Bomber Free Agents

[Pete]

A few things:

We've never had trouble retaining talent under Walters and O'Shea.

A bunch of contracts are probably signed for announcement in 2025 - not to mention we have signing bonus money again now.

It's not like there are thhhhatt many signings going on around the league in December. There never really is for a bunch of reasons (NFL workouts, sms, holidays, etc.).

since dec 11 every other team has signed 5-9 free agents, we've signed one. I think we're the only team that hasn't finalized their main coaching staff.
Bonuses can be negotiated any time i.e. for feb 1 etc.
  (mtrl-9, toronto-7, hamilton-7, ottawa-5, bc-10, edm -7, calgary-9, sask=9, wpg-1)
Must be our gm is on holidays

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

since dec 11 every other team has signed 5-9 free agents, we've signed one. I think we're the only team that hasn't finalized their main coaching staff.
Bonuses can be negotiated any time i.e. for feb 1 etc.
  (mtrl-9, toronto-7, hamilton-7, ottawa-5, bc-10, edm -7, calgary-9, sask=9, wpg-1)
Must be our gm is on holidays

Photo taken at the Bombers head office just last week, the boys are getting ready to kick it into high gear.

[Jesse]

since dec 11 every other team has signed 5-9 free agents, we've signed one. I think we're the only team that hasn't finalized their main coaching staff.
Bonuses can be negotiated any time i.e. for feb 1 etc.
  (mtrl-9, toronto-7, hamilton-7, ottawa-5, bc-10, edm -7, calgary-9, sask=9, wpg-1)
Must be our gm is on holidays

You gotta sign the big names before you know how much room you to retain middle of the road guys.

I think we're waiting to see if Ford is getting an NFL deal or negotiating with him right now.

[Blue In BC]

You gotta sign the big names before you know how much room you to retain middle of the road guys.

I think we're waiting to see if Ford is getting an NFL deal or negotiating with him right now.

That's only partially true regarding Ford.

We have several big names to sign: Lawler, Schoen, Dobson, Neufeld and Holm are going to be high value decisions. Several could cost us more than Ford.  Others like : Lofton, Bighill, Alexander, Jefferson, Cole and Wilson may not be as expensive as the 1st group and it's unknown whether we plan to bring them back.

The last group of: Fox, Haba, Thomas, Garbutt and Streveler may not be returning although cost is not the primary issue.

As far as Ford, I've mentioned I don't expect him back whether he gets an NFL offer or not. He's not a long term Bomber ( committed ) and I think he goes where the money is and that could quite likely be in excess to what the Bombers are willing to pay.

This is not to say I would be unhappy to see him re-signed on Monday. Of all pour potential free agents, Ford and Holm are the players we stand the greatest chance of losing IMO.

[theaardvark]

You gotta sign the big names before you know how much room you to retain middle of the road guys.

I think we're waiting to see if Ford is getting an NFL deal or negotiating with him right now.

Ford will be a late add, if at all.  He will be a guy that we will make cap space for if he comes available, but I can't see holding his full expected ask out of the budget waiting for him.  No doubt Walters has made him a very competitive offer, with an expiry date before FA starts, but after the tampering window opens. And we are the only club that can include guaranteed money in a multi year deal.

If Ford entertains offers in the CFL, I think we could lose to an insane offer from Hervey to unite the bros.  Tre got a 3 year deal, no doubt max'ing the guaranteed money in the back 2.  Ty can be offered the same money, but no guarantees.  Hervey is just crazy enough to do that, and ownership might see the marketing value in that.  They are dying at the gate.

[theaardvark]

That's only partially true regarding Ford.

We have several big names to sign: Lawler, Schoen, Dobson, Neufeld and Holm are going to be high value decisions. Several could cost us more than Ford.  Others like : Lofton, Bighill, Alexander, Jefferson, Cole and Wilson may not be as expensive as the 1st group and it's unknown whether we plan to bring them back.

The last group of: Fox, Haba, Thomas, Garbutt and Streveler may not be returning although cost is not the primary issue.

As far as Ford, I've mentioned I don't expect him back whether he gets an NFL offer or not. He's not a long term Bomber ( committed ) and I think he goes where the money is and that could quite likely be in excess to what the Bombers are willing to pay.

This is not to say I would be unhappy to see him re-signed on Monday. Of all pour potential free agents, Ford and Holm are the players we stand the greatest chance of losing IMO.

I can't see any of the players you mention in the first group getting big raises other than Holm.  In fact, we might actually sign that group for a total outlay similar to 2024, with some reductions balancing Holm's increase. 

The second group, I can see testing the tampering market, but I can't see any getting substantially better offers, or being irreplaceable at their current outlay.

