2025 Free Agency (other CFL teams Signings/News)

[TecnoGenius]

Free Agent signings by Calgary:  Rhymes $165K- $27K sing bonus. Webb $150K- $30K SB, Miles Brown $132K- $25K SB

vomit

[TecnoGenius]

DB salaries are creeping up, lucky they locked up Holm early in the process, they might have to pay Nichols $150-160k to retain him next time he becomes a FA.

Nah, Nichols is getting up there in age for a DB.  Those guys are almost always the youngest unit.  Shelf life is limited.  Good DB attributes are the first to age out.

It's rare a star DB leaves here and goes on to shine elsewhere.

[TecnoGenius]

Prokup signed by the Stamps.

To coach.

Darn, because if Strev's knees can't handle it or he gets injured, there's no other CFL QB I'd rather have in SY than Prukop.  I'd posit he's the best in the league at getting that 1-1.5 yards.

... until we find the next one!

[VictorRomano]

Darn, because if Strev's knees can't handle it or he gets injured, there's no other CFL QB I'd rather have in SY than Prukop.  I'd posit he's the best in the league at getting that 1-1.5 yards.

... until we find the next one!

6'5" 245lb Tommy Stevens, formerly of Calgary, was far and away the best SY QB in 2024 - 60 carries for 237 yards (almost 4.0 YPC) and 10 TDs.  I'd have liked the Bombers to go after him in FA, but the Riders grabbed him.

[Waffler]

there's no other CFL QB I'd rather have in SY than Prukop.

At one time I'd agree but others seem to be learning it as a specialty too, with success. He did raise the bar though, no doubt.

[Jesse]

I would not want to sign any QB just to do SY.

I'm going to waste a QB roster spot because one guy gets the yard 95% of the time instead of 91% of the time? I'd rather train a prospect how to do the sneak while hoping they can develop into something more.

[Pigskin]

I think Wilson handled the SY very well last season. 

[theaardvark]

I would not want to sign any QB just to do SY.

I'm going to waste a QB roster spot because one guy gets the yard 95% of the time instead of 91% of the time? I'd rather train a prospect how to do the sneak while hoping they can develop into something more.

We could have had Stevens, Prokup AND Streveler here, we'd be unbeatable!

Or, we can get a FB to take the punishment of SY plays.  Or even a DT, like The Fridge did.  Can you imagine Fatboi crashing the line?  Or Willie diving over?

[Jesse]

We could have had Stevens, Prokup AND Streveler here, we'd be unbeatable!

Or, we can get a FB to take the punishment of SY plays.  Or even a DT, like The Fridge did.  Can you imagine Fatboi crashing the line?  Or Willie diving over?

I think he'd get stuffed for no gain more often than not.

You want someone with a quick first step more than anything.

[TecnoGenius]

6'5" 245lb Tommy Stevens, formerly of Calgary, was far and away the best SY QB in 2024 - 60 carries for 237 yards (almost 4.0 YPC) and 10 TDs.  I'd have liked the Bombers to go after him in FA, but the Riders grabbed him.

Stevens would be a great choice, but I'd still go with Prukop.  What we need isn't any YAC or breakaways: No, what MOS needs is 99% on the 1-1.75Y range, and hopefully 90% on 2Y.  The entire 2017(ish)-2023 was patterned around this.  Just get 9Y in 2 downs.

[TecnoGenius]

I would not want to sign any QB just to do SY.

I'm going to waste a QB roster spot because one guy gets the yard 95% of the time instead of 91% of the time? I'd rather train a prospect how to do the sneak while hoping they can develop into something more.

If The Can Mafia was named Jesse, sure.  But the real Mafia's pattern has been to have a dedicated SY guy, who hopefully can throw if given a chance, but perfectly fine if he can't.

Since we are allowed to roster 3 QB again, there's no reason to try to dev & keep 2 legit #2's.  It's perfectly fine to dedicate a spot to SY and getting it up to 99%.

[TecnoGenius]

I think Wilson handled the SY very well last season.

That he did!  But the big question is Wilson still going to be on the AR come week 1.  If not, I don't really want to trust SY to Patterson or Dolegala!  They were pretty bad when in Green (and Orange).

Now if Strevy is 100%, then we're ok in any event.  And if we have Strevy + Wilson (both healthy) then we'll be totally set for SY, and the only big question mark will be who's the viable #2 (if any).

[Jesse]

If The Can Mafia was named Jesse, sure.  But the real Mafia's pattern has been to have a dedicated SY guy, who hopefully can throw if given a chance, but perfectly fine if he can't.

Since we are allowed to roster 3 QB again, there's no reason to try to dev & keep 2 legit #2's.  It's perfectly fine to dedicate a spot to SY and getting it up to 99%.

Other than Prukop (and this was when our back-up and developmental spot were both used by Dru), is this true?

[Blueforlife]

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/03/bmo-field-home-of-toronto-argonauts-to-receive-150-million-in-upgrades-for-2026-fifa-world-cup/

[TecnoGenius]

Other than Prukop (and this was when our back-up and developmental spot were both used by Dru), is this true?

Uh... as someone who tracks & loves the SY game, I can emphatically say that it's 100% true.  And Dru was never "the SY guy", he was always on the dev track and we always had a (near-)"dedicated" SY guy when he was here.

(going from memory here...)
Marve
Dom Davis (a #2 hopeful)
Le Fevour (my fave).
McGuire (another #2 hopeful)
Strevy (the only one who had any shot at being a real #2)
Prukop
(Then Strevy again)

Every single guy above was also given a chance to prove they were the next starter.  Almost all failed miserably.  Dom got a few more chances than the others.  McGuire was a hopeful but quickly was id'd as another Marve/Feve.

That takes us back to basically when I started going to games again: 2014.

My faves in order of "best at SY" (and ignoring all other attributes) would be:

Feve
McGuire
Prukop
Marve
Strevy
Dom

Dom really only had 1 season here as "the SY guy" and he was still being groomed as #2.  It was only after he left here that he switched to being a dedicated SY guy.

You can have a decent and long career in the CFL if you can be the league best or 2nd best SY guy.  Heck, look how long Dom hung around even after he clearly was not starter material!

I'm really glad MOS values the SY role and I love his "you only need to get 9" philosophy.  I really enjoy the 1Y trenches battle.  I have utmost respect for the guys who accept they can't be a #1 and dedicate all their energy into being the league-best SY.  Too many think it's beneath them, when it's one of the most important parts of the WPG game.

We are very lucky (or KW/MOS are so good!) that we've often had the league-best SY guy on our roster.

If Strevy gets injured and we have retained Wilson, I hope he can step up to the plate (even if still being groomed for #2).  Otherwise maybe we can shake Stevens / Prukop loose.

We've done very well sniping pre-vetted SY guys from other teams, as half the list above demonstrates.  I bet we can do it again, as so many HCs/GMs are shortsighted and don't value the SY position.

I look forward to another year of (near?) league best SY performance!  Gettin' excited to see the first 2025 sneak in late May!!