General Manager Kyle Walters Hoping to Remain with Winnipeg Blue Bombers

[blue_gold_84]

https://www.chrisd.ca/2023/11/15/kyle-walters-winnipeg-blue-bombers-contract-grey-cup/

A pretty good read. Not sure that it sheds any new light on the situation, though.

I would have to imagine this all gets sorted out shortly after the 2023 post-season wraps up; Walters, McManus, and Goveia are all on expiring contracts.

[Blueforlife]

Been a key reason for our success

Love the continuety

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

https://www.chrisd.ca/2023/11/15/kyle-walters-winnipeg-blue-bombers-contract-grey-cup/

A pretty good read. Not sure that it sheds any new light on the situation, though.

I would have to imagine this all gets sorted out shortly after the 2023 post-season wraps up; Walters, McManus, and Goveia are all on expiring contracts.

Walters has done an excellent job of maintaining team continuity through the years, I believe there are 24 players still here from the 2019 GC Championship team, which is remarkable.

[TecnoGenius]

The GC Head Coches' Conference video has MOS saying he expects KW to be his GM and MOS to be the HC, with no plans for MOS to be the GM.  Of course his mostly non-answers "your guess is as good as mine" aren't terribly useful, but it's still a hint.

I expect the status quo for 2024.  Worst case is we lose one of the lesser coordinators or scout.  SSK pipe dream of stealing Buck is just that, a pipe dream.

[ModAdmin]

And a bit more on Kyle Walters here...

https://3downnation.com/2023/11/15/kyle-walters-wants-to-be-back-as-gm-of-winnipeg-blue-bombers-expects-clarity-very-quickly/

[TecnoGenius]

Not sure what he was waiting on last off-season.  It's not like they can offer him more money with the silly coach SMS.  The only way to slot more for KW is if they claw it away from someone else.  And nearly everyone there will be wanting and deserving a raise, especially if when they win the GC.

I guess he can try to leverage more guaranteed contract length instead of $$.  Or maybe promises of being future Pres.  If I'm KW I'm thinking get them to lock in for 3-4 years so even if it all goes downhill I still get paid.

Surely the coach SMS will increase by some amount this year to cover the rampant inflation.  $400-$500k is the new $300k.  KW could write in a clause that he gets X% of every cap increase.

[blue_gold_84]

Walters has done an excellent job of maintaining team continuity through the years, I believe there are 24 players still here from the 2019 GC Championship team, which is remarkable.

The most proficient GM in the league for a good while now - in every metric.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Get this done already!

[TBURGESS]

I hope we keep Walters. He's the #1 reason we're where we are IMO.

[theaardvark]

There is no worldly reason not to keep Walters, O'Shea and Miller under contract forever.  Give them all deals to the end of 2028...

[Jesse]

There is no worldly reason not to keep Walters, O'Shea and Miller under contract forever.  Give them all deals to the end of 2028...

The only reason is that Walters deserves to be paid and there is currently less of the pie available to him.

So either the cap raises slightly next year (is this possible?), Walters takes a pay cut (unfair), or we drop a guy like Danny Mac to give Walters the difference.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Trying to read in between the lines here. I thought earlier this season it might be O'Shea trying to get more money with a dual role but perhaps it was more Walters wanting more money for himself all along. Interesting politics going on regardless. Can't be easy fitting O'Shea, Walters, Pierce and Hall into the operations cap and still have money for the other positional coaches and things.

[TecnoGenius]

Trying to read in between the lines here. I thought earlier this season it might be O'Shea trying to get more money with a dual role but perhaps it was more Walters wanting more money for himself all along. Interesting politics going on regardless. Can't be easy fitting O'Shea, Walters, Pierce and Hall into the operations cap and still have money for the other positional coaches and things.

Ya, but they all know the SMS limitations... they deal with it every day.  The only way someone is going to make much more $$ is if they take on dual-role.  I'm nearly positive MOS doesn't want GM/HC dual role.  Can someone like KW be GM+Prez?  I'm not really sure what the Prez does all day anyhow, but it must be something, I guess.

If Danny Mac or someone similar left they could potentially pay a young up'n'comer promotion much less and hog the SMS for themselves... but that strikes me as not a winning strategy.

But again, where are they going to get more for a lateral move??  Only taking on 2 roles can get you more.  And the 2-role people seem to not be having as much success.  So KW can only ask for something that is actually possible.  Weird situation.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Ya, but they all know the SMS limitations... they deal with it every day.  The only way someone is going to make much more $$ is if they take on dual-role.  I'm nearly positive MOS doesn't want GM/HC dual role.  Can someone like KW be GM+Prez?  I'm not really sure what the Prez does all day anyhow, but it must be something, I guess.

If Danny Mac or someone similar left they could potentially pay a young up'n'comer promotion much less and hog the SMS for themselves... but that strikes me as not a winning strategy.

But again, where are they going to get more for a lateral move??  Only taking on 2 roles can get you more.  And the 2-role people seem to not be having as much success.  So KW can only ask for something that is actually possible.  Weird situation.

You can always ask for a bigger slice of pie. It's also possible Miller intentionally is trying to stagger the contracts so they aren't negotiated and expire at the same time. You really wouldn't want both to leave at the same time.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Trying to read in between the lines here. I thought earlier this season it might be O'Shea trying to get more money with a dual role but perhaps it was more Walters wanting more money for himself all along. Interesting politics going on regardless. Can't be easy fitting O'Shea, Walters, Pierce and Hall into the operations cap and still have money for the other positional coaches and things.

