2025 Free Agency (Blue Bomber Signings/News)

[blue_gold_84]

Sounds like he thinks that he was the reason WFC won in 2019...

Lawler said that...?

[Blue In BC]

Only about 70 potential free agents left. Anybody worth signing that would help our roster?

[theaardvark]

Lawler said that...?

'It's a better move': Kenny Lawler says he left Bombers to win this time
Paul Friesen

Kenny Lawler says he went to Hamilton to win.

The talented and fiery former Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver met with reporters in the Steel City on Wednesday and described his move as different from the way he bolted Winnipeg for a lucrative contract in Edmonton three years ago.

It's believed Lawler will earn close to $300,000 per season in his two-year deal, a healthy amount more than the Bombers offered him to stay.
While he's previously acknowledged chasing the money in Edmonton was a mistake, he downplayed that aspect this time.

"It's a better move," Lawler said. "When I was going to Edmonton, we all knew why I was going. It was just what I had to do, financially. But now, my biggest thing is to win. And I think we can win here. Everything that we have, it's going to be a turn around.

"We're going to be going to the playoffs, we're going to bring the Grey Cup back."

While the Bombers have reached five straight Grey Cup games, winning the first two, the Tiger-Cats have gone longer without a championship than any CFL team – since 1999.

Trying to end a city's Grey Cup drought is something Lawler is familiar with: he was part of the Winnipeg team that ended a 28-year famine in 2019.

"We were dealing with something similar in Winnipeg," he said. "And to be a part of that, it's a great feeling. So I know once we do it here, what it's going to be."

Lawler says the move wasn't a hard sell, not with a "walking Hall of Famer" like quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell at the controls of an offence run by head coach Scott Milanovich.

The 30-year-old says he's already been working on building the bond with teammates that's necessary to win.

"When you have a bond like this with the guys in that locker-room, it's unbreakable," he said. "The opposition's not going to be able to break you... that's what we had in Winnipeg."

Lawler is one of the most gifted receivers in the game. Despite missing eight games with a broken arm last season, he caught 41 passes for 662 yards and four touchdowns.

The year before that he pulled in 50 receptions for 901 yards in a dozen games, missing six because of an immigration issue stemming from an impaired driving conviction.

An injury limited him to 12 games, 59 catches and 894 yards in Edmonton in 2022. He had 1,104 yards on 64 grabs in 13 games with Winnipeg in '21, collecting a second Grey Cup ring.

Lawler vowed to keep winning in Hamilton.

"I manifest things. I speak them into existence. I did that going into Edmonton. It was maybe not really realistic. But here I really do believe it is."

[blue_gold_84]

Lawler's clearly lost his mind. Good riddance.

[J5V]

I am agreeing with Bob Irving.

https://x.com/BobIrvingCJOB/status/1889507826608812516

Ford, 300. Lawler, 280ish. Dobson, 200+

Just not sustainable. Let the other teams over pay.

Agree 100%

Five Grey Cup appearances in a row but I'm leaving this team for more $$$ elsewhere. I dunno about that line of reasoning. See ya, bye!

[theaardvark]

Hamilton has upgraded a lot, sure, but GC hopes with Bo Levi?  Yikes.

Goveia has done a good job adding to the roster, but its still Hamilton.  Milanovich is good, but wearing 2 hats is always tough.  And with only Brent Monson helping him coach (only those 2 listed on the website as coaches) https://www.ticats.ca/footballstaff/  its gonna be tough.

Its great for the league when teams improve and make things more competitive.  Toronto takes a big step back, but Ham still has to beat MTL to get to the cup. 

If "winning" was his priority, I think this move to Hamilton was premature.  But he's gettin' paid!

Have to wonder if his FIFO wore out, especially with Schoen back. Was he scared of sharing the spotlight again?  Does he think he is target #1 with White on the roster?  Have to wonder about upfront money,we know there's no second year guaranteed money.  IF there's no upfront, he's an easy cut if he doesn't knock it out of the park.

Think Tim White is happy making $235k this year with Kenny making $300k? Gonna be a tense locker room if Kenny isn't the league leader after week 3...

[theaardvark]

Only about 70 potential free agents left. Anybody worth signing that would help our roster?

