Blue Bombers re-sign running back Johnny Augustine

[ModAdmin]

Blue Bombers re-sign running back Johnny Augustine

WINNIPEG, MB., January 26, 2024 - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Canadian running back Johnny Augustine. He was scheduled to become a free agent next month.

Augustine (5-9, 199; Guelph; born: July 7, 1993, in Welland, Ont.) returns in 2024 for his sixth season with the Blue Bombers after first signing with the club in May of 2018.

He has dressed for every game over the past three years, including all 18 last season as well as the Western Final and Grey Cup and finished second on the club in rushing with 267 yards on 45 carries, for a 5.9-yards per carry average. A valuable contributor on special teams, he added eight tackles on the kick cover units, which ranked sixth on the team.

Augustine has dressed for 75 regular season games in his CFL, all with the Blue Bombers. He was not selected in the 2017 CFL Draft but had looks from Edmonton and Saskatchewan before landing in Winnipeg.

He played five seasons at the University of Guelph and in his senior year rushed for 690 yards and nine touchdowns on 122 carries for the Gryphons.

[theaardvark]

5'9, 299?  He's beefed up over the offseason, wonder if they are looking at him for a DT spot

Good signing, he's a contributor.

[Blue In BC]

Not a bad thing but I wonder what the new contact level is for 2024. He was making about $94K in 2023. That's a lot IMO for an ST player. Perhaps a bigger role for him this season. Does this mean anything about Oliveria possibly returning?

OTOH if Oliveria doesn't return then we probably have another RB on an ELC on the roster. So SMS for RB's might still be lower for a pair of RB's than in 2023.

Overall a bit surprised that we're spending SMS on a back up before we know how much we have to spend on starters that are potential free agents.

Now that's a broad statement and the team may already be aware that certain high level SMS players won't be returning. Or we've signed others but not made announcements yet on those players.

Need a fly on the wall.

[theaardvark]

When Harris was holding out, we signed BO20 and JA27, making AH33 redundant.

I'm not saying signing JA27 reduces the desire or price for BO20 at all, but it is a necessary move, regardless BO20 signing, or signing another starting NAT RB, or even bringing in an AM RB, we need a backup to all of them.  And JA27 has shown to be a decent backup.  We'll just have to see if he can perform at 299lbs...

EDIT; looks like the caught the typo... 199lbs...

[Blue In BC]

When Harris was holding out, we signed BO20 and JA27, making AH33 redundant.

I'm not saying signing JA27 reduces the desire or price for BO20 at all, but it is a necessary move, regardless BO20 signing, or signing another starting NAT RB, or even bringing in an AM RB, we need a backup to all of them.  And JA27 has shown to be a decent backup.  We'll just have to see if he can perform at 299lbs...

EDIT; looks like the caught the typo... 199lbs...

Our 2023 draft pick Rosery will be fighting for a role this TC. No idea if he can or will play ST's or how he might perform as a back up at RB.

It's a complicated question but a team doesn't necessarily need a back up Canadian back up RB. Many teams have a starting import and an import back up that fills a role as a returner and / or receiver.

It may be that Augustine gets a larger chance to win the role as a starter in TC. I think the issue is more about blocking ability than runner per se. IMO he's a better receiver than Oliveria and he's faster but he's taken down easier.

I'm not intending to diss Augustine but of all the potential free agents, I'd didn't think he'd be the next to be re-signed.

[Pigskin]

Solid RB, also good on teams.

[Blueforlife]

Great let's make him a career Bomber!

[theaardvark]

Our 2023 draft pick Rosery will be fighting for a role this TC. No idea if he can or will play ST's or how he might perform as a back up at RB.

It's a complicated question but a team doesn't necessarily need a back up Canadian back up RB. Many teams have a starting import and an import back up that fills a role as a returner and / or receiver.

It may be that Augustine gets a larger chance to win the role as a starter in TC. I think the issue is more about blocking ability than runner per se. IMO he's a better receiver than Oliveria and he's faster but he's taken down easier.

I'm not intending to diss Augustine but of all the potential free agents, I'd didn't think he'd be the next to be re-signed.

Wherever you back up with a NAT, it opens up places to use your DI.  If you have a NAT backup at RB who can play teams effectively and also return in a pinch, what more can you ask for?  Give you DI flexability.  Now, if you overpay for that NAT, then you have to economize elsewhere.  I don't think Walters would overpay JA27, I think both parties are happy with the deal, otherwise it wouldn't get signed before FA.

