Bombers sign 4th overall draft pick of 2022, Enock Makonzo.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

We really don't.  Every year I can maybe spot 1-2 1GIR "trick" stashes in WFC.  Other teams make heavy use of it, stashing up to dozen not-really-injured players each.

As such, I don't expect us to "cheat the roster" this year either.

So does that mean the surplus FA RECs get their 60-100k contract sitting on the PR?  (Assuming we want to keep them.)  I thought PR players were forced to get some sort minimum wage as the maximum?

As an example, say Stearns or White don't make the AR week 1 and are stuffed on the PR.  Do they get the $ they were promised?  Can other teams still poach them?

Sometimes you'll see them shuffle the deck late in the season to get a PR player a game check and quite often that player will not play a single snap.

[theaardvark]

We really don't.  Every year I can maybe spot 1-2 1GIR "trick" stashes in WFC.  Other teams make heavy use of it, stashing up to dozen not-really-injured players each.

As such, I don't expect us to "cheat the roster" this year either.

So does that mean the surplus FA RECs get their 60-100k contract sitting on the PR?  (Assuming we want to keep them.)  I thought PR players were forced to get some sort minimum wage as the maximum?

As an example, say Stearns or White don't make the AR week 1 and are stuffed on the PR.  Do they get the $ they were promised?  Can other teams still poach them?

PR players:

Can be paid any amount over $750/week
All pay and housing allowance goes against the $SMS cap
Can be offered contracts by any other team without permission.
Can choose to leave the PR without notice or permission.

AR players on the 1 game IR

Have to accept the move to the IR
Get paid their contract game cheques
Pay and housing goes against the $SMS cap
Cannot be approached by other teams without permission
Cannot choose to leave the team, other than to retire, and can be put on the suspended list and cannot sign with another team until their contract expires, even if they are not playing, unless released.

Players on the AR and 6 game IR

Have to accept the move to the IR
Get paid their contract game cheques
Housing goes against the $SMS cap
Cannot be approached by other teams without permission
Cannot choose to leave the team, other than to retire, and can be put on the suspended list and cannot sign with another team until their contract expires, even if they are not playing, unless released.


Walters has that extra $SMS uncommitted as of yet, so we could explore the expanded use of the 1game IR this year.. or keeping players on the PR at a high than min rate.  But I think anyone worth paying above min on the PR would get scooped.

[theaardvark]

Bombers have rarely kept guys on the PR. Bombers management had graciously allowed guys to leave when a player has a better opportunity else where, it's called class. Respect and just knowledge that players work hard to make a team roster and get a roster spot and contract.

I think those archaic views that players go on a PR spot to hang around are gone. The PR contract basically works if four guys rent a cheaper house and all chip in for rent money. (Hefney housing from a few years ago)

What the heck are you talking about?

You can't "keep" players on the PR, they are able to talk to other teams and leave without permission.

That's why it is the practice roster, they have no contracts, just a week to week agreed upon cheque.

Each year, there are players that go in on housing, and the Bombers usually give them an allowance for that, and can help them find a spot.  $750/wk is better than many people get, above minimum wage for a working stiff, and there is housing money on top.  The idea of a PR is working your way onto the AR with a team, and getting a contract.  Even if that isn't the team you are currently on.

[Pete]

I thought if a team wanted to take a player off the pr the originating team had the option to promote them to the ar but I guess thats wrong.
Having said that its very uncommon for players to get picked off another teams pr.

[TecnoGenius]

Having said that its very uncommon for players to get picked off another teams pr.

That's what I was going to say.  It's rare.  Yet we always worry about it?

Unless some of it is hidden by the players telling their GM another team is interested and the team releases them.  Sometimes to us it can appear as team A PR -> free agent -> sign with team B, when really it's a case of PR poaching.  The player is just being "nice" by asking for release, even though they don't have to.

So if we wanted to PR one of the $90-$140k signings, we could, and they'd still be highly paid.  And unless a team wanted to pay them more, why would they leave?

Does the NFL allow PR players to be poached in the same way?  Seems like a strange setup.  Maybe there needs to be a 5-man (or whatever) "non-snipeable PR" (or PPR=Protected Practice Roster?) in the CFL?  How are you supposed to have depth if any decent PR player you have can be stolen?  Or maybe have the sniping team pay the holding team a fee ($25k?) that counts against the SMS (and subtracts from the snipee team?).

