CFL (Non-Bombers) off-season news

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I think it was in the GC Saturday show (or maybe (and/or) elsewhere?) Vaval did another interview and he was saying all of the right things.  I know we always say "seems like a MOS guy", but with Vaval it seems uber genuine.  He seems like a wants-to-learn-aholic.  Seems to want to be here.

I have little doubt that he, at bare minimum, would have made the PR all season as backup DB, if not the AR -- even if he didn't pan out as returner.  All in all I think he did very well as a raw rookie corner.  Not the instant natural DB like Nichols or Holm or D.Alford, but certainly as good as many others have done in their first handful of starts.

Have to wonder if Vaval would have a more lucrative and longer career as a DB now that salaries have dratically improved for the best few. He made a few mistakes but also had flashes of brilliance so I think a  career as a CB was a possibility before he exploded as a returner, that option has likely been taken away from him and he'll be forever characterized as a returner only, much like Grant.

Pretty rare for a returner to last more than 3-4 years and their effectivness often seems to peter out along the way.

[Blue In BC]

Have to wonder if Vaval would have a more lucrative and longer career as a DB now that salaries have dratically improved for the best few. He made a few mistakes but also had flashes of brilliance so I think a  career as a CB was a possibility before he exploded as a returner, that option has likely been taken away from him and he'll be forever characterized as a returner only, much like Grant.

Pretty rare for a returner to last more than 3-4 years and their effectivness often seems to peter out along the way.

I agree that he may have taken himself out of chances as a DB starter by doing so well as a returner. He could see time as an in game injury DB being a DI as a returner. That has an advantage for the team but won't do much for his salary.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

We spent all of '24 "losing" 20Y field position on every exchange, and we still made the cup!  And we're talking disaster scenario anyhow, which doesn't always come to fruition.  You hope Vaval would remain healthy 90% of the games, and if he doesn't you can always look THEN for a couch sitter, aged-out vet, or trade.  Or just roll with the "just catch the darn ball" next man up.

Paying Logan his decent fee in '25 was a complete bust: why would we repeat that on purpose with Alford?  No one signs an Alford-level guy just to be the backup, unless this is truly his final year before retiring (like Logan or Lucky).

If Alford was ELC+$10k, ya ok, why not.  But not for $110k+...  Unless Vaval is stuck in the NFL all season and nothing shows up at TC.  I seriously doubt that happens.

Yes, Alford would be ok to get you the reliable short return on every kick. Yes, that has some value.  And in that sense he's ideal if cheap and you have no other options.  But he's not busting anything anymore, and you'll find he's WAY less effective in WPG because we aren't the ST hold-fest that SSK is.

Alford is still reasonablly effective and capable of breaking longer returns, he was 7th in punt return yds. at 10.8 yd. avg. and 6th in kick off return yds. with a 28.3 yds avg. which is very good.

Janarion Grant is also a FA, so if Vaval does not return and they can't find a suitable replacement they have a couple of old reliable options they could look at to get them by.

A good returner gives the offence a headstart in lift, field position and momentum, I think it's a critically important part of the game.

[Blue In BC]

Alford is still reasonablly effective and capable of breaking longer returns, he was 7th in punt return yds. at 10.8 yd. avg. and 6th in kick off return yds. with a 28.3 yds avg. which is very good.

Janarion Grant is also a FA, so if Vaval does not return and they can't find a suitable replacement they have a couple of old reliable options they could look at to get them by.

A good returner gives the offence a headstart in lift, field position and momentum, I think it's a critically important part of the game.

If Grant gets to the tampering window I wouldn't be upset to make him an offer at the right price. IIRC Logan got $128K in 2025 and something like that could work. Grant is a more reliable option to Logan.

[Jesse]

Have to wonder if Vaval would have a more lucrative and longer career as a DB now that salaries have dratically improved for the best few. He made a few mistakes but also had flashes of brilliance so I think a  career as a CB was a possibility before he exploded as a returner, that option has likely been taken away from him and he'll be forever characterized as a returner only, much like Grant.

Pretty rare for a returner to last more than 3-4 years and their effectivness often seems to peter out along the way.

We've used starters as returners before. He'll have every opportunity to be a DB as well.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

We've used starters as returners before. He'll have every opportunity to be a DB as well.

Not recently, how long ago was Kevin Fogg?

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Not only is he the perfect extra defensive back on the roster but with the number of mixed personnel we use I'm sure he'll get on the field more in year two on defense.

[Tecno]

If Grant gets to the tampering window I wouldn't be upset to make him an offer at the right price. IIRC Logan got $128K in 2025 and something like that could work. Grant is a more reliable option to Logan.

Haha, good luck with that.  Grant will easily be the highest paid returner this FA.  No more discount for TOR just because they were the only ones who could (and bothered) to track him down.

No way we do Grant if Vaval is likely to return (which is like 90%).  Vaval is ELC remember!  Doesn't get cheaper than that.  And we can't have 2 monsters for 1 return job.  Remember when we had Lucky and Grant -- had to release Lucky immediately in FA to avoid that conflict.

If for some reason we think Vaval is gonzo, then 100% you make a stab at Grant.  He'll probably get $175k though.  And he still has some use on O, too, if you like living dangerously.