[Jesse]

Not a bad thing but I wonder what the new contact level is for 2024. He was making about $94K in 2023. That's a lot IMO for an ST player.

Is that a lot? The minimum is 70k. Assuming your special teams aren't made entirely of people on their rookie deals, you're going to have some vets who have had a raise or two.

[Lincoln Locomotive]

Good signing and Brady still hasn't had any NFL tryouts to date....It's more than two weeks since Walters went on air regarding waiting for either BO or DS to make their moves....

[Blue In BC]

Wherever you back up with a NAT, it opens up places to use your DI.  If you have a NAT backup at RB who can play teams effectively and also return in a pinch, what more can you ask for?  Give you DI flexability.  Now, if you overpay for that NAT, then you have to economize elsewhere.  I don't think Walters would overpay JA27, I think both parties are happy with the deal, otherwise it wouldn't get signed before FA.

The number of Canadians that are back ups is a constant regardless of position played. RB is as good as any other position but like I said it's not mandatory regardless of whether you start a Canadian RB.

I could ask for a back up on an ELC like Rosery if he's any good and can play ST's. Keep in mind that Augustine started as a back up too. OTOH, we can't have all rookie back ups either.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Our 2023 draft pick Rosery will be fighting for a role this TC. No idea if he can or will play ST's or how he might perform as a back up at RB.

It's a complicated question but a team doesn't necessarily need a back up Canadian back up RB. Many teams have a starting import and an import back up that fills a role as a returner and / or receiver.

It may be that Augustine gets a larger chance to win the role as a starter in TC. I think the issue is more about blocking ability than runner per se. IMO he's a better receiver than Oliveria and he's faster but he's taken down easier.

I'm not intending to diss Augustine but of all the potential free agents, I'd didn't think he'd be the next to be re-signed.

Rosery is small but fast, appears he can also play Safety.  Don't really see him sticking with the squad any longer than Regina Rams star RB Kyle Borsa did 2 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uksu-uvwB6k

[TecnoGenius]

OTOH if Oliveria doesn't return then we probably have another RB on an ELC on the roster. So SMS for RB's might still be lower for a pair of RB's than in 2023.

Overall a bit surprised that we're spending SMS on a back up before we know how much we have to spend on starters that are potential free agents.

I think all posters covered the possibilities already.  I think this may indeed hint Brady is coming back.

We have to establish one thing: Can JA27 be the franchise RB?  I say no.  When he & Brady were earning similar pay and had to duke it out in TC and early games, it became very clear Brady was better.  Johnny can't shed first contact with brute force.  He can snake and weasel around and make you miss, and he has better top speed, but he can't do the every-down up-the-gut must-break-first-contact like Brady.

I do think Johnny could be good enough as starter if we shifted to a run-last O, like BC.  However, I would put the odds of that scheme shift at zero.

So if Brady is leaving and we can't get a Brady-level NAT replacement (one does not exist, even Antwi wouldn't be as good), then why on earth do you want a higher-paid (higher than ELC) backup RB?

If we are rolling with an IMP franchise RB, then either we buy a high $ FA, or we risk it all on some new ELC scouting find.  In either case you hire an ELC scouting find as the backup, or you retain a multi-threat guy like McCrae and he's the backup (and DI) and thus can sub in as receiver sometimes.

What I find most peculiar is why not tie him to a 2-year like most of our other signings?  We can always release him after year 1.  That would hint JA27 wanted 1 year.  Interesting.  That would imply he thinks he can do better $$ in 2025... he'll have to show it on the field!

[TecnoGenius]

5'9, 299?  He's beefed up over the offseason, wonder if they are looking at him for a DT spot

Ounces.  299 ounces.   

[TecnoGenius]

It may be that Augustine gets a larger chance to win the role as a starter in TC. I think the issue is more about blocking ability than runner per se. IMO he's a better receiver than Oliveria and he's faster but he's taken down easier.

Why do you say that?  BO20 was pretty good at catching passes last season, though we don't scheme those very often.

I'm not sure I've ever seen Johnny take a pass in a reg-season game??  Sure you're not thinking McCrae?  That TD grab of his was epic.