2024-2025 CFL (non-Bomber) off-season discussion

[theaardvark]

Do we know whether Pierce is under contract for 2025? I don't think they'd deny him an opportunity if the Lions ask to speak with him.

Do any non head coaches get multi year deals? 

[Blue In BC]

Do any non head coaches get multi year deals? 

I'd think most get 2 year deals to provide some stability. I could be wrong on that matter.

[Jesse]

There's no denying advancement opportunities now that the season is over.

[Blue In BC]

I guess we now know which of the co-GM's decided on Rourke... that's a move you just can't survive.

Question becomes, who does BC stick with at QB?  Does Rourke get the year to figure things out, with VA getting traded? How much guarantee do either of the QB's have, and can they actually afford to cut one if they can't find a dance partner? 

If Campbell ends up in EDM, can Hervey swing a deal for VA?  Does VA want to play for Campbell after his treatment in BC? Does Campbell want another NAT QB if he ends up in Edm, or does Ford move on?

This is going to be an interesting few weeks... IIRC, coaches contracts are for the calendar year, right?  And I don't think there is a non HC coach that has a multiyear deal... so Jan 1, everyone is available who hasn't already been cut loose.

This question has come up already. Who is going to trade for Rourke with a $750K salary for 2025? They might try to re-negotiate but he might prefer being released and taking whatever guaranteed money he's due.

As a free agent it would be easier to find a new team, but is there a taker at anything close to that amount.

[Blue In BC]

There's no denying advancement opportunities now that the season is over.

Technically not true if a coach is under contract. Normally teams allow that to happen but I seem to recall it being denied in the past a few times.

[Jesse]

Technically not true if a coach is under contract. Normally teams allow that to happen but I seem to recall it being denied in the past a few times.

I think it can only be denied for a lateral move or if the team is still playing games. Now that games are over, I don't think a team is able to decline for an advancement opportunity.

[Blue In BC]

I think it can only be denied for a lateral move or if the team is still playing games. Now that games are over, I don't think a team is able to decline for an advancement opportunity.

Again you might be right but I'm not sure. Like I said if he's under contract, he's under contract. Players have the CFLPA, I'm not aware of anything for coaches beyond contract.

[Waffler]

Technically not true if a coach is under contract. Normally teams allow that to happen but I seem to recall it being denied in the past a few times.

We did it to Lapo, he was denied permission to talk to Sask about the HC there. He stayed one more year and went to Ottawa. They said it was too late in the year to lose him. January sometime I think it was.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Lions fire head coach Campbell after early playoff exit

The BC Lions have parted ways with head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell after failing to advance in the CFL playoffs this season.

TSN's Farhan Lalji expects that Campbell, who had one year left on his contract with the Lions, will now be a front runner for the vacant head coach position with the Edmonton Elks.

The Lions promoted Ryan Rigmaiden to general manager and Neil McEvoy to VP of football operations on Wednesday.

"We thank Rick Campbell for playing a major role in bringing our franchise back to respectability and contention while navigating us through some very tough waters upon his arrival. He's a great coach and a great friend," said president Duane Vienneau.

"We're proud to have Neil and Ryan in their new roles with the preparation for 2025 already underway. Our goal remains the same: to be in Grey Cup contention every year."

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/bc-lions-fire-head-coach-rick-campbell-after-early-playoff-exit-1.2207652

I don't think the Lions would move on so surely from Campbell without having his replacement already lined up, unless it was him that informed them he was not coming back, which is possible.  Other than Buck, maybe Neal Thorpe, Anthony Calvillo, Khari, Jarious Jackson, Steinauer, Condell...maybe one of the co-ords the Stamps dumped, who knows???

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

This question has come up already. Who is going to trade for Rourke with a $750K salary for 2025? They might try to re-negotiate but he might prefer being released and taking whatever guaranteed money he's due.

As a free agent it would be easier to find a new team, but is there a taker at anything close to that amount.

The Nathan Rourke experiment can't be declared a failure after a few short months, he's young, he's talented, and the Lions are fortunate to have him.  He will recover and produce, if the Bombers could get their mitts on him they would extend their success for another decade.

[dd]

Maybe Mark Killam, is this the reason he chose to move on from Calgary...he was going to BC?? Interesting thought..

[Blue In BC]

The Nathan Rourke experiment can't be declared a failure after a few short months, he's young, he's talented, and the Lions are fortunate to have him.  He will recover and produce, if the Bombers could get their mitts on him they would extend their success for another decade.

The failure is not about the player but the amount of the contract level. There is a good chance Rourke becomes a very good QB. However it's an SMS problem in the same way it was when the Lions gave Reilly that big contract and he was a proven commodity.

It forced the trimming of some good players and the overall result was not good.

[Stats Junkie]

Farhan is suggesting the front runners for the BC Lions HC job are Jordan Maksymic & Buck Pierce. Front runners in Edmonton are Rick Campbell & Mark Kilam.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The failure is not about the player but the amount of the contract level. There is a good chance Rourke becomes a very good QB. However it's an SMS problem in the same way it was when the Lions gave Reilly that big contract and he was a proven commodity.

It forced the trimming of some good players and the overall result was not good.

Too early to say IMO.

[theaardvark]

Farhan is suggesting the front runners for the BC Lions HC job are Jordan Maksymic & Buck Pierce. Front runners in Edmonton are Rick Campbell & Mark Kilam.

Does Maksymic stay if Buck gets the job over him? 

Kilam in EDM would be epic.  Makes the battle of Alberta so much more interesting.