Free Agency - February 8th, 2022 - Other CFL Teams Discusssion/Signings

[Blue In BC]

The Elks are under budget at QB, I think Arbuckle is around $350 and Cornie is still on his ELC. 

Any shavings the Bombers could have saved would more realistically been used to retain players like Darby or Jones, players as highly coveted as Richardson and Lawler were as good as gone from the end of last season.

It depends on what other offers Collaros had. If the Redblacks offered him $540K then sure. If his best other offer was $450K then no. Obviously we paid him what we had to get him. That doesn't change the fact that it's a big jump from the next guy up.

It's not the $700K Reilly got in BC and won't have as heavy an impact on our roster as it did on theirs but it did have an impact. What that turns out to be is not known at this point in time. We could still be in the Grey Cup again in 2022.

We'll see whether we add some free agents and whether we get Grant or those that got NFL deals etc. Rookies may shine and make the opening day roster.

The biggest point I was trying to make is did it prevent us from signing T. Harris as our # 2 QB for example. He may have declined our offer or we may not have made one. We can win with replacements at DT, receiver or in the secondary.

I'm not as confidant that we can survive any mid to long term loss to injury at QB. Even missing 2 - 3 games during the season could be the difference from placing #1 or # 4.

[3rdand1.5]

So many player signings around the league...I hate the 1 yr contract...but that's for a different day....

BC-What did they do to improve the O-line and D-line?
Edm-I can't make sense of the team, some very seasoned vets, but again how are the o-line and d-line improved?
Cal. Typical Cal. FA...nothing burger
Sask. Wow, the best LB crew league wide now, but what did they do to address the O-line and D-line?
Wpg. What are we doing at B/U qb
Hammy-looked to make some solid moves
T.O-bought half the Stamps, Harris and Davis, but how is the o-line?
Mtrl-Looked to make some decent moves, Will the o-line be any better this year?
Ott- At least on paper are much better, they couldn't really go anywhere but up

Over-all o-line looks to be the leagues biggest weakness and some teams, hello BC seem to be almost thinking of an o-line as a second thought. Could be a few good D-lines, ours included, but a couple other teams could give our a run this year depending on chemistry.

Biggest surprise are the poor receiver contracts..sorry in no way IMO should a receiver make more than a great LT never mind multiple receivers making way more than all-star tackles...

[DM83]

LT are smart if they are huge and can move...Hello Stanley Bryant

[Blue In BC]

So many player signings around the league...I hate the 1 yr contract...but that's for a different day....

BC-What did they do to improve the O-line and D-line?
Edm-I can't make sense of the team, some very seasoned vets, but again how are the o-line and d-line improved?
Cal. Typical Cal. FA...nothing burger
Sask. Wow, the best LB crew league wide now, but what did they do to address the O-line and D-line?
Wpg. What are we doing at B/U qb
Hammy-looked to make some solid moves
T.O-bought half the Stamps, Harris and Davis, but how is the o-line?
Mtrl-Looked to make some decent moves, Will the o-line be any better this year?
Ott- At least on paper are much better, they couldn't really go anywhere but up

Over-all o-line looks to be the leagues biggest weakness and some teams, hello BC seem to be almost thinking of an o-line as a second thought. Could be a few good D-lines, ours included, but a couple other teams could give our a run this year depending on chemistry.

Biggest surprise are the poor receiver contracts..sorry in no way IMO should a receiver make more than a great LT never mind multiple receivers making way more than all-star tackles...

Lions added Richardson which will help their DL. Argos added Ambles today.

Still nothing from the Bombers. A few very good players available but not that many in positions we need or would need to spend for a few top players. An example would be Awe. We're strong at LB and he wouldn't be inexpensive. Would make a great DI at the right price.

Can't find any more decent Nationals on the DE at this point. Might a couple of affordable receivers out there but not many.

DB is the only area we might dip into the water but the fact we haven't suggests were probably out of the marketplace across the board.

[Ridermania]

Calgary Stampeders have signed national defensive back Elie Bouka.

[Ridermania]

Toronto Argonauts are continuing their mission to create the Stampeders East, signing former Calgary receiver Markeith Ambles.

[theaardvark]

Another long time Stamp heading east...

Toronto Argonauts@TorontoArgos

Another Stamp turned Argonaut

Welcome to the 6ix, Six

https://pbs.twimg.com/ad_img/1491532075589120002/mHeMIxRl?format=jpg&name=small

[the paw]

So many player signings around the league...I hate the 1 yr contract...but that's for a different day....

BC-What did they do to improve the O-line and D-line?
Edm-I can't make sense of the team, some very seasoned vets, but again how are the o-line and d-line improved?
Cal. Typical Cal. FA...nothing burger
Sask. Wow, the best LB crew league wide now, but what did they do to address the O-line and D-line?
Wpg. What are we doing at B/U qb
Hammy-looked to make some solid moves
T.O-bought half the Stamps, Harris and Davis, but how is the o-line?
Mtrl-Looked to make some decent moves, Will the o-line be any better this year?
Ott- At least on paper are much better, they couldn't really go anywhere but up

Over-all o-line looks to be the leagues biggest weakness and some teams, hello BC seem to be almost thinking of an o-line as a second thought. Could be a few good D-lines, ours included, but a couple other teams could give our a run this year depending on chemistry.

