Whas’ Goin on ??

[peg_city]

Sure but bargains are more for back up depth. Walters said he'd be more active in free agency and we did pick up some decent players. There are still some very good players that we might be interested in but what the SMS cost is and whether they are interested in moving to Winnipeg IDK.

Gone: O.Wilson, Lawler, Woli, Dobson ( reportedly ), Haba, Garbutt, Bighill and Ford. Also lost a few players that were mostly on the PR, last year.

I'm not panicking but that's a lot of talent to replace. Walters might still make a big splash somewhere on the roster but the clock is ticking somewhat as choices are agreeing on other destinations. That said, we don't know WHO he might have been targeting or whether they are still available.

Wilson will probably be back before September, Lawler is a big loss, Woli will be replaced by Clercius, Haba & Garbutt did not thing special, Bighill at this age was replaced by a Mack who is as good & Ford is a big loss.

So, Ford and Lawler need to be replaced.

Dobson will be replaced with Wallace.

I'm not putting lipstick on a pig. Besides Lawler and Ford, these aren't huge losses. And we have money to spend.

[markf]

Weren't The Grey Cup wins  preceded by getting Bighill, Willie, Stan, and Collaros?

All of which were big splashes.

[Blue In BC]

Wilson will probably be back before September, Lawler is a big loss, Woli will be replaced by Clercius, Haba & Garbutt did not thing special, Bighill at this age was replaced by a Mack who is as good & Ford is a big loss.

So, Ford and Lawler need to be replaced.

Dobson will be replaced with Wallace.

I'm not putting lipstick on a pig. Besides Lawler and Ford, these aren't huge losses. And we have money to spend.

The issue with Woli was at worst, rotational depth and injury insurance. We lost our PR guy Murphy earlier. I know we picked up Cobb but Canadian depth took a hit.

I agree there is a good chance we see Wilson back for the last half of the season. It will still take getting back into game shape and familiar with a new OC and CFL game. We might the next rookie sensational receiver in TC. 

All that said, at the moment we've taken a big hit at the position. I'd be on the phone to Tim White.

Haba and Garbutt might have had some upside but we don't much about the late additions to the PR. So again, we probably will be starting with rookies aside from Vaughter.

Bighill has been replaced with players with upside. However, he was a team leader and it may take awhile to absorb that loss. Same with the probability of losing Alexander. Those were the two that aligned our defence and provided leadership.

Others will step up, but 1st or 2nd year players versus 7+ years in Winnipeg.

[theaardvark]

Sure but bargains are more for back up depth. Walters said he'd be more active in free agency and we did pick up some decent players. There are still some very good players that we might be interested in but what the SMS cost is and whether they are interested in moving to Winnipeg IDK.

Gone: O.Wilson, Lawler, Woli, Dobson ( reportedly ), Haba, Garbutt, Bighill and Ford. Also lost a few players that were mostly on the PR, last year.

I'm not panicking but that's a lot of talent to replace. Walters might still make a big splash somewhere on the roster but the clock is ticking somewhat as choices are agreeing on other destinations. That said, we don't know WHO he might have been targeting or whether they are still available.

With Dobson and Lawler off the negotiation table, that's a lot of $SMS opened up.  Walters is excellent at picking over the players passed by in the first frenzy, and picking up players at good value (not bargains, but not vault busting). 

O.Wilson - TBD, always one in the recruit class.
Lawler - Mitchell
Woli - Clercius
Dobson ( reportedly ) -Wallace/Randolph
Haba/Garbutt - Vaughters
Bighill - Jones
Ford - Parker

And we have SMS if we want to pick up a DT, which is really the only spot left, or maybe a #2/3 WR, although Schoen/Mitchell are a pretty good 1-2 punck, with Demski, Clercius and Mr. TBD (could be Wheatfall or one of the new recruits)

I'm pretty OK with the current roster, Alexander, Augustine would be nice to bring back as well, now that the big fish are fried, time to tackle the rest.

The issue with Woli was at worst, rotational depth and injury insurance. We lost our PR guy Murphy earlier. I know we picked up Cobb but Canadian depth took a hit.

I agree there is a good chance we see Wilson back for the last half of the season. It will still take getting back into game shape and familiar with a new OC and CFL game. We might the next rookie sensational receiver in TC. 

All that said, at the moment we've taken a big hit at the position. I'd be on the phone to Tim White.

