Official Game Day Thread - Toronto @ Winnipeg, September 25, 2026

[peg_city]

To be expected I suppose, an OC like LaPo might be able to make it happen with Brown and the right tools at his disposal, re-visiting Matt Nichols. An OC like Collaros would try to duplicate what Rourke and Alexander are doing using substandard QB equipment and an O-line that isn't great at pass protection.

Honestly, Matt had a good team around him. Brown doesn't at the moment. The team isn't bad, but it's not 2018-2019 bombers.

[tlf]

I'm sure they'll run it back with Brown and we miss the playoffs next year, if collaros is done.

Again, a couple of forgettable years coming up.

Add onto this the horrific rule changes plus DAZN.  Awful szns coming our way. Buckle up..we have been through worse though (looking at you Reinbold)!

[Blue In BC]

I'm sure they'll run it back with Brown and we miss the playoffs next year, if collaros is done.

Again, a couple of forgettable years coming up.

Next year is next year and we don't know what will happen. I don't like Chad Kelly but he'll get offers from several teams. Can you imagine him on a team that also has a top RB? He is a high end passer though that can beat a team nearly on his own shoulders.

[dd]

Next year is next year and we don't know what will happen. I don't like Chad Kelly but he'll get offers from several teams. Can you imagine him on a team that also has a top RB? He is a high end passer though that can beat a team nearly on his own shoulders.

I think Kelly will go to a team that does NOT have a top RB, so we can pass to his hearts content, he doesn't want to share the ball with no RB!! He loves the Toronto offense.

[Blue In BC]

I think Kelly will go to a team that does NOT have a top RB, so we can pass to his hearts content, he doesn't want to share the ball with no RB!! He loves the Toronto offense.

You might be right about that.

[Tecno]

Well, he'll fit right into OTT too then. They have less of a running game than TOR!

[Pete]

We all know that Ottawa will pay whatever Kelly wants, they have no choice
 Theyve tried everything else and just keep getting worse

[Waffler]

I just can't think that Kelly, who became the highest paid player with his last contract, will sign just that easy with Ottawa. Considering that he will be age 33 next year this is likely his last deal. He wants to go to a losing team? Just because he loves Dinwiddie? I see him taking all offers and weighing chances of winning against the cash. I think every team will be close on the money.

If it really is Ottawa though they would be wise to do a trade and sign BEFORE anyone else gets in on it and bids it higher.

[Blue In BC]

I just can't think that Kelly, who became the highest paid player with his last contract, will sign just that easy with Ottawa. Considering that he will be age 33 next year this is likely his last deal. He wants to go to a losing team? Just because he loves Dinwiddie? I see him taking all offers and weighing chances of winning against the cash. I think every team will be close on the money.

If it really is Ottawa though they would be wise to do a trade and sign BEFORE anyone else gets in on it and bids it higher.

A trade for early negotiation rights has been done in the past. Generally it allows the new team to speak with the player before a trade happens. The value of the return could be anything in theory.

I'm not sure the Argos don't retain him by paying somewhat more than a new team. Cash before any loyal to previous coach. Potential playoff money comes into play as well. Argos will make the playoffs and the Redblacks will not.

[Tecno]

Considering that he will be age 33 next year this is likely his last deal. He wants to go to a losing team

EDM was a losing team just 1 year ago... Losing this year has no bearing on next year.

And this will be year 2 of dinwiddie, who has proven he can take a formerly garbage team to the cup in year 2.

[dd]

We all know that Ottawa will pay whatever Kelly wants, they have no choice
 Theyve tried everything else and just keep getting worse

They haven't really tried everything....they had a good Qb in Henry Burris and Trevor Harris and won a Grey Cup. They've had absolute deadbeats for Qb's ever since and lost miserably. It isn't rocket science, but when you go into your season opener with Jake Maier as your #1, who's really a backup,then trade away Dru Brown, your former #1 who's really a backup, only to pickup MTB who is a career #2, so you're content on having #2 Qb's as your starter, you get what you deserve. They have a cheque book, use it. We're overpaying Zach $600k, but without him our team wouldn't even be a 500 team.

Whoever get Kelly next year is an instant contender, trouble is there will be a few teams bidding for his services, and we should be one of them, but we won't, we'll stick with Brown and suffer just like Ottawa did when he was their starter.