Of those 70, do you think more than 20 find work this year?  There have to be more than 60 new bodies in the league, so the list of no offer / retirement should be pretty high in those final 70...

Still a lot of DL beef out there, Wynn, Baron, Usher, Howsare and Leonard.  Not sure how long their teeth are, or if there is fire in the belly, or if the FIFO... but bringing in one to camp wouldn't cost a penny if they can't make a contribution.

Have to wonder what blew up Tre Roberson's deal.  No debating his ability.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Ford signed with the Elks for $230k, which is a lot for a DB but it's not the $300k mistakenly posted numerous times.

[J5V]

Milanovich benched BLM at one point last season due to poor play. For Lawler to claim that he's hitching himself to the Hamilton team because of BLM is dubious reasoning. Why not just admit that you're more into $$$ than in winning? Outside of one brilliant game last season Lawler hasn't been overly impressive and it's questionable if he was worth what we paid him. Hamilton is gambling on Lawler as they are with BLM and it remains to be seen if that duo produce anything special in 2025. I'm already itching for a game against Hamilton.

[Blue In BC]

Of those 70, do you think more than 20 find work this year?  There have to be more than 60 new bodies in the league, so the list of no offer / retirement should be pretty high in those final 70...

Still a lot of DL beef out there, Wynn, Baron, Usher, Howsare and Leonard.  Not sure how long their teeth are, or if there is fire in the belly, or if the FIFO... but bringing in one to camp wouldn't cost a penny if they can't make a contribution.

Have to wonder what blew up Tre Roberson's deal.  No debating his ability.

I agree only a few are going to get any deal soon. Some might get a deal as the season progresses as in season injury issues. Something like Whitehead being signed as a rental.

That said, there are a few players that might have value if there is no signing bonus. DL in particular where they could compete in TC.

Overall it appears about 70 players moved to new teams. 10 are out on NFL option deals and perhaps 12 have retired at this point.

Although we don't directly need Tre Roberston, I wonder what his SMS might be?  If we can't add a good player elsewhere, then why not add an experienced vet DB?



The CFL is a league of transition every off season.

[markf]

Hamilton preseason favourites to lead the league in Egotism.

[Jesse]

Hamilton has upgraded a lot, sure, but GC hopes with Bo Levi?  Yikes.

Goveia has done a good job adding to the roster, but its still Hamilton.  Milanovich is good, but wearing 2 hats is always tough.  And with only Brent Monson helping him coach (only those 2 listed on the website as coaches) https://www.ticats.ca/footballstaff/  its gonna be tough.

Its great for the league when teams improve and make things more competitive.  Toronto takes a big step back, but Ham still has to beat MTL to get to the cup. 

If "winning" was his priority, I think this move to Hamilton was premature.  But he's gettin' paid!

Have to wonder if his FIFO wore out, especially with Schoen back. Was he scared of sharing the spotlight again?  Does he think he is target #1 with White on the roster?  Have to wonder about upfront money,we know there's no second year guaranteed money.  IF there's no upfront, he's an easy cut if he doesn't knock it out of the park.

Think Tim White is happy making $235k this year with Kenny making $300k? Gonna be a tense locker room if Kenny isn't the league leader after week 3...

All of this conjecture is a moot point. He went for the highest pay day. Period.

[Horseman]

Can't blame Lawler for leaving to make the big pay day given the short amount of time for their careers. As far as what he said, of course he is going to pump the tires on BLM and the Cats now, he is part of their team.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Can't blame Lawler for leaving to make the big pay day given the short amount of time for their careers. As far as what he said, of course he is going to pump the tires on BLM and the Cats now, he is part of their team.

Of course, not sure what people expect him to say when he's pushed out in front of the media twice yearly.  He'll retreat from the spotlight and go back to minding his own business, he's not particularly media savy.

[blue_gold_84]

Of course, not sure what people expect him to say when he's pushed out in front of the media twice yearly.  He'll retreat from the spotlight and go back to minding his own business, he's not particularly media savy.

He faces the media multiple times during the season - like most every other star player in the CFL. Not sure Lawler has ever been one to retreat from any spotlight.