Retiring QB's?

[Blue In BC]

Just speculating that we might be seeing more changing of the guard around the CFL this off season. Either by retirement or pushed off of rosters one way or another.

1. Masoli
2. MBT
3. Streveler ( due to injury )
4. BLM ( he said he was not sure about a return ). Negotiating?
5. Harris ( if he wins the Grey Cup ) Turning 40 before next TC
6. Collaros ( if we have a new HC, OC and changes in management )

I listed these in my ranking of probability but that's just pure speculation. It's tough to know when the cards are on the table and give up those big contracts.

[RebusRankin]

If the Riders win, I think the chances Harris retires go up. Thoughts?

[Blue In BC]

If the Riders win, I think the chances Harris retires go up. Thoughts?

I think the idea of retiring at the top ( Grey Cup win ) might be appealing for an older player. He's still capable of playing but family considerations come into play.

Age, injury history, performance and SMS hit's apply to all players. We see about 80 new players in the CFL every year. About the same change teams for better opportunity and higher SMS.

We already have Ottawa with a new HC and there will be a domino result in Toronto.

[Waffler]

2. MBT

He might be playing this week. Depends on that troublesome hammy for Alexander. I am sure he will start but can he finish? Physically MBT seems the same as ever, I figure he'll be backing up somewhere next year.

[Ducky]

Don't see Collaros retiring.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I think the idea of retiring at the top ( Grey Cup win ) might be appealing for an older player. He's still capable of playing but family considerations come into play.

Age, injury history, performance and SMS hit's apply to all players. We see about 80 new players in the CFL every year. About the same change teams for better opportunity and higher SMS.

We already have Ottawa with a new HC and there will be a domino result in Toronto.

I think Harris continues to play, he's a fitness fanatic and the Riders don't have anyone that will come close to beating him out for the #1 job. He can play as long as he likes.

[Blue In BC]

Don't see Collaros retiring.

I don't think he plans to retire. Just pointing out that some posters want him cut or traded which is probably not possible with his SMS.

OTOH, I'd like to see a drop in the SMS hit although I don't know what the extension for 2026 changed exactly. I expect there is probably an advance between free agency strikes. That could be time to make a decision if one is to be made.

We're still waiting to see if Walters and O'Shea return. I think they will but do players like Collaros or Oliveria balk at staying due to perceived problems with not fixing the OL or the OC? That's not to say we see a dramatic improvement in both but that's TBD.

Collaros is not a free agent but does he look at the issue of being pounded every game and say trade me? Like I said I don't see a trade based on his SMS so it's a rhetorical statement. If the team offers a substantial decrease he may decline and force an outright release?

[dd]

Don't see Collaros retiring.

Ya, Collaros is NOT retiring in 2026, bank on it. Neither is Harris or BLM. Strev is done due to injury and Masoli should retire.

[markf]

The fact that I know this means I'm spending too much time on CFL 😂

Anyway

" Zach Collaros has one more year with the Bombers and says he wants to continue playing with Winnipeg's core, but if that doesn't happen, he says he also has options, but won't elaborate. Regardless, right now, he says his mind is focusing on playing next season @TSN_Sports

— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) November 1, 2025"

[GOLDMEMBER]

CFL could be left with a pretty crappy QB quality next year. 1st and 2 and stringers.

[dd]

The fact that I know this means I'm spending too much time on CFL 😂

Anyway

" Zach Collaros has one more year with the Bombers and says he wants to continue playing with Winnipeg's core, but if that doesn't happen, he says he also has options, but won't elaborate. Regardless, right now, he says his mind is focusing on playing next season @TSN_Sports

— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) November 1, 2025"

He's got a long coaching career ahead of him if he wants to take it. He could walk on and be a Qb coach anywhere and work towards being an OC after that. I am hoping it's with us!!

[Tecno]

CFL could be left with a pretty crappy QB quality next year. 1st and 2 and stringers.

Ya, retirement?  The CFL is already lacking enough good QBs to even fill the #1 positions, let alone #2's.  Maybe the league can handle one #1 and one #2 retiring, but not 2 #1's or a bunch of #2's.  If that happens we'll start having lots of games started by Brice and Wilson#3, and that won't be pretty.

On the plus side, SSK will likely be the first to lose their #1, as he's the oldest and made of glass.  We might be next...

That said, it does seem clear that playing until 40 if you're a top-5 QB is pretty normal these days.  The only thing that really sucks is you can't scramble or take hits like Alexander & Rourke.  You need to make up for that with your brains, experience & patience.

[Tecno]

We're still waiting to see if Walters and O'Shea return. I think they will but do players like Collaros or Oliveria balk at staying due to perceived problems with not fixing the OL or the OC? That's not to say we see a dramatic improvement in both but that's TBD.

Collaros is not a free agent but does he look at the issue of being pounded every game and say trade me?

Then the solution is simple.  Replace some of the weak links on OL.  Just spend the FA required.  Go over, who cares.  I'd go over up to losing the #2 DP if required, and certainly paying the fines (who cares with our revenue).

Brady spelled it out in his season-ending interview: he stays if the core he mentioned stays -- specifically Stan & Neuf.  So you keep Stan & Neuf and FA a real RT, a league-top C, and LG.  Go 3 IMP.  Move Wallace back to jumbo.  Cut Ko & Rand/Vant, or keep the best as PR.

We wanted Ko to be the man, but it would seem he's just not good enough.  It doesn't give me warm fuzzies, but I think we need to move on to win.  By Brady not mentioning him, I think he agrees.

Big bump to the SMS % we put into OL.  This cheaping out hasn't been working for 2-3 seasons.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

He's got a long coaching career ahead of him if he wants to take it. He could walk on and be a Qb coach anywhere and work towards being an OC after that. I am hoping it's with us!!

At this point Zach is in it for the money, unlikely he gives up his $600k salary until they refuse to pay him anymore, from what I can decipher he has no plan B. 

Lucky if CFL position coaches make $50k per year with little benefits, read on another site were a sought after former college OC was approached by numerous CFL teams as a O-line coach but didn't want to give up his high-school teaching job to do so because it paid much better and was less hassle.

[Jesse]

Obviously Harris, BLM, and Collaros are back.

The others are irrelevant and we wont notice if they're here or not.