The last group will not be hard to re-sign if the team wants them, without risk, for TC.  Maybe having roster bonuses for making the team to start the season.

Not saying Walters has a walk in the park, but while we have a lot of FA's to sign, there are going to be a lot available, and our D coaches are going to be a selling point, hopefully our OC will be as well.

[Blue In BC]

I can't see any of the players you mention in the first group getting big raises other than Holm.  In fact, we might actually sign that group for a total outlay similar to 2024, with some reductions balancing Holm's increase. 

The second group, I can see testing the tampering market, but I can't see any getting substantially better offers, or being irreplaceable at their current outlay.

The last group will not be hard to re-sign if the team wants them, without risk, for TC.  Maybe having roster bonuses for making the team to start the season.

Not saying Walters has a walk in the park, but while we have a lot of FA's to sign, there are going to be a lot available, and our D coaches are going to be a selling point, hopefully our OC will be as well.

I wasn't suggesting the players in the 1st group would be getting increases. Holm yes, Dobson probably as well. We'll probably see some reductions or re-structuring for the others as you suggested.

The point was that SMS money starts getting spent as that group re-signs.  Players have less leverage after their team gets a large number of their potential free agents re-signed.

IMO the team has a very good idea of whether Ford might be returning to the CFL and if so where the team stands with their offer.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

since dec 11 every other team has signed 5-9 free agents, we've signed one. I think we're the only team that hasn't finalized their main coaching staff.
Bonuses can be negotiated any time i.e. for feb 1 etc.
  (mtrl-9, toronto-7, hamilton-7, ottawa-5, bc-10, edm -7, calgary-9, sask=9, wpg-1)
Must be our gm is on holidays

It's really hard to criticize a management group that's been at the top of the league for five straight years though, isn't it?

You don't win awards for announcing your signings earlier than other teams. 

December is always a quiet month in the CFL and you've got a lot of guys getting NFL workouts.

And you are assuming a negative for no real reason. The Bombers likely are very confident they'll be able to retain everyone they want to that doesn't go south. I see it as a strength and an advantage.

[theaardvark]

Every position group will have a number of free agents, and a number of player already signed by their prospective teams.  Depending on the number of available positions, and available players, leverage goes up or down.

More than anything else, scarcity affects value.  Supply/demand.  If a player sees that there are a number of comparables coming available, and that number is greater than the number of spots open, he may be content to stick where he is at a decent price.

If there is only a few players coming on the market, and a large number of teams needing that spot filled, then of course, that is what the FA frenzy is all about.  And those players will be courted. 

Adding in passports also can affect the market.

Walters will have these "facts" available to him, and can put a very compelling pitch together for any players he has "leverage" on.  Those will be the players we see signed before the tampering window.  The ones that don't want to face competition.

And then we get to have the fun of plugging holes, either with a FA, or with a recruit.  And that's where Walters earns his pay.

[Pete]

right now I'm not drinking the blue koolaid. (probably cause its boring right now with it being so quiet) As players approach free agency they in the past have seemed to get more expensive.  As for free agency recent history has shown that we are not a big player. I would like us to be more active strategically. I do feel that the grey cup results for the past 3 years have left players less enthusiastic about resigning.
 I am also surprised we haven't got an offensive coordinator in place. Walters has said that its hard to make moves without your coach in place.

 

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

right now I'm not drinking the blue koolaid. (probably cause its boring right now with it being so quiet) As players approach free agency they in the past have seemed to get more expensive.  As for free agency recent history has shown that we are not a big player. I would like us to be more active strategically. I do feel that the grey cup results for the past 3 years have left players less enthusiastic about resigning.
I am also surprised we haven't got an offensive coordinator in place. Walters has said that its hard to make moves without your coach in place.

Picking the coaching staff is O'Shea's job, so hard to say what's going to come out of this, is he well connected at all? Walters job is figuring out how to pay them. 

[Pete]

Picking the coaching staff is O'Shea's job, so hard to say what's going to come out of this, is he well connected at all? Walters job is figuring out how to pay them. 

what walters was referring to is you'd want your offensive coach to be on board with how much you spend on certain positions and who. Ie do we want to spend less on receivers and more on oline? Do we want to sign both Lawler and Schoen and save elsewhere ? Should we re-sign Streveler or look at other options?
Whether its Oshea or Walters it would be good to have the OC in place

[M.O.A.B.]

Walters and Co. getting late to the party (again).

[Blue In BC]

I mistakenly thought Woli was a pending free agent but he's under contract for 2025. Sorry if I confused anyone about that earlier.

[Jesse]

Walters and Co. getting late to the party (again).

Patty signed today.

Calendar has turned over. People are back in the office. Contracts can get signed now.