Remaining Blue Bomber Free Agents as of January 9, 2023

[Pigskin]

His numbers were very comparable to Mike Rose and Micah Johnson.  He has been durable, productive and improving.  I can see why a team like Hamilton with an aging interior would value him highly.

Yes, Sayles was very good for us. Now what is Mr. Walters Plan B.

[ModAdmin]

Blue Bomber remaining Free Agents as of February 8, 2023

OFFENCE

Quarterbacks
Dakota Prukop

Receivers
Rasheed Bailey; Greg Ellingson

Offensive line
C Michael Couture*

DEFENCE

Defensive line
Keion Adams

Linebackers
Jesse Briggs*; Les Maruo (Global)

Defensive backs
Nick Taylor; Mercy Maston

[TecnoGenius]

Sayles just signed with Hamiton, at 200k according to Justin Dunk. Hard to believe they'd let Dunbar go and then pay that much for Sayles. Most here wouldn't have seen that price tag coming

Holy giblets Batman!  Sayles is not a 200k player.  Is the braintrust in HAM hitting the game-day smelling salts this early and heavily in the silly season??  I cannot fathom this move.

Uh, don't they have Laurent and Wynn??  I'd take Wynn over Sayles any day of the week (ignoring that he's a total nasty you know what -- "you don't do that!").

What is wrong with GMs in this league??  SMS going up $1M this year??  Insane

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Holy giblets Batman!  Sayles is not a 200k player.  Is the braintrust in HAM hitting the game-day smelling salts this early and heavily in the silly season??  I cannot fathom this move.

Uh, don't they have Laurent and Wynn??  I'd take Wynn over Sayles any day of the week (ignoring that he's a total nasty you know what -- "you don't do that!").

What is wrong with GMs in this league??  SMS going up $1M this year??  Insane

It was expected and I'm not really surprised by the amount. Might be a touch high but not really. Interior defensive line play doesn't make headlines but is in some ways more important than the ends. The real question is whether our scouts can find yet another diamond there on an ELC.

[pjrocksmb]

Holy giblets Batman!  Sayles is not a 200k player.  Is the braintrust in HAM hitting the game-day smelling salts this early and heavily in the silly season??  I cannot fathom this move.

Uh, don't they have Laurent and Wynn??  I'd take Wynn over Sayles any day of the week (ignoring that he's a total nasty you know what -- "you don't do that!").

What is wrong with GMs in this league??  SMS going up $1M this year??  Insane

Market paid 200k for him so he is worth close to that.

Silly to state that he not worth that as he is signed.  I would suggest you evaluate his worth based on what his season brings.  He is a very good player that contributed consistently for us and will be missed.  I expect if healthy he will earn every dime.

Last few seasons GMs are paying premium for vets / impact players.  They are worth what the market will pay.

[Blue In BC]

Sorry to lose Sayles but $200K was more than I think we could afford after other new contracts. Can't keep everyone we'd like.

Did that change the decision on re-signing any of our remaining free agents not that he's no longer available? I haven't heard any other teams making offers on Bailey and I'd like him back.

OTOH, do we make one bigger type pick up in free agency? Lots of DL still available but many are older and high SMS cost in theory.

[Pete]

Market paid 200k for him so he is worth close to that.

Silly to state that he not worth that as he is signed.  I would suggest you evaluate his worth based on what his season brings.  He is a very good player that contributed consistently for us and will be missed.  I expect if healthy he will earn every dime.

Last few seasons GMs are paying premium for vets / impact players.  They are worth what the market will pay.

Sorry but as arm chair GM's we can all have an opinion as to whether a player is worth x amount. Very few posters and even CFL/ 3dwn top free agents lists had Sayles listed very high.  Perhaps Sask signing of Lanier and Edmonton signing Ceresna impacted the market.,but our opinion of his value doesn't have to be the same

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Sorry to lose Sayles but $200K was more than I think we could afford after other new contracts. Can't keep everyone we'd like.

Did that change the decision on re-signing any of our remaining free agents not that he's no longer available? I haven't heard any other teams making offers on Bailey and I'd like him back.

OTOH, do we make one bigger type pick up in free agency? Lots of DL still available but many are older and high SMS cost in theory.

