3 Peat ? Who retires ?

[M.O.A.B.]

Being only 5'-10" Bighill is naturally undersized for the MLB position and he really has to work his tail off to make it work, I do wonder how much longer he wants to keep doing that.  Many of the best MLB in the league are 2-4 inches taller and more naturally gifted athletes, closer to Wilson in build and athleticism.  Bighill is the AJ Ouellette of LB's, if he isn't working hard, he doesn't keep his job.

I don't think Biggie will retire yet (at 34) but if he still plays next season, we need to have another MLB that will play in rotation with him.
Sankey is a pending free-agent. 

[LXTSN]

I brought up Biggie for a few reasons.
1. He does have an after football plan
2. His shoulder seems to be holding him back a lot this season
3. He will have accomplished a lot and I think he should be very satisfied with the career he's had in the CFL

[M.O.A.B.]

https://3downnation.com/2022/10/19/winnipeg-blue-bombers-working-on-contract-extension-with-star-dl-willie-jefferson/

That would be huge also

[TecnoGenius]

Another possibility is Maston, just turned 29 but 2 injuries and 2 lost seasons. Heart and mind might be (still) willing but the body might say "I'm done".

Yes, that's another possible retirement.  It saddens me as the dude deserved another chance, but it'll be remarkable if he comes back and can still be a superstar.

I think Maston will have 2 rings already (and get one this year maybe) even without playing (much) in '21/'22.

[Blue In BC]

There are departures every off season for various reasons. A few will be voluntary due age more than playing skills or SMS per se: Miller, Benson, Briggs and Thomas possibly. The need to find room for 2023 draft choices comes into play.

Some players there is a combination of extended / serious injury questions like Maston and Taylor ( he's also 34 ).

Not sure if current injury impacts the decision on Ellingson but he'll also be 34 years old next season. That's a TBD for both the team and him whether to continue playing.

Lots of older vets on our OL that earn their SMS but too early to tell when they decide to retire. Another Grey Cup if we win might be a tipping point. I think the team will try to bring them all back.

Free agency / NFL: Except for Schoen I don't see anyone else getting an NFL tryout offer.  Also don't see losing free agents elsewhere in the CFL among those we want to retain.

But there is always the unexpected that happens.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

There are departures every off season for various reasons. A few will be voluntary due age more than playing skills or SMS per se: Miller, Benson, Briggs and Thomas possibly. The need to find room for 2023 draft choices comes into play.

Some players there is a combination of extended / serious injury questions like Maston and Taylor ( he's also 34 ).

Not sure if current injury impacts the decision on Ellingson but he'll also be 34 years old next season. That's a TBD for both the team and him whether to continue playing.

Lots of older vets on our OL that earn their SMS but too early to tell when they decide to retire. Another Grey Cup if we win might be a tipping point. I think the team will try to bring them all back.

Free agency / NFL: Except for Schoen I don't see anyone else getting an NFL tryout offer.  Also don't see losing free agents elsewhere in the CFL among those we want to retain.

But there is always the unexpected that happens.

I think they'll get another year out of Ellingson unless his injuries are chronic, didn't play much this year but he was very good when he did.  I can see him wanting to do everything he can to stay in Wpg. just to be part of a winning team, but I wouldn't sign him for more than 1 year at a time, as he's getting real close to his expiry date.  If Schoen leaves, Ellingson picks up the slack in a very good receiving corps.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I think they'll get another year out of Ellingson unless his injuries are chronic, didn't play much this year but he was very good when he did.  I can see him wanting to do everything he can to stay in Wpg. just to be part of a winning team, but I wouldn't sign him for more than 1 year at a time, as he's getting real close to his expiry date.  If Schoen leaves, Ellingson picks up the slack in a very good receiving corps.

I wouldn't commit SMS to Ellingson. He has missed too much football the last couple years. Better off using that money elsewhere or on another free agent receiver.

[Blue In BC]

I wouldn't commit SMS to Ellingson. He has missed too much football the last couple years. Better off using that money elsewhere or on another free agent receiver.

It comes down to cost versus benefit. IIRC he was going to get $180K. So a new contract based on playing time and performance could be worked out. At this point I expect he'll be back, particularly if we lose Schoen to the NFL.