[bunker]

I'd rather lose with Brown than win with Kelly. The guy's a creep.

[tlf]

I'd rather lose with Brown than win with Kelly. The guy's a creep.

This x 1000  I don't think the mafia esp Oshea would touch him. 

[Blue In BC]

This x 1000  I don't think the mafia esp Oshea would touch him. 

I probably think that as well. OTOH good QB's are hard to come by. When was the last time we found one on our own? McManus maybe?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

'They pay the bills': Accountability part of job for Bombers' Condell

Paul Friesen

It was assistant-coach day at Winnipeg Bombers practice on Tuesday, and you know what that means: a chance to grill the coordinator whose unit screwed up the most in the last game.

Hello, Mike Miller.
"Never see you guys until..." the man in charge of special teams began, as he was being approached by reporters.
Miller was smiling as he said it, unlike the scowl he wore during two plays in particular in Saturday's loss to Toronto.
Two plays doesn't sound like a lot, but when they're two game-changers that book-ended a game that got away – allowing Janarion Grant to score a touchdown on a missed field goal return on Winnipeg's first series, a trick play on a punt return on the Argos' last – they're hard to swallow.
"It caught us off guard," Miller said of the early 128-yard return. "They had a good scheme. They did a really good job of creating that space for Janarion."
To that point the Bombers' special teams had been among the CFL's best.
So it wasn't surprising to see them clamp down for the rest of the game – at least until the critical final Winnipeg punt, when Grant threw the ball laterally to Dave Ungerer to produce a critical 38 yards. The deciding field goal was the result.
"For the most part our guys did a really good job of corralling him and keeping him at bay," Miller said of Grant. "Obviously those two exacerbate the whole day. Because we have been so good this year, we're not used to that Everybody has an off day. Everyone's human."

Then there's offensive coordinator Tommy Condell, who's been under the microscope, and behind the microphones, a lot more than Miller this season.
Having the veteran play-caller replace the inexperienced Jason Hogan this year was supposed to dim the spotlight on the Bomber offence.
Instead, it's burning just as hot, if not hotter.
Fans rightfully want to know how a team can roll up 178 yards through the air and 102 (on 14 carries) from Brady Oliveira in the first half, but only produce 15 yards passing and give Oliveira just four more carries in the second.
"We all know that when you have sacks, they're drive-killers," Condell said, referring to the three takedowns of quarterback Dru Brown in that second half. "You can't get any timing and rhythm in any of the offensive calls. You can't get to things."
There was a deep shot Brown missed, too, Condell pointed out, to receiver Dorian Singer, along with a couple of dropped passes. Add it all up, and you get what Bomber fans paid for on Saturday.
"They pay all the bills," Condell acknowledged. "I usually take the high road. That's my accountability. That's what job I'm in. There's a lot of things... of the inner workings of plays that I certainly will never say in front of them. I'm here to make sure that I protect the coaches, protect the players and do the best product that I can do... and that's part of being accountable.
"So I don't unleash all that type of stuff."
While it's far too easy using hindsight to criticize a play that doesn't work, there's one from Saturday's game that demanded further exploration.
Condell's apparent decision to throw the ball on second-and-four with some two minutes to go came as Oliveira was having a field day against the Toronto defence.
It turned out that wasn't Condell's decision: head coach Mike O'Shea revealed on Monday the initial call was, in fact, a run.
What the Argos did before the snap caused Brown to change the call, after which the defence got to the quarterback for the fifth time that night.
On Tuesday Condell didn't lean on the fact his initial call was a run, though. He didn't even mention it.
He was only worried about the result.
"We got another sack," he said. "With a seven-man protection. That's not good enough. First I have to look at myself from those calls... are we giving those guys a position to be successful? It doesn't go unnoticed."
The mediocre results of Condell's work haven't gone unnoticed, either. His unit has been a regular contributor to the team's 7-7 record and its shaky playoff prospects.
If his name keeps popping up the one day a week assistant coaches are available, it's likely not a good sign.
"I do have the privilege, and it is a privilege, to be in front of you guys," he said. "To be able to answer those tough questions."
Fans would rather see his team score more touchdowns and win a little more consistently – and not hear from him at all.