Bomber Free Agents

[Jesse]

Pass too $ imo

He'd be absolutely worth it at a spot of weakness for us.

[theaardvark]

Now that we know the outcome of the Bighill situation, I think we should consider putting some money on the table for Jake Ceresna.  We need more QB pressures.

Not sure Ceresna is Bomber material.  Sure, he has the chops, but does he have an attitude that is accepted in the room?  Not sure why I think this, just the vibe I feel when discussing him.  I could be wrong, but he feels like a "Me first" player.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Not sure Ceresna is Bomber material.  Sure, he has the chops, but does he have an attitude that is accepted in the room?  Not sure why I think this, just the vibe I feel when discussing him.  I could be wrong, but he feels like a "Me first" player.

I have no idea if what you're suggesting about Ceresna is true but I don't like the rational. The best coaches get buy in from players who are hard to coach. Part of the benefits of a good culture is that you should be able to absorb some of more difficult attributes and get buy in. A strong locker room should allow us more options not less. What is the point of paying the premium for veteran leadership if we don't use it?

[Blue In BC]

Come on Bombers, let's get some of our potential free agents signed to new deals. There must be at least 6 or 7 we plan to bring back??

A week away from tampering period. OTOH, it's also a week away from Ayers not getting an NFL deal, so chances improving that he'll be back.

OC decision? I didn't buy we're waiting for an NFL coaching choice and waiting for his team to be eliminated. In any case, that's down to two teams.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Come on Bombers, let's get some of our potential free agents signed to new deals. There must be at least 6 or 7 we plan to bring back??

A week away from tampering period. OTOH, it's also a week away from Ayers not getting an NFL deal, so chances improving that he'll be back.

OC decision? I didn't buy we're waiting for an NFL coaching choice and waiting for his team to be eliminated. In any case, that's down to two teams.

Pretty clear O'Shea is waiting to pick his OC from the SuperBowl winning team and  doesn't want to be stuck with the loser.

As for Ceresna, not a team in the league that wouldn't want him, so his price is going to be riding on the high side of very expensive.

[theaardvark]

I have no idea if what you're suggesting about Ceresna is true but I don't like the rational. The best coaches get buy in from players who are hard to coach. Part of the benefits of a good culture is that you should be able to absorb some of more difficult attributes and get buy in. A strong locker room should allow us more options not less. What is the point of paying the premium for veteran leadership if we don't use it?

It doesn't take a lot to poison the room.  Again, MOS and Walters have done a great job in making a harmonious room, and to pay a premium for a player, he'd better fit perfectly.  Like Biggie did.  You don't want to pay extra AND have to make him fit / coach him up.

Come on Bombers, let's get some of our potential free agents signed to new deals. There must be at least 6 or 7 we plan to bring back??

A week away from tampering period. OTOH, it's also a week away from Ayers not getting an NFL deal, so chances improving that he'll be back.

OC decision? I didn't buy we're waiting for an NFL coaching choice and waiting for his team to be eliminated. In any case, that's down to two teams.

I think we will see a lot of players signed the day before the tampering window, and some during.  No reason not to try the waters, although I'm sure the deal to sign now drops $5-10k if they don't get offers during the tampering window.  A little incentive to sign now.  Or the deal stays the same $, but signing bonus/guaranteed money in year 2 goes away.  Those are incentives to sign now. 

Plus, if the window allows us to land a replacement for someone shopping around, they might find thier job filled already.

If the players do get offers, I'm sure Walters will listen to upping an offer, but I'm pretty sure they have a budget and a plan.  Now, should a big name, like Lawler, Schoen, Dobson tell Walters they are taking the ridiculous offer elsewhere, I'm not sure if they up offers to our FA's, or chase after others.

As to OC, how many OC jobs are left open in the CFL?  Are we competing with anyone to fill that spot?  So, we have all the leverage, all the choices. And while having the OC in place means one more person for input as to the roster, pretty sure Walters, the scouts and MOS have that handled.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It doesn't take a lot to poison the room.  Again, MOS and Walters have done a great job in making a harmonious room, and to pay a premium for a player, he'd better fit perfectly.  Like Biggie did.  You don't want to pay extra AND have to make him fit / coach him up.