[theaardvark]

The PR has a specific purpose:  to develop new talent.

Its not a place to hide established players.  Even though some may use it that way.

A PR spot is not an ideal place for a guy that wants to play.  If someone on any PR was good enough to be on another teams AR, its not fair to the player to hold him back, hence the poachability of PR players.

Teams with good scouting can stock their PR's with quality new talent, ready to step up when needed.  And that's what it is for.

[dd]

I have no problem with people sniping PR players and they get a shot at making someone's AR and playing. Heck, players just want to play and we as fans want to see the best talent on the field not rotting on someone's PR because they re loaded at a certain position

[TecnoGenius]

Ya, but then teams in the 2024 WFC situation with like 4 of 5 starting RECs injured at the same time, are basically screwed.

It really would be nice if you could have a little cupboard where you've stashed a middling player in each important (injury-prone) unit.

We lucked out with Pokey in '24, but we very well could have come up bare once the injuries hit, and then we would have really been doomed.

[DM83]

Was pokey on the PR?.  I thought he made the active roster directly?

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Was pokey on the PR?.  I thought he made the active roster directly?

Ontaria Wilson won a job out of camp and was a week one starter. His first five games were a bit of a struggle fest and some people suggested he needed to put on the PR. It wasn't until start six he broke out for 201 yards receiving. Prior to the breakout game, his best stat line was 2 catches for 30 yards.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Ontaria Wilson won a job out of camp and was a week one starter. His first five games were a bit of a struggle fest and some people suggested he needed to put on the PR. It wasn't until start six he broke out for 201 yards receiving. Prior to the breakout game, his best stat line was 2 catches for 30 yards.

I see NY Jets TC doesn't even open until July 20th, it would probably be mid Aug. at earliest before Pokey could return which would mean missing the first 10 games at least. Good point is it could limit his salary demands going into his 3rd season.

It looks like he is a very low priority for them, they have no photo, interviews or updated biography for him and he's listed as a Reserve player, which might work out to a PR spot if all goes well, I guess.

https://www.newyorkjets.com/team/players-roster/ontaria-wilson/

[Blue In BC]

I see NY Jets TC doesn't even open until July 20th, it would probably be mid Aug. at earliest before Pokey could return which would mean missing the first 10 games at least. Good point is it could limit his salary demands going into his 3rd season.

It looks like he is a very low priority for them, they have no photo, interviews or updated biography for him and he's listed as a Reserve player, which might work out to a PR spot if all goes well, I guess.

https://www.newyorkjets.com/team/players-roster/ontaria-wilson/

Hard to say what will happen. Some players signed get released early just like happens in the CFL. He might make it to TC and be an early cut or survive and make their PR.

Austin Mack didn't return to the Als until August 20th for example.

Coming back late is not the worst problem but it doesn't help either. Getting up to speed with a new OC, game plan and some new players is an adjustment. We might find the next hot rookie that bumps him to a DI spot.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I thought if a team wanted to take a player off the pr the originating team had the option to promote them to the ar but I guess thats wrong.
Having said that its very uncommon for players to get picked off another teams pr.

I believe that's still the case, but I think it comes down to the players choice to accept which offer he wants.  I believe the raiding team has to put the player on the AR and can't just PR them. 

There may have been a few players picked off last year but for the previous 2-3 seasons there wasn't much PR poaching going on, everyone behaved.

[Pigskin]

Interesting stats on Wilson. Only 3 games over 100 yards, 11 games under 50 yards. 1026 yards, 300 of those are YAC. He also made a few sick catches. I can't see him making the NFL, but he might want to go on the NFL PR world tour for a season.

[dd]

Interesting stats on Wilson. Only 3 games over 100 yards, 11 games under 50 yards. 1026 yards, 300 of those are YAC. He also made a few sick catches. I can't see him making the NFL, but he might want to go on the NFL PR world tour for a season.

He hasn't got a prayer to make the NFL, he'll be lucky to make it to TC and extremely lucky to make it to the PR, will never see game action.