NOTE: Ellingson only missed 7 games in the 5 seasons prior to 2022. 4 of those were in 2021.  That's not a player that is injury prone.  I might also remind you of how difficult it has been for the Bombers to find good rookie receivers before 2019.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It comes down to cost versus benefit. IIRC he was going to get $180K. So a new contract based on playing time and performance could be worked out. At this point I expect he'll be back, particularly if we lose Schoen to the NFL.

I'd offer him $140-$150k, if he doesn't accept that, move on.

[Blue In BC]

I'd offer him $140-$150k, if he doesn't accept that, move on.

It depends on who we might acquire in free agency to replace him. It might depend on what rookie ( like Schoen ) we sign a CFL rookie.

Like I said, build in a lower base salary with good incentives and games played.

[Jesse]

It comes down to cost versus benefit. IIRC he was going to get $180K. So a new contract based on playing time and performance could be worked out. At this point I expect he'll be back, particularly if we lose Schoen to the NFL.

NOTE: Ellingson only missed 7 games in the 5 seasons prior to 2022. 4 of those were in 2021.  That's not a player that is injury prone.  I might also remind you of how difficult it has been for the Bombers to find good rookie receivers before 2019.

Might be a player who is aging out of a contact sport though.

[TecnoGenius]

Not sure if current injury impacts the decision on Ellingson but he'll also be 34 years old next season. That's a TBD for both the team and him whether to continue playing.

Funny, Ellingson was kind of the Darvin Adams replacement (well, or maybe Lawler), because the team thought Adams was getting too old, too much tub time, too expensive, losing his hands, etc.  In the end Darvin has played every OTT game, and I'm sure is making less than Ellingson.  And Darvin is having a very good year, too.  Not as talented as Ellingson, but certainly talented enough to beat out McCrae or Boo.

Come playoff time, who would you rather have: an Ellingson in the tub or a Darvin on the field?  I never did like letting Darvin go.  Dude would have signed here for peanuts.  Ellingson is going to have to get out of the tub and play some darn good ball in the post-season to change my mind.

The funny thing is, we might one day see Darvin back in B&G if our IMP WR depth doesn't improve.

P.S. Darvin is 178Y away from 1000 on the season and has 2 games to go.  Ellingson is at 572.  Darvin's best year since '18.

[Pigskin]

I guess you could do the same comparison with AH33 and BO20. AH33 8 games, 490 yards, 0 TD"s. Out for the season.  BO20 all 17 games, 929 yards, 4 TD's.

Stove 0 games played this year.  Sayles. 17 games 32 DTs, 5 sacks, 1 FF.

Lawler 11 games, 894 yards, 5 TDs, out for the reason of the season. DS83, 17 games, 1357 yards, 15 TDs.

[Pigskin]

Funny, Ellingson was kind of the Darvin Adams replacement (well, or maybe Lawler), because the team thought Adams was getting too old, too much tub time, too expensive, losing his hands, etc.  In the end Darvin has played every OTT game, and I'm sure is making less than Ellingson.  And Darvin is having a very good year, too.  Not as talented as Ellingson, but certainly talented enough to beat out McCrae or Boo.

Come playoff time, who would you rather have: an Ellingson in the tub or a Darvin on the field?  I never did like letting Darvin go.  Dude would have signed here for peanuts.  Ellingson is going to have to get out of the tub and play some darn good ball in the post-season to change my mind.

The funny thing is, we might one day see Darvin back in B&G if our IMP WR depth doesn't improve.

P.S. Darvin is 178Y away from 1000 on the season and has 2 games to go.  Ellingson is at 572.  Darvin's best year since '18.

I like most bomber fans are disappointed that GE2 has been injured for a good part of the season. But when I look at 572 yards and 3 TDs in 7 games, I see a player that was having a very good year before he was injured.

The bombers have so many players that have missed a number of games this season and GE2 is only one of them. Wilson, Houston, Jeffcoat, Hansen, Taylor, Clements......... Injures are part of the game.

[GOLDMEMBER]

I like most bomber fans are disappointed that GE2 has been injured for a good part of the season. But when I look at 572 yards and 3 TDs in 7 games, I see a player that was having a very good year before he was injured.

The bombers have so many players that have missed a number of games this season and GE2 is only one of them. Wilson, Houston, Jeffcoat, Hansen, Taylor, Clements......... Injures are part of the game.

Not to mention numerous PI calls against him. He is really good at that as well.