Off Season Player Signings - Teams Other than the Bombers

[kkc60]

Not comparing them talent wise, but commenting that the NFL has a passion against domestic abuse, but doesn't seem to be too concerned with minor charges like a DUI where no one was hurt...

The comparison makes no sense at all

[dd]

I really think Reilly will retire. His body language last year just screamed I'm done and I think I know it. He looked to me like a guy who had just come to the realization that I can't do what I used to be able to do.

I watched Riley closely  all last season and did not see him smile or laugh once with a teammate, in fact, he looked disconnected to the players. He?s just going through the motions. He looked totally unhappy and I d be shocked if he doesn?t retire

[GCn19]

I watched Riley closely  all last season and did not see him smile or laugh once with a teammate, in fact, he looked disconnected to the players. He?s just going through the motions. He looked totally unhappy and I d be shocked if he doesn?t retire

Yep...you could see it as plain as day.

[theaardvark]

Why compare them at all?

Because the original poster said the NFL would hold a DUI against an incoming player.  The league is rife with substance abusers, and other "problem children", but unless it involves taking a knee, hitting a woman or dog fighting, "second chances" are the norm. 

If Lawler has the skills to make a roster, a DUI where no one was hurt and that he has shown remorse for and had that accepted by his team mates willnot stand in his way getting a deal...

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Because the original poster said the NFL would hold a DUI against an incoming player.  The league is rife with substance abusers, and other "problem children", but unless it involves taking a knee, hitting a woman or dog fighting, "second chances" are the norm. 

If Lawler has the skills to make a roster, a DUI where no one was hurt and that he has shown remorse for and had that accepted by his team mates willnot stand in his way getting a deal...

Aardvark, there is a big difference between one of the most prolific NFL receivers of the last twenty years getting into legal trouble and a CFL player who hasn't played a regular season snap. For the record, since 2011, Brown has been the most productive wide receiver in the NFL ranking first in receptions (821), Receiving Yards (11,400) and Receiving touchdowns (74). Brown has 100+ receptions in 6 straight seasons, the longest streak in NFL history (still active). I get you are tickled pink about how well Lawler has developed for us but there is a giant difference in how the league will view the DUI if they've never even really heard of you compared to someone like Brown.

[GCn19]

Because the original poster said the NFL would hold a DUI against an incoming player.  The league is rife with substance abusers, and other "problem children", but unless it involves taking a knee, hitting a woman or dog fighting, "second chances" are the norm. 

If Lawler has the skills to make a roster, a DUI where no one was hurt and that he has shown remorse for and had that accepted by his team mates willnot stand in his way getting a deal...

Not the same thing at all. All NFL teams have a dozen Lawler's to choose from every offseason. To get signed as an UFA in the NFL you gotta be squeaky clean or have someone in your corner that knows you on said team.

[Blue In BC]

Only about 42 players have been re-signed from the potential free agent list. Another 16 or so have been released outright. A couple of those due to NFL opportunities but many are more related to SMS, injuries and age issues on crowded rosters.

Ottawa released 12 players including a few older high priced vets but the also had 20+ players end the season on their IR lists. So there is a cleaning house aspect going on as well. Edmonton did something similar.

[blue_gold_84]

Because the original poster said the NFL would hold a DUI against an incoming player.  The league is rife with substance abusers, and other "problem children", but unless it involves taking a knee, hitting a woman or dog fighting, "second chances" are the norm. 

If Lawler has the skills to make a roster, a DUI where no one was hurt and that he has shown remorse for and had that accepted by his team mates willnot stand in his way getting a deal...

All that said, it's still a terrible comparison to make.

[Pete]

Man the going rate for Canadian starters is going a bit crazy with Argos signing Bladek for 200k  and now Ottawa signing Ruby for 165k . Wonder if they will look at the ratio in the upcoming bargaining agreement.

[Tiger]

Masoli is not vaxxed, this will play a major part of getting into Canada and flying across the country.

Evans contract is high 300's - low 400's with bonus numbers.

Apparently he can claim religious rxemption

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Man the going rate for Canadian starters is going a bit crazy with Argos signing Bladek for 200k  and now Ottawa signing Ruby for 165k . Wonder if they will look at the ratio in the upcoming bargaining agreement.

Bladek for $200,000 is crazy, the Argos are screwing up the salary structure of the entire league, good thing they're bringing in revenue sharing to help cover the Argos mismanagement of funds.

[theaardvark]

Bladek for $200,000 is crazy, the Argos are screwing up the salary structure of the entire league, good thing they're bringing in revenue sharing to help cover the Argos mismanagement of funds.

$170k max for 2022, potential $200k for 2023... which is still stupid for a RG...

[the paw]

$170k max for 2022, potential $200k for 2023... which is still stupid for a RG...

Bladek's max for 2022 is actually $180k with performance bonuses.  That puts him equal with what Beard and McEwen were scheduled to make last year, and a little ahead of what Chung and McMillan were supposed to get.  Labatte was scheduled to get $180k in hard money in 2021, along with another $9k available in performance bonuses.  And Labatte was a year or so past his peak in 2019.

This contract puts Bladek ahead of where Ruby signed at, which makes sense to me.  Obviously the Argos are happy with him, and while it puts him in the upper ranks among his teammates, there are lots of other interior linemen getting comparable numbers. 

[blue_gold_84]

Apparently he can claim religious rxemption

According to whom...?

[theaardvark]

Apparently he can claim religious rxemption

You bet, he can claim a religious exemption.  And it means absolutely nothing except to him.  Because there is no jurisdiction in Canada that recognizes a health exemption based on religious beliefs.   For anything, not just COVID vaccine.

Unvaxxed players are going to have a hard time getting signed, and I hive to wonder how many will "miraculously" get a "legitimate" J&J vaccine card, like certain players seem to have done recently...  now with people paying people to go in and get vaccinated in their names... there is no way to actually know who is safe and who isn't.   Even an antibody test is not 100% proof of vaccine, every body has a different level of antibody production, and now with asymptomatic Omicron being the norm rather than the exception, there's that too.

Short of a player admitting to falsifying documents, is going to be hard to prove vaccine status next season.