Haba and Garbutt might have had some upside but we don't much about the late additions to the PR. So again, we probably will be starting with rookies aside from Vaughter.

Bighill has been replaced with players with upside. However, he was a team leader and it may take awhile to absorb that loss. Same with the probability of losing Alexander. Those were the two that aligned our defence and provided leadership.

Others will step up, but 1st or 2nd year players versus 7+ years in Winnipeg.

[theaardvark]

All that said, at the moment we've taken a big hit at the position. I'd be on the phone to Tim White.
 

Tim White isn't a FA, are you thinking Reggie White, Jr?

[Blue In BC]

Tim White isn't a FA, are you thinking Reggie White, Jr?

Yes. My bad.  Dunbar might be a good choice as well.

We have shed some SMS overall. Where we choose to spend it is a TBD.

[theaardvark]

Yes. My bad.  Dunbar might be a good choice as well.

We have shed some SMS overall. Where we choose to spend it is a TBD.

I trust Walters to find the deals to make the team better, and leave a bit of cap available to pay out Schoen's bonuses and pay Wilson on his return (he is still ELC for this season, but we should lock him down if possible.

Not sure the plan if Alexander doesn't re-sign, is there a FA FS out there?  Or does Kramdi slide back and we start a new SAM?  Maybe Jon Jones?  Or is there a FS in the draft we take with our first pick?  Missed out on Metchie, wonder if we land him if Dobson and Lawler moved on earlier.  Maybe we should look at Hutter in Edm, I liked what I saw of him last year.

Other than that, maybe a DT, still some names out there...

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I trust Walters to find the deals to make the team better, and leave a bit of cap available to pay out Schoen's bonuses and pay Wilson on his return (he is still ELC for this season, but we should lock him down if possible.

Not sure the plan if Alexander doesn't re-sign, is there a FA FS out there?  Or does Kramdi slide back and we start a new SAM?  Maybe Jon Jones?  Or is there a FS in the draft we take with our first pick?  Missed out on Metchie, wonder if we land him if Dobson and Lawler moved on earlier.  Maybe we should look at Hutter in Edm, I liked what I saw of him last year.

Other than that, maybe a DT, still some names out there...

Last count they had 6 potential Safeties on the roster, not worried about Safety at all.  The D-line needs to add more meat.

[Ridermania]

FB had a post that said Feltmate retired.

Anybody else hear this?

[Blue In BC]

FB had a post that said Feltmate retired.

Anybody else hear this?

Yes, it's noted on 3rd down now. I wasn't expecting him back anyway. Decent blue collar player but his position will probably be filled by a draft choice.

Our remaining potential free agents are down to a very small group of 9 players. Still time to bring back a couple if we choose.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Yes, it's noted on 3rd down now. I wasn't expecting him back anyway. Decent blue collar player but his position will probably be filled by a draft choice.

Our remaining potential free agents are down to a very small group of 9 players. Still time to bring back a couple if we choose.

Hell with that, MCI needs to take on the FB job this year and show he belongs.

[Blue In BC]

Hell with that, MCI needs to take on the FB job this year and show he belongs.

I agree that should be where he should be pencilled in but he has to win that role. It doesn't mean we won't draft another player in one of the lower rounds.

MCI was drafted fairly high in 2024 so hopefully they didn't make a mistake but choose to not rush him into any in his 1st year.

[TecnoGenius]

Well, it's been reported that the Bombers have been told Kenny is moving on. So either we are not offering anything close or he's bailing for the highest bidder again.

This is disappointing if true. I didn't think Lawler would go chasing money again.

Ya, after all the jawboning when coming back here about his mistake bailing for money, etc.  Disappointed.  The only thing I can think of is maybe all his whiffs and underwhelming production (and GC faux-pas) in '24 made Mafia reduce the offer.

I still would bet money the gap was > $30k, otherwise he would have stayed.

I guess he can go have fun losing in HAM now!  He'll be having flashbacks to his EDM years!

[TecnoGenius]

Dunbar and Rhymes are still out there as very good receivers.

I'd be all over Dunbar.  Good hands, can make the tough catches and deep home runs.  Very versatile.  You might also be able to get him for top-end of tier-2 money as well.  Not sure I'd pay him tier-1 money, though.  Certainly he can't get more than Schoen.

[blue_gold_84]

Ya, after all the jawboning when coming back here about his mistake bailing for money, etc.  Disappointed.

The guy talks a big game but that's about it. Good riddance AFAIC.