Winnipeg Blue Bombers release veteran receiver Drew Wolitarsky

[Blue In BC]

Is this a "big shift in the Mafia mindset"?  Hopefully.

We have been hamstrung in the past by loyalty to players playing injured, or who haven't recovered sufficiently. 

It has cost us games, including Grey Cups.

If the Mafia now wants to ensure they have a roster of players that are fully healthy, and not hoping some recover enough to contribute, then it does change the page on team dynamic.

In game, in season injuries are one thing.  But starting a season with fingers crossed you aren't wasting $SMS and a roster space, can sound cold hearted, but it is a business and next man up.

It started with Jeffcoat last year, Biggie, Woli and Streve this year... there is a fine line between family and charity, and this is a business. 

If there were no cap or roster limits, I'd keep all these guys around in a heartbeat, we've got the cash to do it.  But the Mafia got lucky in the past hanging onto injured players.  The hard lessons the past few years has made this growth necessary. 

I agree that if there weren't cap or roster / ratio issues, we'd have kept them. All of that would depend on their health status. We don't really know if either were going to be available by TC.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I agree that if there weren't cap or roster / ratio issues, we'd have kept them. All of that would depend on their health status. We don't really know if either were going to be available by TC.

I doubt an injury had anything to do with this decision, would be surprised if Woli hasn't recovered 100% from an upper body injury that didn't involve his arms or shoulders.

I think it's either a questionable salary shave, or based on them only wanting to start 2 Natl. receivers.  Providing Clercius with the opportunity to further develop,  if Woli is in house, that probably doesn't happen.

There should be plenty of discarded Natl. receivers left over after FA to find a natl. backup that will play for soup money.  Woli should be able to catch on with another club if he wants to continue his career, he could easily play for another 3-4 years.

[Blue In BC]

I doubt an injury had anything to do with this decision, would be surprised if Woli hasn't recovered 100% from an upper body injury that didn't involve his arms or shoulders.

I think it's either a questionable salary shave, or based on them only wanting to start 2 Natl. receivers.  Providing Clercius with the opportunity to further develop,  if Woli is in house, that probably doesn't happen.

There should be plenty of discarded Natl. receivers left over after FA to find a natl. backup that will play for soup money.  Woli should be able to catch on with another club if he wants to continue his career, he could easily play for another 3-4 years.

Woli missed the last 8 games of the season. There is more reason to believe there is an injury issue which may or may not allow being ready for TC.

His salary was not that significant that he couldn't have been retained as a back up to allow Clercius to start.

Augustine was reported to be earning a similar amount the last couple of seasons. He rarely sees the field on offence.

In that sense your theory doesn't hold water regarding Clercius or depth for back ups.

A broader view about SMS over the entire roster and possible new / younger depth might. Gassama is returning to TC in 2025. Whether he makes any part of the roster is a TBD, but we may pick up less expensive depth in free agency.

We'll see if another teams signs Woli and / or whether he chooses to continue playing football.  That could happen today or during TC when teams have seen what they have and decide what they need.

[J5V]

I doubt an injury had anything to do with this decision, would be surprised if Woli hasn't recovered 100% from an upper body injury that didn't involve his arms or shoulders.

I'm not sure. I suspect that last injury was a bad one and may have limited his ability to play to his usual standard.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Woli missed the last 8 games of the season. There is more reason to believe there is an injury issue which may or may not allow being ready for TC.

His salary was not that significant that he couldn't have been retained as a back up to allow Clercius to start.

Augustine was reported to be earning a similar amount the last couple of seasons. He rarely sees the field on offence.

In that sense your theory doesn't hold water regarding Clercius or depth for back ups.

A broader view about SMS over the entire roster and possible new / younger depth might. Gassama is returning to TC in 2025. Whether he makes any part of the roster is a TBD, but we may pick up less expensive depth in free agency.

Augustine likely gone for the same reason, they're making changes, giving younger players the opportunity to step up. 

