Roster changes from 2024

[Pigskin]

I think I recall Rutledge being directly replaced by Kramdi, and going into the post-season(?).  We may have already identified Kramdi as the future starter and would have had no need for a IMP SAM, except as a PR backup.

Worked out pretty well for us.  But let's not minimize what Rutledge did: he was pretty much lights out all season until he got benched.  I really thought he had a bright future here: another Moe.

Darby took over for Rutledge for the rest of the season. Darby started the first 6 weeks of 2023, before Kramdi jumped in on week 7 and has never looked back. 

[Blueforlife]

Darby took over for Rutledge for the rest of the season. Darby started the first 6 weeks of 2023, before Kramdi jumped in on week 7 and has never looked back. 

Kramdi has been very good after much criticism by some.  Patience paid off.  I have always liked him.  Got burnt a bit in pass coverage early but he found his way.  I would like to see him finish his career here but that's a big ask.

[Pete]

Maybe.  Maybe not.  Unit cohesion is a real thing in football.  FIFO got us 2 cups and 3 more div championships.

The downside is I think FIFO may have chased some talent out of town.  I think the Gaitor and Rutledge incidents (why always SAMs?) were part of this.  Maybe the Bowman fiasco too?  Granted, those weren't top talents...

I'd be more concerned if FAs who have never been Bombers were saying they don't want to come here because FIFO.  So far I haven't seen that.

Brotherhood within the team is a good thing.

Players are not gonna say its fifo thats keeping them away its money. A big reason behind us not signing name free agents is that Walters/Oshea is afraid of what it would do to locker room. If we paid Ceresna 230k what would WillIE think when Walters told him 200k was all we could afford. We weren't going to pay Ford the asking price cause again what would that do to Holm and Nichols who are arguably better. It also precludes us from the Webbs and Stubblefields. We could use a tackle like Isiah Cage who would solidify that position for several years.
  Sometimes you have to pay for talent to get better if you have a need.

 

[Jesse]

Players are not gonna say its fifo thats keeping them away its money. A big reason behind us not signing name free agents is that Walters/Oshea is afraid of what it would do to locker room. If we paid Ceresna 230k what would WillIE think when Walters told him 200k was all we could afford. We weren't going to pay Ford the asking price cause again what would that do to Holm and Nichols who are arguably better. It also precludes us from the Webbs and Stubblefields. We could use a tackle like Isiah Cage who would solidify that position for several years.
  Sometimes you have to pay for talent to get better if you have a need.

 

I call BS on this take.

[TecnoGenius]

I call BS on this take.

It's gotta be part of the equation though.  Some of the big names have very big egos (including players on or recently on our team).

It'll sting Schoen seeing what Kenny just banked...

[Jesse]

It's gotta be part of the equation though.  Some of the big names have very big egos (including players on or recently on our team).

It'll sting Schoen seeing what Kenny just banked...

Maybe in the NHL or NFL where guys are signing long term deals. Mark Schiefele signing a 8 year deal for 6 million per year and then immediately see others signing for 8-10 million in the years after probably bites, but those situations don't exist in our league.

CFL guys are re-negotiating every year. Willie's made the same rate for like 3 years in a row now with many players across the league making more. Schoen knew his negotiating power was low and probably knew well before we did that Kenny wasn't returning because he was "only" offered 200k. The tampering period lets guys see exactly what they're worth if they want.

Occam's razor, everyone.

[theaardvark]

Maybe in the NHL or NFL where guys are signing long term deals. Mark Schiefele signing a 8 year deal for 6 million per year and then immediately see others signing for 8-10 million in the years after probably bites, but those situations don't exist in our league.

CFL guys are re-negotiating every year. Willie's made the same rate for like 3 years in a row now with many players across the league making more. Schoen knew his negotiating power was low and probably knew well before we did that Kenny wasn't returning because he was "only" offered 200k. The tampering period lets guys see exactly what they're worth if they want.

Occam's razor, everyone.

MS55 and CH37 both got 7 years at $8.5 mil, but yeah, others have gotten more...

Player values depend on need and capacity to overlook potential issues.  Past/current injuries are a big factor for some GM's, as well as needing a physical to confirm current conditioning.  For others, they can overlook those with the hope the return/upside is worth it.

Kenny is a funny one, left for the bucks, came "home" for the team, then left "for a chance to win", leaving a team with 5 GC appearances for a team that hasn't won a cup in 25 years, and missed the playoffs last year.  He is an outlier that makes his own narrative, and his highlight reel is such that he can make up his own agenda, and teams will buy it. 

Goveia is really banking on BLM to have some chemistry with Kenny.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It's gotta be part of the equation though.  Some of the big names have very big egos (including players on or recently on our team).

It'll sting Schoen seeing what Kenny just banked...

With that in mind betcha Schoen explores FA a lot deeper next off-season if he has a great year.  The entire league was pulling receiver salaries back down towards reasonable, until Teddy-boy blew it up signing Lawler.  I wonder if any other team pushed him there, or if he just blurted $275k out in excitement.

Big surprise, 3DN revealed Robbie Smith has become the highest paid D player in the league at $271K, making $40K more than team mate Ceresna.

