Bo Levi injuries - admits retirement could be on horizon

[blue_gold_84]

Miller stepping in and undermining his GM would've been a ridiculously bad and dumb move. That's not how he operates, anyway.

[Blue In BC]

IMO the Bombers fumbled the ball, love Walters, but he should have seen this scenario coming months in advance and made sure he had a game plan for Harris to finish up his career in Blue and Gold.  Clearly they could not accommodate 3 Natl. RBs, and the minute they signed both B.O. and J.A. the writing was on the wall.  Brady is the heir apparent, young, homegrown boy, capable and charismatic enough to pick up the torch from Harris, if not raise it to his level.  As good as Augustine is, he has never received a fair shake in the CFL, thus I would have sacrificed him, hoping he would land on his feet elsewhere....this from one of Johnny's biggest fans.

As it is they may only get a single season out of the B.O. and J.A. tandem, how well they manage their playing time and keep them both content, remains to be seen.

If A.H.'s overall value on and off the field did not occur to Walters, than Miller should have stepped in and taken over negotiations for the sake of the almighty dollar and getting the "big picture stuff" right. They may have saved a few kopeks in salary signing Augustine over Harris, but they sacrificed gate receipts by letting the teams most popular ambassador in decades and the franchise face of Blue Bomber football, even casual fans recognize, walk on out the door. Imagine how many young kids and future football fans would pick Harris as their favourite Bomber player ever....probably most of them. Duh.

Every CFL team should dream of having a player as marketable as Andrew Harris, a bona fide winner, a home town hero with immeasurable leadership qualities on the field, who is on the verge of eclipsing multiple CFL milestones this coming season.  "See it all happen, before your very eyes!" This scenario is virtually a marketing team's wet dream, the Bombers could have played it up all season long, instead they handled it like a dirty fart.

There was no " fumble " by Walters.  There was a plan and AH didn't agree with that plan.

[TBURGESS]

Why is this still a thing? Harris went where the money was. That's his right.

[TecnoGenius]

Thanks TLB.  How so many others lose the forest for the trees is surprising.  I think Pinball was telling us something when he said AH was "a gift" to his team.  Pinball gets it.  I bet he's shocked we let AH go.

AH: "You got my back?"
WPG: crickets

P.S. By "free on the roster" I meant from a ratio standpoint (as a NAT), not $$.  I think the ratio is a bigger limitation than the SMS.

[Jesse]

Why is this still a thing? Harris went where the money was. That's his right.

Honestly.

Good for him for getting another big contract.

[Blue In BC]

Thanks TLB.  How so many others lose the forest for the trees is surprising.  I think Pinball was telling us something when he said AH was "a gift" to his team.  Pinball gets it.  I bet he's shocked we let AH go.

AH: "You got my back?"
WPG: crickets

P.S. By "free on the roster" I meant from a ratio standpoint (as a NAT), not $$.  I think the ratio is a bigger limitation than the SMS.

The SMS is a very specific limit. There is no maximum limit to the number of Canadians a team can roster and afford.  Every team has to make decisions about each player when their contract comes up.

Whether a player has been here 1 year or more, free agency is a time of change whether we like it or not.

Harris just turned 35 last Sunday and is the 2nd oldest player on their roster.  That's a factor as well.

[theaardvark]

Why is this still a thing? Harris went where the money was. That's his right.

Thanks TLB.  How so many others lose the forest for the trees is surprising.  I think Pinball was telling us something when he said AH was "a gift" to his team.  Pinball gets it.  I bet he's shocked we let AH go.

AH: "You got my back?"
WPG: crickets

P.S. By "free on the roster" I meant from a ratio standpoint (as a NAT), not $$.  I think the ratio is a bigger limitation than the SMS.

Seriously?  All AH33 had to do to get the same contract he got in Toronto was show up for a workout / physical.  The ball was in his court.  The Bombers told him they needed a workout before offering him a contract.  He did not comply.  His ego did not allow him to "audition" for a spot he thought he had "earned".  He made a decision, and the Bombers were left with the option of repeating the last year where he missed half the games (granted he showed up when it counted) or move on. 

The scenario had been laid out for him, and he couldn't understand why they gave him the "insulting" offer.  After they signed JA27 Feb 3, he should have been on the phone, asking to come in and work out so that he could get the second spot (did anyone think we'd sign all three Nat RB's?.  They didn't sign BO20 until Feb 7... there was a window for AH33 to wake up there.  After BO20 was signed, they still offered AH33 a deal.  Which amazes me to this day... and if he had come in after getting that offer, said "Let me prove to you I'm worth more", and worked out, I'm sure they come to a deal.  Instead, he trashed the team. 

I don't see any way the team could have handled better.  Maybe they could have been more insistent he come and workout.  Maybe they could have bugged him daily, "Are you coming to work out for us so we can tender you a contract".  But a: AH33 is a grown man, and b: any negotiatior knows you seriously hurt your position by chasing after a player. 

The optics are not optimal, and I get that some people only see him signing in Toronto after WPG "insulted him" with a low offer.  They do not understand the whole story. 

[BLUEBOMBER]

Every player has an expiry date (except GOAT Brady).

[DM83]

AH33?  Never say Never.  I sure hope he is working out.