[J5V]

Augustine likely gone for the same reason, they're making changes, giving younger players the opportunity to step up. 

Yes and this is part of the business. It's hard to accept sometimes.

[theaardvark]

You always need players for depth and Specials.  Augustine is one of those.  And I don't think he will be getting upfront money or over $100k for that, so he's worth it.

We do have draft picks coming back from playing USports, and will have new draft picks as well.  So depth becomes easier, especially as deep on the chart at Rec as we have covered.  Demski, Clercius in sets where we start 2 Nat RECs.  But we don't need 2 Nat Rec starters, Woli can even be replaced by a rookie Int.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

You always need players for depth and Specials.  Augustine is one of those.  And I don't think he will be getting upfront money or over $100k for that, so he's worth it.

We do have draft picks coming back from playing USports, and will have new draft picks as well.  So depth becomes easier, especially as deep on the chart at Rec as we have covered.  Demski, Clercius in sets where we start 2 Nat RECs.  But we don't need 2 Nat Rec starters, Woli can even be replaced by a rookie Int.

Maybe if Pokey comes back they play 4 imports, but if they don't start Clercius this season, they could lose him next year when his ELC expires.  He's the only receiver left who's blocking ability can match Bailey or Woli.

[Blue In BC]

Yes and this is part of the business. It's hard to accept sometimes.

I think that is likely but not certain. He's a decent back up but we're already losing a number of Canadians. Logic would suggest that Chris-Ike will move up the depth chart as the replacement.

[Pigskin]

Drew had his best year in 2023: 18 games: 683 yards, 6 TDs, 14.2 yard Avg. He was having a very good in 2024: before getting injured. 10 Games, 33/47, 403 yards, 136 Yac. 

Career: 89 Games. 227/330, 2954 yards, Yac 842, 18 TDs, Avg. 13 yards.

I think he's going to be a little harder to replace then some think.   

[Blueforlife]

Drew had his best year in 2023: 18 games: 683 yards, 6 TDs, 14.2 yard Avg. He was having a very good in 2024: before getting injured. 10 Games, 33/47, 403 yards, 136 Yac. 

Career: 89 Games. 227/330, 2954 yards, Yac 842, 18 TDs, Avg. 13 yards.

I think he's going to be a little harder to replace then some think.   

I have seen this in the past, good players are gone and people think we are better off or there will be limited impact.  You don't get better by deletion when you lose talented people.  Canadian depth is key.  I understand the situation but it will hurt early on until we find the new normal.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Drew Wolitarsky All Touchdowns As A Blue Bomber compiled by Waders27.

[TecnoGenius]

Or it's just the obvious that neither will be healthy to play in 2025.

We shall see.  If another IR-prone guy or aging vet is released, then we definitely have a trend.

It used to be we never fired anyone on the IR... even Moe Leggett got a chance to play live ball again after his horrific injury.  The courtesy was we'd give them the benefit of the doubt.

[TecnoGenius]

It's pretty obvious that we need 
He was a big score for us back in 2017 when we were trying to rebuild Canadian talent and couldn't piecemeal together enough quality Canadian (...or I suppose Californian technically Canadian in his case) starters.

Woli was the best NAT R we had in forever (excluding Demski).  Miles better than JFG or Watson, etc.

Woli finally caught the mythical deep rail shot that JFG missed like 10/10 times.

[TecnoGenius]

Is this a "big shift in the Mafia mindset"?  Hopefully.

Well I hope your "hopefully" is right.  I worry that potential FA/scout players look at this and think we treat the lame horses like dirt off to the glue factory.  The loyalty surely counted for something in the past?

I guess you'd have to ask the players how much they care about this stuff.  They all know it's a business, but they probably prefer it if a team really cares vs injury => glue factory.

On the plus side, all the young hotshots think they are indestructible and the best thing ever, so maybe hearing about releases like this doesn't impact them at all!