2025 Free Agency (Blue Bomber Signings/News)

[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.

[Blue In BC]

Walters said they only spend to the current SMS level. Ok sure that made sense. However where did we spend that money?

Tony Jones might have gotten what Bighill got?

Holms got more. Nothing like Ford got going to the Elks. I doubt Bryant, Neufeld or Lofton got big jumps if anything.

We saved money on not resigning Lawler, Woli, Augustine, Feltmate, Dobson, Alexander, Whitehead. Cole, Haba and Garbutt were just ELC players.

Mitchell, White, Vaughters and Streveler got some money but they couldn't have gotten the rest of what we didn't spend.

So I ask, what happened.

[Pigskin]

Your missing a few.  Cobb, Stern, Logan, Gowanlock, Jones #2, Patterson.   

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Walters said they only spend to the current SMS level. Ok sure that made sense. However where did we spend that money?

Tony Jones might have gotten what Bighill got?

Holms got more. Nothing like Ford got going to the Elks. I doubt Bryant, Neufeld or Lofton got big jumps if anything.

We saved money on not resigning Lawler, Woli, Augustine, Feltmate, Dobson, Alexander, Whitehead. Cole, Haba and Garbutt were just ELC players.

Mitchell, White, Vaughters and Streveler got some money but they couldn't have gotten the rest of what we didn't spend.

So I ask, what happened.

Oh, fingers in the till.
Fingers in the till.
We shall sing rejoicing...
Fingers in the till!

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Walters said they only spend to the current SMS level. Ok sure that made sense. However where did we spend that money?

Tony Jones might have gotten what Bighill got?

Holms got more. Nothing like Ford got going to the Elks. I doubt Bryant, Neufeld or Lofton got big jumps if anything.

We saved money on not resigning Lawler, Woli, Augustine, Feltmate, Dobson, Alexander, Whitehead. Cole, Haba and Garbutt were just ELC players.

Mitchell, White, Vaughters and Streveler got some money but they couldn't have gotten the rest of what we didn't spend.

So I ask, what happened.

Walters confirms he's spending to the original cap of $5.6 million and is operating as normally planned, he has not touched the extra $400k.