Blue Bombers agree to terms with receiver Tommy Nield

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

So Nield could be our inside-pass bruiser-type punishment guy to get us those tough 5Y on 2nd & medium?  That's what we needed most, and White certainly isn't that.

If we've filled that hole I think we can do quite well.

So who is the 5th then?  By my count we're still short.  Sterns/Pokey/Schoen/Wheatie likely gonzo.  Clercius/Cobb/Corcoran ("The 3 C's"?) still on the roster?  Maybe we're hoping we snag one of the above IMPs cheap when no one calls them, or scouting turns up a gem.

BOLO just signed with the Elks, don't know if he was willing to come back but he would have added a lot of flexibility at a reasonable price. I think Corcoran will be kept around to fill in for injuries and adds a bit more muscle, he has the potential to become another Wolitarsky if he develops well.

[Tecno]

Well, still nothing to say we don't fill #5 with an IMP.  Lots of middling FA guys.  If no one cares about Wheatie we could land him back cheap by default.

Still, our mantra now seems to be "slight/modest/big upgrade at most changing positions".  Wheatie wouldn't be that -- he seems to have stopped his climb.  So is there some overlooked or cheap FA that would be better than Wheatie and under $135k?

I'm really liking this new approach to FA.  It's not like there's a couple of puzzle pieces, it's that we want to brighten many pieces all at once.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Well, still nothing to say we don't fill #5 with an IMP.  Lots of middling FA guys.  If no one cares about Wheatie we could land him back cheap by default.

Still, our mantra now seems to be "slight/modest/big upgrade at most changing positions".  Wheatie wouldn't be that -- he seems to have stopped his climb.  So is there some overlooked or cheap FA that would be better than Wheatie and under $135k?

I'm really liking this new approach to FA.  It's not like there's a couple of puzzle pieces, it's that we want to brighten many pieces all at once.

Some pretty tempting receivers still left.

Charleston Rambo
Bralon Addison
DeVaris Daniels
Shemar Bridges
Dom Rhymes
Steven Dunbar
Kurleigh Gittens


I see the CFL is not keeping the FA list updated, so some of these may already be signed.

[theaardvark]

Some pretty tempting receivers still left.

Charleston Rambo
Bralon Addison
DeVaris Daniels
Shemar Bridges
Dom Rhymes
Steven Dunbar
Kurleigh Gittens


I see the CFL is not keeping the FA list updated, so some of these may already be signed.

Great names, but how many are fighting injuries?  How many are on the backside of their careers?  How many are overpricing themselves?  How many would want to be #5 on the checkdowns?

We will fill our #5 spot with either a draft pick that blows it up in camp, a rookie import that blows it up in camp, or one of the many placeholders we have on the current roster, even Wheatfall.

White, Pokey, Demski, Neild and someone else... we don't need a star for that spot, just someone better than Hargreaves, Ralph, Poblah, Doneff or Jade Ettienne... 

[LXTSN]

Great names, but how many are fighting injuries?  How many are on the backside of their careers?  How many are overpricing themselves?  How many would want to be #5 on the checkdowns?

We will fill our #5 spot with either a draft pick that blows it up in camp, a rookie import that blows it up in camp, or one of the many placeholders we have on the current roster, even Wheatfall.

White, Pokey, Demski, Neild and someone else... we don't need a star for that spot, just someone better than Hargreaves, Ralph, Poblah, Doneff or Jade Ettienne... 

To me, this is going to be a rookie. I think we know what we have in Kase, so we should move on.
I really like Gerald Monroe as a prospect. We have 18 WR's on the roster currently, so I'm hoping that one of them jumps off the page in preseason!
I'd rather not spend more money on WR since this WR5 won't really get many looks.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Great names, but how many are fighting injuries?  How many are on the backside of their careers?  How many are overpricing themselves?  How many would want to be #5 on the checkdowns?

