2025 Free Agency (Blue Bomber Signings/News)

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

That was based on the 2025 SMS before finding out there was another $400K. So depending on what we hear from the CFLPA on what the expectation was on how to spend this money. There must have been a plan on what to do once money from revenue sharing came to light.

I didn't think that would fall into just adding more expensive players. I thought it would fall in some version of sharing that money across the spectrum of the roster. Raising ELC and the bottom of the roster etc etc.

I don't think the CFLPA can dictate how extra revenue is spent without re-negotiating  the CBA, they should be deliriously happy if teams are spending it on players.

If this bonus is from revenue sharing, I'd like to know the breakdown that occurred between the have and the have nots. 

Has anyone heard a single word about where the extra revenue came from?  Kinda miss Ambrosie, he was good a good communicator.

[dd]

The Chungh situation is interesting. Here's a guy who left us for more money and a chance to play at home, now it appears he's not going to give a hometown discount for the SMS strapped Lions, and no other team comes calling. I m thinking they're waiting for an injury and will do a rental agreement with him if the situation arises, and it may not. And on the other hand, we loose 1st year starter Dobson to Hamilton for more $$---what did he sign for?? Funny how one guy after 1 season gets more money and the other guy is a proven vet is allowed to sit and wait. must be huge cost difference in salaries.

[Blue In BC]

I don't think the CFLPA can dictate how extra revenue is spent without re-negotiating  the CBA, they should be deliriously happy if teams are spending it on players.

If this bonus is from revenue sharing, I'd like to know the breakdown that occurred between the have and the have nots. 

Has anyone heard a single word about where the extra revenue came from?  Kinda miss Ambrosie, he was good a good communicator.

My point was didn't they do that when they created a revenue sharing plan in the 1st place in the CBA.  Wouldn't their focus have been on this going to the players is some sort of formula? By definition that is the " sharing " of revenue they asked for.

I don't see it as a sharing between the have and have nots. The SMS goes up by the same amount for each team. It is a profitability issue.

[Blueforlife]

Yeah, I book marked that to see how things progress during TC. It's obviously early so things can change dramatically due to injury, performance in TC and SMS considerations.

A couple of things I noticed which are interesting but not written in stone.

1. T. Wilson and Dolegala listed as # 4 and # 5 QB's.  The competition seems to be set for our # 3 QB and not our # 2 QB. I'd prefer Wilson landed on the AR so he might actually get some playing time. I'm not sure how the other 2 would accept a PR spot. Not even sure Wilson would either.

However, we haven't heard how teams are supposed to deal with their extra $400K SMS. Perhaps we see teams stash 2 players on the 1 game IR ( 1 extra QB and maybe a receiver ) etc just to keep them around. Not the best use of the money but it is an option.

2. J. Jones is listed ahead of K. Wilson at WIL and there were comments that he's pencilled in there. While having K. Wilson as a DI is not the worst idea, it might bump Ayers off the AR just due to ratio.

Initially our DI's will be Castillo and Logan. IMO we'll have an extra import DB or DL as a DI. Both could be rookies at this point. That means any import LB as a DI is fighting against those 2 choices.

All of that may be decided on performance of the depth at relative positions. Technically we have stronger Canadian depth at LB than in the secondary.

3. As I suggested earlier, we have some tough choices regarding our import receiver decisions. Receiver would seem to be the least likely choice for a DI since we have Logan and he'd fill that role in game.

4. Chris-Ike is listed at FB. I guess he needs to make a mark showing what he is capable of doing. No one else is currently listed at FB and he's not listed as the back up RB.

Fantastic write up

[Jesse]

I don't think the CFLPA can dictate how extra revenue is spent without re-negotiating  the CBA, they should be deliriously happy if teams are spending it on players.

If this bonus is from revenue sharing, I'd like to know the breakdown that occurred between the have and the have nots. 

Has anyone heard a single word about where the extra revenue came from?  Kinda miss Ambrosie, he was good a good communicator.

When Justin Dunk was talking about this, he said the CFL is so behind in sharing the audits from previous seasons with the CFLPA, that they've had to file a grievance to get these numbers. And that the financial year that this surplus same from was not from last year, but from 2 years ago (iirc).

So I think we're in uncharted waters because the league itself has broken their CBA responsibility by not filing this with the CFLPA as they were supposed to, and revealed this unexpectedly into FA, so there is negotiations happening. Which is why Walters is in wait and see mode with the new money ( along with other GMs).

[Blue In BC]

When Justin Dunk was talking about this, he said the CFL is so behind in sharing the audits from previous seasons with the CFLPA, that they've had to file a grievance to get these numbers. And that the financial year that this surplus same from was not from last year, but from 2 years ago (iirc).

So I think we're in uncharted waters because the league itself has broken their CBA responsibility by not filing this with the CFLPA as they were supposed to, and revealed this unexpectedly into FA, so there is negotiations happening. Which is why Walters is in wait and see mode with the new money ( along with other GMs).

It doesn't change the fact that the CFLPA must have had a plan for revenue sharing once it became available. The focus could have been a combination of many things I've mentioned earlier.

1. Raise ELC
2. Raise minimum PR payments
3. Add to pension money
4. Improve medical coverage post football.
5. Increase roster size by 1 or 2 players.

It's less of a concern which ideas they choose but what exactly did they negotiate.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

When Justin Dunk was talking about this, he said the CFL is so behind in sharing the audits from previous seasons with the CFLPA, that they've had to file a grievance to get these numbers. And that the financial year that this surplus same from was not from last year, but from 2 years ago (iirc).

So I think we're in uncharted waters because the league itself has broken their CBA responsibility by not filing this with the CFLPA as they were supposed to, and revealed this unexpectedly into FA, so there is negotiations happening. Which is why Walters is in wait and see mode with the new money ( along with other GMs).

Thanks for that, was this on 3DN?  Very interesting I'm sure working with the CFL owners is like trying to heard cats, delay was probably caused by a few rogue teams that don't like to share financial info.

[Jesse]

Thanks for that, was this on 3DN?  Very interesting I'm sure working with the CFL owners is like trying to heard cats, delay was probably caused by a few rogue teams that don't like to share financial info.

I heard him talk about it on the radio a couple times immediately after the news was dropped. Not sure if he ever wrote about it.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

LaPo provides a one game analysis of Shea Patterson.