Off Season News - Other CFL Teams

[theaardvark]

This "tampering window" certainly is having the desired effect...

[pjrocksmb]

https://3downnation.com/2023/02/06/saskatchewan-roughriders-make-strong-offer-to-veteran-qb-trevor-harris/

https://www.tsn.ca/trevor-harris-expected-to-sign-saskatchewan-roughriders-cfl-free-agency-1.1915871

[pjrocksmb]

https://3downnation.com/2023/02/06/saskatchewan-roughriders-sign-ball-state-standout-christian-albright/

[pjrocksmb]

https://3downnation.com/2023/02/06/saskatchewan-roughriders-hire-former-cfl-qb-drew-tate-as-receivers-coach/

[TecnoGenius]

Sask just resigned Lanier ...at 250k! Certainly no home town discounts there.

I listened to way too much Rider Radio last season... I'm not kidding when I said Lanier was like Jesus to them.  He was going to save them all from doom.  Him and Clarke and maybe 1 other guy is all they wanted to keep and everyone else should hit the road.

So I'm not too surprised they opened the wallet for Lanier.  I bet they had no choice.  Fans would go mental if they let one of their few bright spots leave in FA.

However, ignoring SSK fan pressure, $250k for Lanier is pretty crazy.  More money than Willie, Jeffcoat, or Stove or Nevis?  Heck, even a league-best NAT DT would have trouble earning $250k.

This could cost SSK in terms of money for other spots.  I hope for their sake their IMP scouts have been busy and successful.  Now let me mosey over to the Rider forum to see if they like this move or not...

[TecnoGenius]

Eugene Lewis was one of the best last year, is he going to get that recognition this year?

Can we afford him? 

With the Demski signing there is no way we afford Lewis, who will be $225-$250 for sure.

Not sure where our overall SMS sits, we've re-signed a lot of players, but not many got big raises.

We've been bumping up enough returning players that we've gotta make the savings somewhere.  We'll have to let at least 1-2 good starters go and start some fresh ELCs.  There might be nothing left to bump up Bailey, and so he might walk to get a decent chunk more elsewhere.  Bailey is 2x GC ring and thus could easily command something closer to what he thinks he's worth.  But, he might stay because he likes it here, if we give him the same offer as last year.

Letting Couture walk also helps with the SMS.  Eli/Gray/Dobson/Ko-man are costing a fraction of Couture.

Who else walks?

[TecnoGenius]

I think Walters has already made his "big splash" by re-signing most of his core players, it's not really necessary for him to go after a big fish outside his own pond when he's already put together the top team in the CFL.

Agreed.  I think the biggest thing we do in FA is sign another Ellingson-esque player.  Older guy who we like who can't command a big $$ anymore, or maybe some discard younger guy who we saw promise in that nobody else did (Mafia is good at that).  Hey, could be actually Ellingson, if he'll do it cheap enough.

[TecnoGenius]

Lanier:  2021 and 2022,  21 games, 32 DT, 9 Sacks, 2 FF.  1 year, $250K.
Sayles:  2022. 18 games. 36 DT, 6 Sacks, 2 FF. $$$ ??

Sayles hasn't missed a game in two years. Lanier played 10 games in 2021, and only 11 in 2022.  Can he stay healthy?

Haha, great stats showing how nuts the $250k is.  I bet we're paying Sayles half that amount.  We never budget big $$ for DT.  When they get too good and pricey we let them walk.  I was worried after Nevis and Stove, and we certainly aren't as strong, but we're doing ok.  Sayles keeps getting better.

If we go with some green ELCs at DT again, then I'll start being concerned again.

[Blue In BC]

Haha, great stats showing how nuts the $250k is.  I bet we're paying Sayles half that amount.  We never budget big $$ for DT.  When they get too good and pricey we let them walk.  I was worried after Nevis and Stove, and we certainly aren't as strong, but we're doing ok.  Sayles keeps getting better.

If we go with some green ELCs at DT again, then I'll start being concerned again.

Sayles is coming off an ELC as a 2 year player.  I'm not sure he will be highly sought after by many teams or that he'll get anything like Lanier. There is a large group of DL still out there as potential free agents. Teams will look to re-sign there own 1st.

I'm hoping we can come to terms with him before free agency. Fingers crossed we retain him.

[wpg#1]

Wow, I didn't realize that Harris is 36.
I hope he likes running for his life.

[jayrock]

Riders need an Oline plain and simple. Does not matter who the QB is, you put them behind the cheese cloth they call an oline and it is 6 - 12 again.

[ModAdmin]

John Hodge
@JohnDHodge
5m
Saskatchewan Roughriders agree to terms with receiver Jake Wieneke

https://3downnation.com/2023/02/07/saskatchewan-roughriders-agree-to-terms-with-receiver-jake-wieneke/

[Pete]

I wonder if SASK is targeting Mtrl cause they are the only organization more messed up than them right now

[Blue In BC]

I wonder if SASK is targeting Mtrl cause they are the only organization more messed up than them right now

Probably not but Montreal ha sprobably lost Harris and now Wieneke. Lewis reportedly is being sought by the Lions and he wants out of Montreal. Things are not looking good in Montreal.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Probably not but Montreal has lost Harris and now Wieneke. Lewis reportedly is being sought by the Lions and he wants out of Montreal. Things are not looking good in Montreal.

Too bad, their fanbase seemed to be regenerating interest in the Als the last few years.  Hopefully the ownership issues get resolved in a positive manner and they keep the team on track.