I think we will see a lot of players signed the day before the tampering window, and some during.  No reason not to try the waters, although I'm sure the deal to sign now drops $5-10k if they don't get offers during the tampering window.  A little incentive to sign now.  Or the deal stays the same $, but signing bonus/guaranteed money in year 2 goes away.  Those are incentives to sign now. 

Plus, if the window allows us to land a replacement for someone shopping around, they might find thier job filled already.

If the players do get offers, I'm sure Walters will listen to upping an offer, but I'm pretty sure they have a budget and a plan.  Now, should a big name, like Lawler, Schoen, Dobson tell Walters they are taking the ridiculous offer elsewhere, I'm not sure if they up offers to our FA's, or chase after others.

As to OC, how many OC jobs are left open in the CFL?  Are we competing with anyone to fill that spot?  So, we have all the leverage, all the choices. And while having the OC in place means one more person for input as to the roster, pretty sure Walters, the scouts and MOS have that handled.

Don't forget two of their scouts left for Hamilton and they have 3 newbies in the room working with them. 

[Jesse]

Not sure Ceresna is Bomber material.  Sure, he has the chops, but does he have an attitude that is accepted in the room?  Not sure why I think this, just the vibe I feel when discussing him.  I could be wrong, but he feels like a "Me first" player.

Jesus H. ******, aards.

That is blowing a whole lot of smoke out of your butt with absolutely nothing to back it up.

Elite player at an area of weakness. If he's available, I hope and expect Walters to do everything he can to land Ceresna.

[theaardvark]

Don't forget two of their scouts left for Hamilton and they have 3 newbies in the room working with them. 

We will miss Ted, for sure, but I think we may have increased our scouting potential, short and long term.

Three guys from different organizations with eyes on different players.  And I'm sure anyone Ted and company had on the radar for this year, well, we know about them.

[Horseman]

Rose from Calgary was released, he would greatly improve our DT position.

[theaardvark]

Jesus H. ******, aards.

That is blowing a whole lot of smoke out of your butt with absolutely nothing to back it up.

Elite player at an area of weakness. If he's available, I hope and expect Walters to do everything he can to land Ceresna.

I was just stating my opinion.  Ceresna is an elite player, no doubt.  Made $212k in 2024, made 29 tackles and 8 sacks.  Took out Tyrie Adams with a low hit. 

What is his ask this year?  Thinking we can get a better deal elsewhere.

[Blue In BC]

He was on a futures contract but Grainger decided to retire. I have no doubt we would be looking at other QB's in mini camps and on our neg lists. Essentially we're looking for one to have available on our PR or sitting near the phone after TC.

We haven't kept a # 4 on the PR for a few years but it's not a bad idea. I still have no idea where Wilson will end up after TC. Is he our # 2 and if so does that make Dolegala expendable since he's not the SY QB.

[Pete]

I was just stating my opinion.  Ceresna is an elite player, no doubt.  Made $212k in 2024, made 29 tackles and 8 sacks.  Took out Tyrie Adams with a low hit. 

What is his ask this year?  Thinking we can get a better deal elsewhere.

Likely he will be in the same range this year, the reason he didn't get paid more was that he received a 100k bonus ly. We might be able to get Rose for a lower price but he's not the same impact player as Ceresna any more
Other options would be Brinkman or Robbie Smith from the argos, but Ceresna would be my preference

[Blueforlife]

He'd be absolutely worth it at a spot of weakness for us.

I am not interested in spending that much cash on one player at this position.  That money would have a bigger impact elsewhere as we might develop or find a cheaper option.

Rose from Calgary was released, he would greatly improve our DT position.

Good numbers, any quess how much he would cost?

[Jesse]

I am not interested in spending that much cash on one player at this position.  That money would have a bigger impact elsewhere as we might develop or find a cheaper option.

Well, I disagree.

We're spending more at other positions. We spent much more on two receivers in the same position group.

Their DL is the reason we've had so much trouble against Toronto the past few years. It's lost us two Grey Cups. We'd be fools to ignore that.