Bomber Free Agents

[GOLDMEMBER]

Experience wise maybe but Alexander was not the same player last year and the foot speed was a big issue.

Blue need to move on from Alexander. Safety was a clear weak spot last year.

[Pigskin]

Lawler at $275K. 10K less then last year.

[Jesse]

Lawler at $275K. 10K less then last year.

100k more than we paid Schoen and 25k more than any other receiver in the league.

[Blue In BC]

I have commented on my opinion about Thomas and his play over his career and what I think about his game now.  Maybe contribute your opinion on the subject. 

How is going over a players career and posting ones opinion on it living in the past?, wow.

I have and always will evaluate everything CFL on here, past, present and future.

I am allowed to support Thomas and his career without getting roasted for doing so.  A good depth player, who will continue to contribute on rotation this season.  I am happy we brought him back and if you don't like the player or the signing that's fine and let's please agree to disagree.

It's been covered in depth for several seasons. In the past our Canadian starters and depth were not good. At that point we had players that wouldn't have made other rosters by anything more than pure necessity achieving the roster.

Thomas fell into the bare minimum qualification as our best option. He was never fast, quick or very athletic.

It's only been the last couple of years that our overall Canadians have improved to the point where we've been able to start 8 - 10 at times.

He wasn't one of the ones that should have continued to start but it was a positional problem within our ratio on the DL and how we employed our DI's.

Sure, he was not a player that got injured and he played full effort all the time. Well liked by his teammates and fans alike. He survived partially because of O'Shea being loyal to a fault.

In 2024 most expected Lawson to start as we finally had a player deemed more than " adequate ". Injury curtailed that.

We have several recent draft picks coming to TC. Thomas may survive as depth for another season as the newbies get up to speed. He may start the season as Lawson gets his head back into the game after a long re-hab. Or he may start the season as the next best as the rotation for Canadian DT's.

I guess we'll see if age, possible SMS ( not excessive but more than ELC's ) and need to roster newer draft choices come into play. Samson, Schmekel and Kornelson all can't be retained on the PR in probability. Time marches on.

[TBURGESS]

100k more than we paid Schoen not including bonuses and 25k more than any other receiver in the league

Fixed it for you.

[theaardvark]

Keeping 4 Nat DT's on the AR wouldn't be ridiculous if we don't sign an Int DT.  We probably lose one of them if we put him on the PR (other teams do need Nat depth, not that they are starters), but there is always the IR for low $SMS "spare parts".

[Blue In BC]

Keeping 4 Nat DT's on the AR wouldn't be ridiculous if we don't sign an Int DT.  We probably lose one of them if we put him on the PR (other teams do need Nat depth, not that they are starters), but there is always the IR for low $SMS "spare parts".

Teams roster the maximum number of imports. By definition that sets the usual level of Canadians on the roster whether they are starting or just back ups.

In theory you could roster 4 on the AR but that means you roster less depth elsewhere. That's not workable. You need depth on the OL, receiver, LB and secondary. A lot of those players will also play ST.

Keeping in mind we were running too many 3 man fronts with 1 DT. Unless we have more than 1 that could actually start, I think the limit is 3 but more probable we see 2 on the AR.

I don't like the idea of putting development players on the 1 game IR.  OTOH, if the SMS goes up I would support adding that 1 extra Canadian to the AR. It's a trade off of sorts. Either you increase the roster size, raise the min ELC or some combination of both. As I said, I'd support raising the ELC a bit. Technically it doesn't improve  retention or performance but is an equitable statement about inflation. $73K is not bad money for playing football for 6 months.

Just using " more " to pay the top players more doesn't improve development of new players. Being on the AR does.

[Blue In BC]

Still no official word about Dobson. I didn't expect him back but what's with the delay.

Also less activity about other potential free agents moving elsewhere. Some are re-signing with current teams but traffic has slowed after the early activity.

[Pete]

Keeping 4 Nat DT's on the AR wouldn't be ridiculous if we don't sign an Int DT.  We probably lose one of them if we put him on the PR (other teams do need Nat depth, not that they are starters), but there is always the IR for low $SMS "spare parts".

does anyone else think that someone would claim Thomas or Smeckle on the pr? Its seldom done even for more valued players

[Blue In BC]

does anyone else think that someone would claim Thomas or Smeckle on the pr? Its seldom done even for more valued players

Why would Thomas accept a PR spot at a reduced salary? He might get pushed to the 1 game IR with a fake injury.

Schmekel might accept a PR role and if a team got into ratio / depth issue he might be considered an option. Teams are picking up players released during the off season PR's to fill out TC rosters.

McGhee, Fayad, Karamoko, Murphy for example. It might involve a nominal trade but it does happen.

[theaardvark]

Smeckle, sure.  Thomas wouldn't go onto it. 

Having a development player on the IR still means he can practice, it just prevents him from being scooped.  You can put him on the PR at the full Min AR salary, but that uses a spot for a discounted PR player.

Rostering a player on the AR and placing him on the IR > PR, if you need to pay him league min anyways.  PR spots are for $750/wk players (or whatever the minimum is now).

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Smeckle, sure.  Thomas wouldn't go onto it. 

Having a development player on the IR still means he can practice, it just prevents him from being scooped.  You can put him on the PR at the full Min AR salary, but that uses a spot for a discounted PR player.

Rostering a player on the AR and placing him on the IR > PR, if you need to pay him league min anyways.  PR spots are for $750/wk players (or whatever the minimum is now).

I don't think Schmeck would accept a PR spot now either going into his 3rd season, his play improved a lot last year and expect him to play a more prominent role.

[Pigskin]

I don't think Schmeck would accept a PR spot now either going into his 3rd season, his play improved a lot last year and expect him to play a more prominent role.

Smeckle, sure.  Thomas wouldn't go onto it. 

Having a development player on the IR still means he can practice, it just prevents him from being scooped.  You can put him on the PR at the full Min AR salary, but that uses a spot for a discounted PR player.

Rostering a player on the AR and placing him on the IR > PR, if you need to pay him league min anyways.  PR spots are for $750/wk players (or whatever the minimum is now).

I can't see Schmekel taking a spot on the PR. I think he has worked far to hard and would just move on.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I can't see Schmekel taking a spot on the PR. I think he has worked far to hard and would just move on.

Half expected him to go home to Sask. this off-season, 3rd year player, not sure why he wasn't a FA.

[Blueforlife]

Half expected him to go home to Sask. this off-season, 3rd year player, not sure why he wasn't a FA.

I expect him to continue to be a good depth piece.