It's a bit weird it was Wade dealing with O'Shea's contract last season as that's usually the job of the GM.  If Walters had negotiated the contract they may have come to the realization that they both wanted to continue with the club and they'd have to agree to split the pot equitably, instead of robbing Peter to pay Paul.  With no increase in the coaching cap, they'll have to rely on someone moving on to find extra change to up Walters.

Richie Hall is 63, but coordinators don't make all that much, so I can't see him retiring yet unless he wants to make a drastic lifestyle change.

Pierce will move on eventually but with his family situation, he may not be ready to take that leap yet. Even if he left, there's no one on the staff that could replace him, and they'd have to pay market price for a new O.C. ie. LaPo.

Boudreau is a possible move, but not sure O'Shea would push him out unless he had a better opportunity lined up elsewhere. Mike Miller could be a cheaper option.

[Doublezero]

Just my opinion, but the situation this year with Walters has been downright weird. He's been sooo low profile. And "I want to stay in Winnipeg" is the pro forma thing for him to say right now. It means nothing. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we learn in the next couple of weeks that he's going back to S. Ont where he's from. There's been speculation he will end up as GM in Hamilton with Scott Milanovich as Head Coach. Where there leaves Hammy's ***'t GM Drew Allemang, who knows? Could see Dru Brown going over there too if Ham wins the bidding war for his services. Milanovich could end up as HC in either Ham or Sask, though - as could Buck Pierce. None of this happens of course until after Bombers clobber the Alouettes on Sunday.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Just my opinion, but the situation this year with Walters has been downright weird. He's been sooo low profile. And "I want to stay in Winnipeg" is the pro forma thing for him to say right now. It means nothing. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we learn in the next couple of weeks that he's going back to S. Ont where he's from. There's been speculation he will end up as GM in Hamilton with Scott Milanovich as Head Coach. Where there leaves Hammy's ***'t GM Drew Allemang, who knows? Could see Dru Brown going over there too if Ham wins the bidding war for his services. Milanovich could end up as HC in either Ham or Sask, though - as could Buck Pierce. None of this happens of course until after Bombers clobber the Alouettes on Sunday.

Holy speculation Batman!

[Lincoln Locomotive]

Holy speculation Batman!

just a tad

[blue_gold_84]

just a tad

Understated. That was a wild read.

[TecnoGenius]

Pierce will move on eventually but with his family situation, he may not be ready to take that leap yet. Even if he left, there's no one on the staff that could replace him, and they'd have to pay market price for a new O.C. ie. LaPo.

SSK doesn't want Lapo.  I don't think anyone wants Lapo.  But we'd want Lapo if Buck left, as I don't think there's anyone else ready to promote.  Lapo would fit right back in, as the Buck O is really just a variation of the Lapo O anyhow.

As for $$, Lapo would come uber cheap because his only other option right now is (less than) part time appearances on TSN, which I'm sure don't pay a heck of a lot.

But I think it's all moot as Buck won't leave.  He's not HC material for various personality trait reasons.  I'm pretty sure we roll into 2024 wtih KW/MOS/Buck/Hall.  Who would want to break up this dream team at this juncture??

[GOLDMEMBER]

SSK doesn't want Lapo.  I don't think anyone wants Lapo.  But we'd want Lapo if Buck left, as I don't think there's anyone else ready to promote.  Lapo would fit right back in, as the Buck O is really just a variation of the Lapo O anyhow.

As for $$, Lapo would come uber cheap because his only other option right now is (less than) part time appearances on TSN, which I'm sure don't pay a heck of a lot.

But I think it's all moot as Buck won't leave.  He's not HC material for various personality trait reasons.  I'm pretty sure we roll into 2024 wtih KW/MOS/Buck/Hall.  Who would want to break up this dream team at this juncture??

No thanks I would take a pass on Lapo. I found his methods to dunk and dunk style. To conservative. I think he ran his course here for good.

[GOLDMEMBER]

All other CFL GM spots are filled. He will not be in Hamilton for unless they fire their current GM which I doubt with the coaching cap situation. Either he stays or is not in the league next year.

[ModAdmin]

All other CFL GM spots are filled. He will not be in Hamilton for bless they fire their current GM which I doubt with the coaching cap situation. Either he stays or is not in the league next year.

There could be an opening in Edmonton.  Rick LeLacheur is currently the interim president of the Elks.  Will they be looking for a permanent president?

[BLUEBOMBER]

Every year the coaching and management carousel spins..  I can see Saskatchewan going all out to get themselves a HC.. then HC gets the QB they want (need). Can I imagine Milanovich and Mitchell in green?

[GOLDMEMBER]

There could be an opening in Edmonton.  Rick LeLacheur is currently the interim president of the Elks.  Will they be looking for a permanent president?

Well if Walters wants to go there.

[theaardvark]

If we lose Walters because of this stupid $SMS, then that's a tragedy.

Here's an idea. 

If you get one "oopsie" in a forgiveable payout to a fired front office staffer, then fire someone, like OShea.  Take the "oopsie", hire him back at a fraction of his original contract (after all, he just got fired, how good can he be ) and then use the savings to pay Walters. 

There has to be some workaround to keep teams consistent and competitive.

[TecnoGenius]

I can't believe the office SMS wasn't increased this year!?  Uh, inflation, CFL?