We will fill our #5 spot with either a draft pick that blows it up in camp, a rookie import that blows it up in camp, or one of the many placeholders we have on the current roster, even Wheatfall.

White, Pokey, Demski, Neild and someone else... we don't need a star for that spot, just someone better than Hargreaves, Ralph, Poblah, Doneff or Jade Ettienne... 

You left off Addison Richards!

On that list, the two I'd be interested in are Rambo and Bridges, both young with potential without the price tag of a well established vet.  Don't care if they slot #1 or #5, makes no difference.

[Tecno]

On that list, the two I'd be interested in are Rambo and Bridges, both young with potential without the price tag of a well established vet.

Bridges & White didn't gel well in HAM.  There may be baggage.  I'd rather not try to recreate the HAM REC corps here.

That said, if Dunbar isn't completely washed up (hasn't done squat in 2+ years), maybe White would like to work with him again (it's been a couple of years?).  (Yes, this kinda contradicts my point #1 -- but I'm hopefully going far enough back it's not an issue.)

Addison is the new Ellingson: almost near the end, but still producing if not injured.  He might be able to build off his decent '25.

Rambo is the up & comer kid, and is probably looking for a big payday and maybe a 2-3 year contract.  He's someone you'd want longer term if you think he'll be the next Snead.  I'd be interested at $150, but not $200.

Gittens as a star NAT doesn't fit into this, we won't/can't hire another non-cheap NAT.

The other guys are all washed up.  Big nope.  Bye.

[GCn19]

We need a 50/50 guy now. Our receiving corps is small.

[Tecno]

We need a 50/50 guy now. Our receiving corps is small.

Nield & Pokey are that.  We won't get a Gino-level 50/50 guy.  No more $$, and no more options in FA anyhow.

I would like another bruiser (tall or not) who can make the tough clutch conversions on the slants/curls.  I think the ideal mix (for any team) is 2 lanky home-runners, 2 bruisers, and a "both" guy.  I think we have all but the 2nd bruiser.  The "both" guy is Demski.

Hardy would have been such a good pick up if he had made it to FA...

[GCn19]

Nield & Pokey are that.  We won't get a Gino-level 50/50 guy.  No more $$, and no more options in FA anyhow.

I would like another bruiser (tall or not) who can make the tough clutch conversions on the slants/curls.  I think the ideal mix (for any team) is 2 lanky home-runners, 2 bruisers, and a "both" guy.  I think we have all but the 2nd bruiser.  The "both" guy is Demski.

Hardy would have been such a good pick up if he had made it to FA...

Im hoping recruitment finds us a stud.

[GCn19]

Nield & Pokey are that.  We won't get a Gino-level 50/50 guy.  No more $$, and no more options in FA anyhow.

I would like another bruiser (tall or not) who can make the tough clutch conversions on the slants/curls.  I think the ideal mix (for any team) is 2 lanky home-runners, 2 bruisers, and a "both" guy.  I think we have all but the 2nd bruiser.  The "both" guy is Demski.

Hardy would have been such a good pick up if he had made it to FA...

Im not seeing Nield in that role. He is likely our Clercius/Woli type guy.

[Tecno]

Im not seeing Nield in that role. He is likely our Clercius/Woli type guy.

But Clercius and Woli were, to a degree, bruiser type guys.  Both could make catches in traffic and take hits and hang on.  Clercius was certainly big enough.  Of course, we usually played them out wide, which seems strange in hindsight.

I agree that a scouting find with some beef would be an ideal add, and solve the problem nicely.

[GCn19]

But Clercius and Woli were, to a degree, bruiser type guys.  Both could make catches in traffic and take hits and hang on.  Clercius was certainly big enough.  Of course, we usually played them out wide, which seems strange in hindsight.

I agree that a scouting find with some beef would be an ideal add, and solve the problem nicely.

Clercius and Woli were 3rd or 4th progression guys mainly. That's how I see Nield when he is in.