Certainly indicates an area of assistance needs to be the D-line, lost Sayles and may also lose Keion Adams, perhaps Walters will fill in with a F.A. star, F.A. leftovers, or bring in a ton of new bodies to compete in T.C..

[LXTSN]

Is interior DL a tough possition to fill in the CFL? We lost the stove last year and Sayles this year.
We seem to be a decent source for DL for the league.

Bombers still have Walker who I really like! Plus Adamson, Lawson and Thomas are all nationals.
Thomas obviously started and played decent.
Lawson played really well in my opinion in limited reps and is 24 years old.
Adamson is only 23 and hasn't played a minute in the league yet, but showed promise last season with the Bisons.

Let's see who our scouts pick up in the next couple of months!

[Pigskin]

There's a few good experience DTs out there. However the Bombers found Stove and Sayles. I am sure they feel they can find another good DT. Interesting fact, Drake Nevis has played 1 game since leaving the Bombers and Stove O games. Drake will be 34, but if he's healthy, he is a great against the run.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

There's a few good experience DTs out there. However the Bombers found Stove and Sayles. I am sure they feel they can find another good DT. Interesting fact, Drake Nevis has played 1 game since leaving the Bombers and Stove O games. Drake will be 34, but if he's healthy, he is a great against the run.

Drake hasn't played since 2021, he's probably retired.

[Pigskin]

Drake hasn't played since 2021, he's probably retired.

Very well could be. But, if he is not I would kick his tires. 

[TecnoGenius]

Market paid 200k for him so he is worth close to that.

Yes, I agree.  Worth it to them.  But he's not worth that to me or (it would seem) any other team.

Here's my main problem: neither Nevis nor Stove earned $200k when they departed WPG, did they?  No one can argue that Nevis and Stove weren't better then Sayles.

And it still doesn't explain why HAM would do this with Wynn and Laurent, unless one of those isn't coming back.

And is Stove still under contract?  I would guess he'd be starting as a star DT this season if he's finally out of the tub.

[TecnoGenius]

Is interior DL a tough possition to fill in the CFL? We lost the stove last year and Sayles this year.
We seem to be a decent source for DL for the league.

You would think not (like SAM, haha).  But, man, do the run-D stats really start to suffer when you don't have top DT talent.  And it's a really hard position to eyeball and judge because most of their work is hidden in the scrum.

The big thing for me is can a DT shed the tackles, know where the ball is coming, and make the A or B-gap tackle.  That is key.  Nevis was DA MAN at that.  The weaker guys can't shed those OL paws and RBs zoom right past them.  Pass pressure is, for me, a distant second consideration.

Bombers still have Walker who I really like! Plus Adamson, Lawson and Thomas are all nationals.
Thomas obviously started and played decent.
Lawson played really well in my opinion in limited reps and is 24 years old.

I'm glad we have Fatboi, as he stabilizes the shaky and ever-changing DT unit, and adds vet presence and certainly knowledge.  Like you, I was also impressed with the little we saw of Walker and Lawson.  Both made some pivotal (but, again, hard to see) plays last season.  Are we good enough with them?  No one knows.  One would think there must be some new faces being brought into TC...

[the paw]

Yes, I agree.  Worth it to them.  But he's not worth that to me or (it would seem) any other team.

Here's my main problem: neither Nevis nor Stove earned $200k when they departed WPG, did they?  No one can argue that Nevis and Stove weren't better then Sayles.

And it still doesn't explain why HAM would do this with Wynn and Laurent, unless one of those isn't coming back.

And is Stove still under contract?  I would guess he'd be starting as a star DT this season if he's finally out of the tub.

I can argue that point. Stove's best season was 25 tackles and 2 sacks.  Since then he played half a season and then missed a season.

Casey Sayles has played 2 full seasons without missing a game.  And each of those 2 seasons had better production than Stove's best.  28 tackles and 5 sacks, 36 tackles and 6 sacks.   Not everything shows on the stat sheet, but what is there tells a tail of a more active DT making plays.  And durability is an asset. 

Hamilton is likely looking to replace Micah Johnson is both old and expensive.  Laurent can only be a rotational or relief player at this point in his career, he is on strict load management if you want him to be effective.  Sayles and Wynn, with Laurent in relief is going to be a very active interior with lots of push.