Lucky Whitehead

[TecnoGenius]

They don't employ 3 of the top 5 paid receivers in the CFL!

Touche!  It's all trade-offs.  Many decent teams have a crap REC corps on paper (e.g. SSK, TOR) but they are doing very well.  TOR has a great OL, and probably spent a ton on it.  SSK, probably more than us when they had Yoshi.  Now, not so much AFAIK.

Maybe it's as simple as blowing more of the wad on OL and less on the RECs.  Problem is, we let the great guys walk so now we have to achieve acquisition rather than just retention!

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Let's flip this the other way, wonder if bailey regrets signing with the Argos for a paltry $30k, only to be cut and end up on the dead black practice roster, wonder if he regrets thinking the grass was greener elsewhere. Stay here, be the #4 receiver and play on a winning team. He never saw the extra money he signed for because he got cut and the pew rice roster pays absolute peanuts. Shoulda left well enough alone

And he won't be back here next year, that ship has left the port and ain't com8ng back.BB have moved on and rightfully so

To be clear, it was not Bailey's choice to leave the Bombers after last season, they did not offer him a contract during FA or reach out to him, same with a number of his teammates such as Jeffcoat. Bailey was contemplating retirement when he signed with the Argos.

[DM83]

He is still a good player. I never met him.  Is he a jerk?
None that it matters. In the long run he can get started with a real job. Sometimes it's hard for some players, when that's all they  have known all their lives.

He was an awesome blocker and fifth receiver for us.

[TecnoGenius]

To be clear, it was not Bailey's choice to leave the Bombers after last season, they did not offer him a contract during FA or reach out to him

KW gave an open invitation before/around TC to every starter we let walk in FA, it's still on video on the site somewhere: "if you'll play for ELC call us we'll take a look" (paraphrasing).

He didn't want to insult Bailey/Jeffcoat by giving them offers of ELC directly.  So he put out an open invitation to everyone the best way he could without singling anyone out.

That extra $ for Brady and the high Zach, Kenny, Schoen contracts really limited our options.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

KW gave an open invitation before/around TC to every starter we let walk in FA, it's still on video on the site somewhere: "if you'll play for ELC call us we'll take a look" (paraphrasing).

He didn't want to insult Bailey/Jeffcoat by giving them offers of ELC directly.  So he put out an open invitation to everyone the best way he could without singling anyone out.

That extra $ for Brady and the high Zach, Kenny, Schoen contracts really limited our options.

Walters was talking to the media, the Bombers did not reach out to their agents, both have stated this in interviews and I see no reason for them to lie.

[dd]

KW gave an open invitation before/around TC to every starter we let walk in FA, it's still on video on the site somewhere: "if you'll play for ELC call us we'll take a look" (paraphrasing).

He didn't want to insult Bailey/Jeffcoat by giving them offers of ELC directly.  So he put out an open invitation to everyone the best way he could without singling anyone out.

That extra $ for Brady and the high Zach, Kenny, Schoen contracts really limited our options.

Why would we offer Jeffcoat—stud DE, an ELC?? We have never replaced him and it's going to cost us big time, either this week or next

[TecnoGenius]

Walters was talking to the media, the Bombers did not reach out to their agents, both have stated this in interviews and I see no reason for them to lie.

I didn't say otherwise.  KW did say "call us if you want to play for ELC".  If you watch it again it's like he's talking directly to Bailey & Grant & Jeffcoat.

If any of those guys has their agents call WFC (not the other way around) and say "we'll take the deal for ELC" then 100% those guys would be with us today.  Zero doubt.  They may be on PR or IR, sure, but they'd be here.

[J5V]

Why would we offer Jeffcoat—stud DE, an ELC?? We have never replaced him and it's going to cost us big time, either this week or next

Garbutt?

[dd]

Garbutt?

C mon man, not even close to same calibre of pressure off the edge. Jeffcoat was an impact player that changed our front 7 pressure instantly. We haven't come close to replacing that

[BlueFire]

Spend Schoens money elsewhere

[Sir Blue and Gold]

C mon man, not even close to same calibre of pressure off the edge. Jeffcoat was an impact player that changed our front 7 pressure instantly. We haven't come close to replacing that

You're right. Even in the first year, Jeffcoat was a monster with 7 sacks. Some positions are more draft and develop"able" and I always say defensive end is one of those where you walk on and make an impact or you don't.

[Jesse]

You're right. Even in the first year, Jeffcoat was a monster with 7 sacks. Some positions are more draft and develop"able" and I always say defensive end is one of those where you walk on and make an impact or you don't.

You should see flashes in year one. Then the good ones have a jump in year 2.

If they don't make the jump in year 2, my expectations disappear.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

You should see flashes in year one. Then the good ones have a jump in year 2.

If they don't make the jump in year 2, my expectations disappear.

Yeah. Fair. You've got to learn your responsibilities and round out technique at the CFL level for a lot of those guys but it's such an athletic spot. You've kind of either got it or you don't, in my opinion. Feels a bit like a KR/PR. You don't spend years developing those guys.

[Blue In BC]

Yeah. Fair. You've got to learn your responsibilities and round out technique at the CFL level for a lot of those guys but it's such an athletic spot. You've kind of either got it or you don't, in my opinion. Feels a bit like a KR/PR. You don't spend years developing those guys.

Yes, it's disappointing. We knew going into TC that our DL was an issue. IMO we failed in finding players that will stick in 2025 as starters. Maybe as roster changes in free agency occur, we find some SMS money to improve the DL. That said, it's not where we normally spend our big SMS money.

[Jesse]

Yes, it's disappointing. We knew going into TC that our DL was an issue. IMO we failed in finding players that will stick in 2025 as starters. Maybe as roster changes in free agency occur, we find some SMS money to improve the DL. That said, it's not where we normally spend our big SMS money.

Yeah, we've just been rotating through guys for this entire run. It's Willie and was Jeffcoat and no one else has been able to stick.