Kenny Lawler Suspension & RETURN!!

[TecnoGenius]

I think if you get McRae the ball more often, he will continue to make plays like he?s been doing. Unlike him as our DI for sure if lawler comes back, until then, we aren?t missing a beat having him in our lineup. Can?t wait to see what he does next game!!

Then, if all of them are healthy, why not start McCrae (and all the usuals) and make Lawler a DI and make him the DNA.  Then Lawler can play 23 snaps in for Woli, Demski or even Brady (for empty backfield sets).  He can play the other snaps in for McCrae.  So McCrae would start but really he'd be in only for special schemes.

The only downside is losing that spare DI on D, as BinBC worries.

Maybe the opponent could dictate whether we want that DI on O or D.  If it's a bad-O team maybe we do this O trick.  If it's a good-O team, we bench McCrae and use the DI on D.

But I'm dreaming as The Mafia has already shown/said they don't want to use the new DNA allowances.

[Blue In BC]

Then, if all of them are healthy, why not start McCrae (and all the usuals) and make Lawler a DI and make him the DNA.  Then Lawler can play 23 snaps in for Woli, Demski or even Brady (for empty backfield sets).  He can play the other snaps in for McCrae.  So McCrae would start but really he'd be in only for special schemes.

The only downside is losing that spare DI on D, as BinBC worries.

Maybe the opponent could dictate whether we want that DI on O or D.  If it's a bad-O team maybe we do this O trick.  If it's a good-O team, we bench McCrae and use the DI on D.

But I'm dreaming as The Mafia has already shown/said they don't want to use the new DNA allowances.

So you want to have our 2nd highest paid play limited to 23 plays? I don't think so.  We might think about Bailey as the DNA.

[dd]

We will be lucky if Lawler plays at all this year, the way it?s looking right now, we have nothing to worry about getting McRae into our lineup, but if Lawler does come back no doubt he gets on the field and injuries will dictate who gets into the game. Really, we are flush with options right now, which is a really good place to be.

[TBURGESS]

So you want to have our 2nd highest paid play limited to 23 plays? I don't think so.  We might think about Bailey as the DNA.

Actually it's 23 plays in place of a Canadian plus as many plays in place of an import.

[Blue In BC]

Actually it's 23 plays in place of a Canadian plus as many plays in place of an import.

This rule is going to drive me nuts figuring it all out.

I'm not completely certain that Lawler qualifies. He's not a 5th year player and this would be his 3rd year with the Bombers. I was under the impression a player qualifies AFTER his 3rd year a team.

Regardless, if Grant is on the roster, keeping McCrae on is possible but means other choices have to be made.

Since we're playing Ottawa this week, I could imagine putting Grant on the 1 game IR. This assumes he is injured and it's not long term and just needs a little time to heal. It's a short week.  That would change the decisions. 

[PurpleReign]

I have a friend that married an American, they decided to move to Canada and at the Canadian border they would not let them in because her husband when he was a teenager had a drug charge.  They are getting paper work done and this is from this past February.  She told me might take up to 1 year. I highly doubt we will see Lawler back if I am going by what my friend is experiencing with immigration.

[Waffler]

I am assuming they have specialist lawyers on the case. This was in the news when it first happened. Makes me think we will still hear something soon.

Neither Matas nor Zaifman expressed concern Lawler could be deported.

His status as a football star could even play to his advantage in the application for a temporary resident?s permit.

"He may be a valuable asset to the team, and fans support him and he helps the team win games," Matas said. "All considerations are relevant. They can take all factors into account."

As for the time frame, Matas says the Bombers statement saying the matter will be sorted out within a few weeks sounds reasonable.

"Obviously if it?s going to take a few months and the season?s going to be gone before it?s decided, then it kind of loses its point," he said. "This would be a case where there'd be good reason for urgent attention."

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/bombers-lawler-entered-guilty-plea-in-april-triggered-immigration-snafu

[Jesse]

I am assuming they have specialist lawyers on the case. This was in the news when it first happened. Makes me think we will still hear something soon.

Neither Matas nor Zaifman expressed concern Lawler could be deported.

His status as a football star could even play to his advantage in the application for a temporary resident?s permit.

"He may be a valuable asset to the team, and fans support him and he helps the team win games," Matas said. "All considerations are relevant. They can take all factors into account."

As for the time frame, Matas says the Bombers statement saying the matter will be sorted out within a few weeks sounds reasonable.

"Obviously if it?s going to take a few months and the season?s going to be gone before it?s decided, then it kind of loses its point," he said. "This would be a case where there'd be good reason for urgent attention."

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/bombers-lawler-entered-guilty-plea-in-april-triggered-immigration-snafu

Sure, but that's already kind of been proven to be false. It's already been 6 weeks.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Sure, but that's already kind of been proven to be false. It's already been 6 weeks.

agreed that lawyer statement has proven to be false as that time frame has more than lapsed now.

[TecnoGenius]

This rule is going to drive me nuts figuring it all out.

Just need to remember the DNA is still a DI (now DA).  TB is right: it's 23 snaps in for the NAT (for more IMPs on-field) and unlimited snaps in for any other IMP, which for us means McCrae or Bailey or Schoen.  Obviously you'd keep your strongest players in.

I saw one team roster their superstar in precisely this way, with a fake IMP "placeholder" starter in their place, and the true player behind him on depth as a DA and the DNA.  TSN even commented a bit on it.  This may be the ideal way to exploit the new rule at this moment.

And yes, that makes the DNA stuff dumb from a marketing and transparency and fan standpoint.  What if we made Willie the DNA and Haba the starter?  Imagine that.  IGF intros we then announce Haba and not Willie on the jumbotron?  How is that fair or sane?

I think the DNA idea will have to be rejigged to avoid this counter-productive rostering.

[blue_gold_84]

Sure, but that's already kind of been proven to be false. It's already been 6 weeks.

To be fair (and I apply it loosely here), that lawyer only offered up speculation on the situation based on what the WFC was willing to divulge when his suspension was announced.

It is perplexing how long this process is taking to this point in time, though.

[The Zipp]

from Jeff Hamilton:

Re: Kenny Lawler, the Bombers remain hopeful that things will get resolved this week. But they felt the same hope last week and originally predicted 3-4 weeks, now coming up on 6. Feels like something gets done ahead of Saturday's game vs. Ottawa, but no guarantee.


and this...

Bob Irving
@BobIrvingCJOB
?
18m
Expecting to hear something this week about Kenny Lawler.

[Pigskin]

Crossing my fingers. lol

[blue_gold_84]

It'd be absolutely great to hear some concrete news in terms of an update or resolution.

No Lawler no bueno.

[theaardvark]

A ot of the importance of this is where Grant's health lands... if Grant comes off the roster to the IR, then McRae move to KR, and Lawler comes in where he is supposed to...