Ceresna, offensive tackle Jarell Broxton, receivers Tim White and Tommy Nield, linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox along with defensive backs Jonathan Moxey, Deandre Lamont and Alijah McGhee.

All that said, there is opportunity here. Every spring brings change, just as Trey Vaval — the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie last year — along with Jaiden Woodbey, Cam Allen, Jaylen Smith, Connor Shay, Ethan Ball, Matthew Peterson, Lane Novak and Ian Leroux all made the club and significant contributions last year after stepping up in rookie and main training camp.

As rookie camp opens a nugget worth noting: two of the Blue Bombers 2026 CFL Canadian Draft class — defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth (first round, fourth overall) and offensive lineman Kevin Cline (second round, 20th overall) — will not be present. Gatkuoth is expected as soon as this weekend after attending rookie minicamp with the Denver Broncos while Cline could be a while, as he has signed with the Miami Dolphins and will be at their main training camp this summer.

The Blue Bombers open their preseason on Saturday, May 23rd in Saskatoon vs. the Saskatchewan Roughriders and then are home on Friday, May 29th against the B.C. Lions for their final dress rehearsal.

Winnipeg opens the 2026 regular season on Friday, June 5th in Calgary against the Stampeders and will then be in front of their fans for the home opener against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Thursday, June 11th.

Here's a quick primer to get Blue Bombers fans ready for rookie camp...

WHO TO WATCH

Names passed along by Blue Bombers crack scouting staff (in no particular order)....

The rest of the Rookie Camp article is here...

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/05/05/blue-bombers-rookie-camp-primer/

#23

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...

Last post by theaardvark - Today at 04:02:51 PM

Surveys have shown that ~5% of CFL fans will cancel their ST's or not go to games if the 2027 changes (100Y,GPs) go through.

Not a single survey of any sort has shown 5% new people will start buying ST or go to games because of the changes.

That's a major problem, and unless it just magically materializes, Johnston is harming the league, not helping it.  That's the reality of the here and now.

It is easy to be outraged and say you will cancel your ST if changes go through.

But, when push comes to shove, I'd say less than 1% will, if that.

As to adding STH, no idea if it will.  But the status quo isn't cutting it in most markets.  5 years of GC appearances is bolstering WPG ticket sales, that can turn on a dime. 

All we've had about the changes has been negative, from the fans and from the press.  The focus has been on the loud.  The fans that are loudest are the ones that "will give up their ST's" and hence, they are the ones the press is covering.

I don't think I've seen a single press report that represents the opinion that I believe.  And I think that there far more that think the way I do than will "give up their seats".

But that's the way media works, you cover the chicken littles, because that gets clicks.

You want retro football, with leather helmets and wooden "H" goalposts on the goal line, start a new league.

The CFL needs some better spin people for sure.  "This is not your Granpa's CFL, but he'd sure like it".  The game is faster, the field is more modern but retains the big EZ and width, and the players are better.

We need more interviews with players that have spent time in the NFL who say that the level of play in the CFL is far better than they expected.

Letting naysayers dominate the media will not save the league. 

Giving potential new fans a reason to watch will.  Challenging the naysayers to give it a look will.

Do we need to convert every Canadian NFL fan to being CFL junkies?  Not at all.  But we do need to find a way to get some of those eyes to give the CFL a look.

It is unfortunate that south asian countries do not have American Football (using that term to differentiate from Soccer) leagues, or games that have skills that translate to American Football.  That is the biggest untapped market for the CFL.  With all the New Canadians available to win over, getting a Global Player from Dehli might be a great marketing tool.  Remember the "Million Dollar Arm" movie? 

The NHL have made some inroads in addressing this large base.  I'm not suggesting that we could broadcast every game in Punjabi, or that the contributions of Chungh, Khan, Shanks, Bassi, Dhillon haven't been valuable among their communities, just that finding players talented enough to be taken in the Global draft would be a marketing coup.

#24

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...

Last post by Sir Blue and Gold - Today at 03:27:09 PM

More playoff games also equals more expenses. More money paid to the players and the staff. Calling them playoff games means more money in playoff bonuses for the players. For half the teams it means more money paid for travel and hotels and per diems. Home teams will make more money. Away teams might even lose some.

In business, you look at the net, not the gross.

You can have the profit of more playoff games or you can have the profit of no more playoff games.

Would you like a line graph?  Asked another way, do you think the leadership group is so bad they would be proposing something that would result in a net loss?

#25

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...

Last post by TBURGESS - Today at 03:02:22 PM

I'll keep this very simple for you: more playoff games equals more money for the teams, players, league and media partners.

I have no idea why you're bringing up pre-season games and trying to equate them to playoff games whether they be new or old. Only someone clever enough to stick a "never go full Johnson" on their profile would need this explained. The guy operates in business circles you don't even know exist and he'll probably bring in more corporate revenue in a year than you will in your entire life. But whatever. You're the expert. Happy?

More playoff games also equals more expenses. More money paid to the players and the staff. Calling them playoff games means more money in playoff bonuses for the players. For half the teams it means more money paid for travel and hotels and per diems. Home teams will make more money. Away teams might even lose some. 

In business, you look at the net, not the gross. 

#26

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

Last post by Blue In BC - Today at 01:55:37 PM

The bogger question is why Brady isn't getting 100k plus in marketing money, he even has his own tv show

Report on CFL.CA says he's getting $30K MM. It also says he got a $120K signing bonus in December. That answers part of the question about how much SMS we had left from 2025 and didn't go over.

#27

Offside Forum / Re: NHL 2026 Playoffs

Last post by blue_gold_84 - Today at 01:15:19 PM

Flyers blow a 2-0 lead and lose in OT. Ducks looked pretty meh in game 1.

#28

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

Last post by Pete - Today at 01:12:54 PM

The bigger question is why Brady isn't getting 100k plus in marketing money, he even has his own tv show

#29

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

Last post by Jesse - Today at 10:30:23 AM

I don't know why you refuse to read and think about actual debate points, and you never try to refute any, resorting to sweeping hand-waving.  It's like arguing with my wife.

Feb 17, 2026, Zach Collaros did an autograph session at PAS.  Every other team would say that's worth $10k MMM.  We didn't.  Why not?  Let's apply reasonable use of the MMM like very other team and QB and put more money back in our SMS pocket to spend on improving the team.

Yeah, I've seen Zach do a few things this off season. Autographs, coaching schools/flag football, podcasts with the club.

#30

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...

Last post by BlueInCgy - Today at 09:01:25 AM

The way of the future may be less crowds but a larger TV audience.  We may have to tailor the league more in that direction.  Just look at movie theatres now vs 25 years ago.  Used to have 250 seats and you'd go to shows with all filled.  Now the theatres have 50 seats tops, and usually most are empty.

Not disagreeing with you, especially if your team isn't within a 1 hour drive of your house.  I haven't been to a Stamps game in years even though I've watched nearly every one.  Ignoring ticket cost, the drive + parking add nearly 3 hours to the day for me.  And if gas sits at 2 bucks a litre this summer, stadiums attendance will suffer a lot because disposable income will shrink and out of towners won't make the trip.


The problem with the theory is that COVID proved this is a gate driven league, and the televised experience feeds off the live crowd.  Remember how exciting crowdless NHL games were.  CFL would be worse.  And if Stewjos goal is no one in the stands, spending piles of money on field mods make no sense.