[theaardvark]

With that in mind betcha Schoen explores FA a lot deeper next off-season if he has a great year.  The entire league was pulling receiver salaries back down towards reasonable, until Teddy-boy blew it up signing Lawler.  I wonder if any other team pushed him there, or if he just blurted $275k out in excitement.

Big surprise, 3DN revealed Robbie Smith has become the highest paid D player in the league at $271K, making $40K more than team mate Ceresna.

Why?

Never more than 6 sacks, or more than 34 DT's... 1 int and 3 ff in 5 years...

Willie is such a bargain...

[Jesse]

MS55 and CH37 both got 7 years at $8.5 mil, but yeah, others have gotten more...

Player values depend on need and capacity to overlook potential issues.  Past/current injuries are a big factor for some GM's, as well as needing a physical to confirm current conditioning.  For others, they can overlook those with the hope the return/upside is worth it.

Kenny is a funny one, left for the bucks, came "home" for the team, then left "for a chance to win", leaving a team with 5 GC appearances for a team that hasn't won a cup in 25 years, and missed the playoffs last year.  He is an outlier that makes his own narrative, and his highlight reel is such that he can make up his own agenda, and teams will buy it. 

Goveia is really banking on BLM to have some chemistry with Kenny.

I was referring to Scheifele's previous contract. There were grumbles over the years that he regretted signing the contract and felt underpaid.

As to Kenny, he has the same agenda as every other player, he went to the highest bidder.

[Jesse]

With that in mind betcha Schoen explores FA a lot deeper next off-season if he has a great year.  The entire league was pulling receiver salaries back down towards reasonable, until Teddy-boy blew it up signing Lawler.  I wonder if any other team pushed him there, or if he just blurted $275k out in excitement.

Big surprise, 3DN revealed Robbie Smith has become the highest paid D player in the league at $271K, making $40K more than team mate Ceresna.

100%

[dd]

At the very least, Schoen should get Lawler's agent working for him!!! Lawler stole the farm on his deal, given he gets hurt every year for at least 1/3 of the season, but whatever, desperate teams do desperate things

[DM83]

Hamilton was obviously a joke.  Maybe this year the Bombers East squad will play to their expectations. Previous comment on Lawler playing only a third of the year very interesting. bLM can throw a decent ball when the protection is there.

They had many holes to fill.  But defensively, they didn't seem to be able to make any plays, routinely or at big moments.  All that was then dumped on BLM who has become unspectacular. Still competent but as was mentioned earlier, will be dependent on Lawler.

They should be the most interesting team with suitable newcomers. But as mentioned, can they stop anybody?

[Pete]

I call BS on this take.

you dont think that walters

Maybe in the NHL or NFL where guys are signing long term deals. Mark Schiefele signing a 8 year deal for 6 million per year and then immediately see others signing for 8-10 million in the years after probably bites, but those situations don't exist in our league.

CFL guys are re-negotiating every year. Willie's made the same rate for like 3 years in a row now with many players across the league making more. Schoen knew his negotiating power was low and probably knew well before we did that Kenny wasn't returning because he was "only" offered 200k. The tampering period lets guys see exactly what they're worth if they want.

Occam's razor, everyone.

you don't think that Walters went to the core members of this team and said, " look we feel we have a legitimate chance to win this year with a few changes to the our depth, but to do so we can afford to pay you  _____(enter amount)
   How does he then try to sign a Ceresna for example for 250k or an oline member for 200k where our best lineman (an allstar) is making 175?

In the past 4 years we've never done that. The team has a salary structure by position that Walters adheres to. (with the only exception being Lawler and this year we didn't do that)
Willie Bryant and Holm would have gotten more in the free agent market.

 It's not the comparison to other players in the league its within our own team and the sense of fairness and equity
 
This year will be a true test of locker room continuity and atmosphere vs paying for talent when at the end of it we compare the Bombers results to elks.
(as an aside it's something to see what overspending cap by 300k will get you on your dline
Elks Balow/Ceresna/Brinkman/Smith (appr. 865k) vs Vaughters/Lawton/Woods/Jefferson (575k)

[Jesse]

you dont think that walters
you don't think that Walters went to the core members of this team and said, " look we feel we have a legitimate chance to win this year with a few changes to the our depth, but to do so we can afford to pay you  _____(enter amount)
   How does he then try to sign a Ceresna for example for 250k or an oline member for 200k where our best lineman (an allstar) is making 175?

In the past 4 years we've never done that. The team has a salary structure by position that Walters adheres to. (with the only exception being Lawler and this year we didn't do that)
Willie Bryant and Holm would have gotten more in the free agent market.

 It's not the comparison to other players in the league its within our own team and the sense of fairness and equity
 
This year will be a true test of locker room continuity and atmosphere vs paying for talent when at the end of it we compare the Bombers results to elks.
(as an aside it's something to see what overspending cap by 300k will get you on your dline
Elks Balow/Ceresna/Brinkman/Smith (appr. 865k) vs Vaughters/Lawton/Woods/Jefferson (575k)

I don't think Walters negotiates like that, no.

He gives agents his best offer that the team can afford and the agent will make counter offers based on comparable player salaries across the league.