Bomber Free Agents

[Blue In BC]

As far as I can figure they really only have 1 LB too many if all are healthy and that includes Bighill. Cole is a multi-position player who could play, WIL, SAM, DB or Safety but may not be consistent enough to start anywhere.  Depending what they decide to do with Biggie could determine somebody else's fate.

That's about the size of it but as I mentioned you have to consider SMS and roster size. Aside from Ayers, none of these players is going to sit on the PR.

If there are no signing bonus's then let them fight it out in TC I suppose.

I'd add that while Griffin is listed as a DB, IMO he's the next up at SAM so add that into the mix about multi role abilities on our defence. He's not a potential free agent and could see a role options.

[TecnoGenius]

On short yardage...

Why don't they hand the ball to a running back?

One/some CFL teams have/are.  Results seemed positive (at least as good success rate as our SY).

Watching the NFL playoffs I see that the NFL seems to have picked up on the concept (probably where the CFL got the idea from).

However, there are downsides:

1. You want to have a pass option threat on 2nd & 1 for the "free play".  Using a RB negates that.  And even on 3rd & 1 you want the occasional (once a season?) pass threat.

2. You are forced to AR 3 QBs.  Period.  So one QB is basically a "free dress" so why not make him the SY specialist?  He's not really doing anything else in-game the entire season.

3. The RB has a lot to focus on already, and should be mastering his "normal RB stuff", not figuring out how to accept C handoffs.  If it's your backup RB, maybe you can forget this point.

For 2 years or so we experimented with direct snaps and wildcats to AH33.  They almost always failed or went disastrously wrong.  Even in a GC if memory serves.  Cadence issues, IP, failed handoffs, general disarray.  This probably soured MOS on the idea for life.

[Blueforlife]

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/01/15/blue-bombers-re-sign-defensive-back-evan-holm/

Keg cog and great signing

[Pigskin]

Happy to  have Evan back, but it would have been nice if it was 2 or 3 years.

[Blueforlife]

https://3downnation.com/2025/01/15/kyle-walters-not-ruling-out-winnipeg-blue-bombers-retaining-kenny-lawler-dalton-schoen/

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Happy to  have Evan back, but it would have been nice if it was 2 or 3 years.

With the threat of Trump and our falling dollar, signing a multi-year deal right now might be a risky move.

[blue_gold_84]

With the threat of Trump and our falling dollar, signing a multi-year deal right now might be a risky move.

Yeah, I don't think either of those will affect anything. One-year deals have been the most common across the league for years now.

Contracts aren't guaranteed, anyway.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Yeah, I don't think either of those will affect anything. One-year deals have been the most common across the league for years now.

Contracts aren't guaranteed, anyway.

What I meant is if the CDN. dollar slips to 50 cents in the next year as it might, Yanks are going to want an increase on their next contract to make up for the exchange. It could become a league wide issue as it would make it that much harder to attract new American players to the CFL.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Kyle Walters interview, well worth reading the entire article.

On Ford: "My understanding is they're going to explore all NFL opportunities right to the end. He's not even looking to talk CFL offers. I spoke to his agent, and they just want to focus on NFL opportunities right now. We wish him the best of luck. If he can get into an NFL camp that would be great for him. If he doesn't then he's clearly going to be a highly sought-after player."

And Dobson: "I've spoken to his agent, and they want to see the offensive line market for Canadians. It's pretty high for some of these guys and Liam was an all-star and did very well as a starter so his agent, rightfully so, is expecting a very big raise. He's part of that interesting puzzle on how to make it all work."

https://3downnation.com/2025/01/15/kyle-walters-not-ruling-out-winnipeg-blue-bombers-retaining-kenny-lawler-dalton-schoen/

[Blue In BC]

What I meant is if the CDN. dollar slips to 50 cents in the next year as it might, Yanks are going to want an increase on their next contract to make up for the exchange. It could become a league wide issue as it would make it that much harder to attract new American players to the CFL.

I understand the premise but the CFL would be in big trouble if the dollar drops that much. The league would have to adjust the CBA on the SMS level and ELC etc.

[blue_gold_84]

What I meant is if the CDN. dollar slips to 50 cents in the next year as it might, Yanks are going to want an increase on their next contract to make up for the exchange. It could become a league wide issue as it would make it that much harder to attract new American players to the CFL.

The CFL would have much bigger challenges to deal with should the CAD drop that much*. Additionally, American players would have no real leverage in such a situation.

* I also don't see such a thing happening

[theaardvark]

I understand the premise but the CFL would be in big trouble if the dollar drops that much. The league would have to adjust the CBA on the SMS level and ELC etc.

So, if the dollar strengthens, does that mean they can lower the $SMS?

I'm not sure that reducing the reliance on US trade will negatively affect our dollar.  We trade with the US out of convenience, at a discount.  If we got fair prices from the US, or chose other trading partners, I think the value of our goods, and with it our GDP will go up.

Trump doesn't realize how good he has it trading with us.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The CFL would have much bigger challenges to deal with should the CAD drop that much*. Additionally, American players would have no real leverage in such a situation.

* I also don't see such a thing happening

Disagree, on one year contracts Imports could decide to leave and not come back if the CFL did nothing, whether to play in another league or move on with their careers earning US dollars.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

So, if the dollar strengthens, does that mean they can lower the $SMS?

I'm not sure that reducing the reliance on US trade will negatively affect our dollar.  We trade with the US out of convenience, at a discount.  If we got fair prices from the US, or chose other trading partners, I think the value of our goods, and with it our GDP will go up.

Trump doesn't realize how good he has it trading with us.

It's not so easy to find a replacement for your biggest customer. A 25% tariff will reduce trade dramatically, less demand for Canadian products, less profit and less investment in our economy, the negative effects on the GDP would be massive.

[Blue In BC]

So, if the dollar strengthens, does that mean they can lower the $SMS?

I'm not sure that reducing the reliance on US trade will negatively affect our dollar.  We trade with the US out of convenience, at a discount.  If we got fair prices from the US, or chose other trading partners, I think the value of our goods, and with it our GDP will go up.

Trump doesn't realize how good he has it trading with us.

The closer the Canadian dollar is to par, the better it will be towards signing Americans. I don't expect it to reach par but even if it did, I don't expect to lower the SMS as a result.