Biggest surprise are the poor receiver contracts..sorry in no way IMO should a receiver make more than a great LT never mind multiple receivers making way more than all-star tackles...

Toronto has a lot of resources on their o-line.  They signed Phillips from Calgary, NiCastro will be back at Center, Bladek is returning, and they have Shane Richards an overall #1 pick coming along.  I think Phil Blake might be at the end of the road, but they should be able to start 4 Canadians on the line.

I think Hamilton may have some difficulties.  They lost Acklin and are moving on from Banks.  I love Dunbar, but I have a problem believing Papi White and Don Jackson are leading them to the promised land.  The also lost Ciraco, which is a hit.

[Blue In BC]

Geez. The Redblacks continue to add players. Added T. Washington and BJ Cunningham today. They've rebuilt their entire receiving and DB corp while retaining a few Redblacks from 2021.

17 additions and 2 others re-signed since FA opened. Over 80 players now on their roster.

Hard to tell who might be displaced that is currently on their roster from 2021. Won't be any shortage of veteran competition.

[theaardvark]

Geez. The Redblacks continue to add players. Added T. Washington and BJ Cunningham today. They've rebuilt their entire receiving and DB corp while retaining a few Redblacks from 2021.

17 additions and 2 others re-signed since FA opened. Over 80 players now on their roster.

Hard to tell who might be displaced that is currently on their roster from 2021. Won't be any shortage of veteran competition.

Sounds like there may be some TC casualties... some SMS necessitated cuts may be coming once they see who shows up ready to go in camp...

[Blue In BC]

Sounds like there may be some TC casualties... some SMS necessitated cuts may be coming once they see who shows up ready to go in camp...

That's part of the argument that supports being a bit more of a player in free agency. Just cause players are signed today doesn't mean currently on a given roster or newly signed, actually survive TC. Injuries is another layer to increase TC depth.

[theaardvark]

That's part of the argument that supports being a bit more of a player in free agency. Just cause players are signed today doesn't mean currently on a given roster or newly signed, actually survive TC. Injuries is another layer to increase TC depth.

No team wants to get the reputation as a sign and release team... which is why Walters would never do that...

[kkc60]

No team wants to get the reputation as a sign and release team... which is why Walters would never do that...

I mean it happens with all teams. We cut Stafford

[ichabod_crane]

Can't disagree with you. Just curious what other offers he might have had. That may have forced our hand to pay more. We've gotten 2 Grey Cups having Collaros so no argument there.

Contracts are a gamble as are player choices. Some over perform and some under perform.

I would have been more comfortable at $500K or slightly less but it is what it is. The other $50K might have saves us Richardson for example. Don't know since we don't know what many of our players that left got elsewhere.

We may have the next Richardson already on the roster. Or we may have the next M. Jones or Alford by TC.

Will be more curious to see how Edmonton does after paying Lawler $300K. No doubt he'll do well but where on their roster did they give up someone as a result? As a 3 - 11 team missing the play offs, they have a long way to go. If their young QB's do well, they might be in the hunt. Or they could be the 2018 Argos who spent $270K on a receiver.

No crystal ball knowing who stays healthy on any team etc.

From a Bomber point of view it may have cost us a more veteran QB @ # 2? That could change or we might be sitting with no experience.

NO QB, you are going nowhere in this league or the NFL. AS good as Richardson is, his impact is no comparison to a great QB. With salary caps you have to make hard choices at times. It is what it is. If the CFL could ever raise their salary cap we might get less of these situations as each team will have more coin to hand out. Hopefully 2022 is a come back season financially for the league.

[oskee woot woot]

Toronto has a lot of resources on their o-line.  They signed Phillips from Calgary, NiCastro will be back at Center, Bladek is returning, and they have Shane Richards an overall #1 pick coming along.  I think Phil Blake might be at the end of the road, but they should be able to start 4 Canadians on the line.

I think Hamilton may have some difficulties.  They lost Acklin and are moving on from Banks.  I love Dunbar, but I have a problem believing Papi White and Don Jackson are leading them to the promised land.  The also lost Ciraco, which is a hit.

I agree to an extent, but they do have Addison coming back (hopefully he isn't rusty). Banks has definitely lost a step. Losing him is hard more for 'franchise legend' reasons.

Hated losing Acklin.

Papi White I think will be used more on KR. Tim 'Kneel for the Rouge' White is back which will disappoint a lot of Ticat fans, despite him actually being a decent receiver. Another FA loss for the Cats that is flying under the radar is Nikola Kalinic, who is now trying out for the Colts. I do like the Darby, Fontana, and Micah Johnson signings. Ja'Gared Davis hurts a bit, but TBH, he actually didn't have a great season until the playoffs rolled around when he turned it up a notch.