Leaderboard

We re-signed Killer Mike Miller

The anti-vaxxers were tolerated reasonably well until they became militant and verbally and physically attacking those who chose to be vaccinated. Many of these same covidiots made it very clear that they didn't give a damn about the welfare of the immuno-compromised or anyone else for that matter. These attacks on science-based measures in the name of "God" and/or "liberty" caused the hostility, not vice-versa.

Walters when he sees it's O'Day calling:

Can we leave the covid talk in the general forum in the proper forum? There’s been non stop covid talk for nearly 3 years now. None of what is being said here is new, news. I come to the Bomber forum to discuss football not being dragged into a political debate. If you want to talk about covid there’s active threads going on, let’s get back on track and use this thread to talk about the Blue and Gold. Go Blue!!

Meanwhile, in the Gap.......

Legend.

God wanted him working for Skip and UberEats it would seem. Mysterious ways, that guy

That provision sounds like a Canadian mafia special.

Bombers trade Couture to the Riders for a 3rd round pick and a prospect... Couture waits and sign in BC...

Debatable and awful and having faith regularly coexist in the same person. Anyway - he quit on his team in my opinion, but as mentioned earlier he really paid the price more than anyone. So if the team is not only comfortable with him coming back, but having him commit to 3 years- he deserves a second chance. I won’t hold a grudge.

This derailed conversation pretends the pandemic is in the past.

All the opinions about Eli, at the time, were 100% accurate and fair. Crazy anti vaxxers (religion is no excuse for bad behaviour) bailing on your team before a Grey Cup game.... That's a major problem and red flag. I'm surprised the team (the players) would be so willing to welcome him back, but as we've all said, he's a damn good player that we could really use.

This. I hate misinformation. And there were many people that used it: logical fallacies, fake science, whatever. Mostly junk. A lot that didn't want to get the vaccine so we could go back to normal. But it was a losing battle. But they were right about one thing in my mind and that was the mental health toll it took on all of us to avoid contact to stay healthy. I'll get the vaccine but I'm just not up for anything that is going to put us back in that situation. So much less judgment from me for people who aren't pushing misinformation and just say they don't want to get it. I also weigh my love for the Bombers very strongly so I'm pretty stoked about this signing.

I went to a packed indoor event around Halloween and got COVID. Social distancing was impossible, and I knew that not many people would be masking, but I went anyway because I wanted to have some fun and act like things are normal. It proved to be a selfish choice because the people I cared about that depend on me most were without my support the better part of a week. Thank goodness I'm vaxxed and boosted, to think it could have been even worse and dragged on even longer... yikes In the meantime, I've tried unplugging and turning a blind eye to the backlog of surgeries in this province, but the darn thing just won't go away! Wish it could 'move on' as easily. Nothing to see here if you just ignore it. Yes, you're just going to die anyways, exercise doesn't work. Get out there and lick a doorknob, live a little

And I would add we're not terrified, we're being responsible for ourselves and others all while enjoying our many freedoms and choices we have at our disposal.

Almighty god, how I'd love to see this statue planted in front of Mosaic as a monument to trying hard and failing.

Some interesting info from Naylor about the new guaranteed contracts. If you're a GM that likes to build through FA rather than draft & develop (Chris Jones, I'm looking at you), it might be a bit of a disadvantage for you as the current team can offer an guarantee to a player but you can't.

Comparing COVID to Cancer doesn't make any sense... Cancer is not transmissible. As observed by JCon, the vaccine helps to reduce the effect of COVID... yes, you may still get it, but you are much less likely to end up in the hospital because of it. The biggest reason for all of the measures and mandates was to not have everyone get sick at the same time to reduce the possible load on the health care system. The fact that most people are vaccinated now helps to keep it that way, though the health care system is so broken that wait times are still awful. I don't know about everyone else, but everyone in my family has all of their boosters, and we will continue to get them as they become available, no different than the annual flu shot that I get to help reduce the effects of getting that.

I wonder if the vaccine helps to reduce the outcomes of Covid. Hmmmm?

Sometimes you have to experience the lows in order to appreciate the highs. Could have been worse for Eli though... at least God didn't have him sign in Saskatchewan. That's a low nobody should have to experience.

This should really be the end of the discussion right here ^^^

Here is what we know to be fact about Tui. Up until his vaccination status kept him out of the 2021 Grey Cup, he was widely regarded as our best non-starting OL, with many suggesting that he was the heir apparent for an OL spot when one opened up. He plays mean, nasty football and excelled every time he was thrown into the lineup. He is a natural centre that can play OG at a high level. We know he accepted a 3 year deal to be here. Here is what we don't know. We don't know why he refused his 2nd vaxx. We don't know how committed he is to staying the entire 3 years. We don't know what a year away from the game has done to him (however when we got him it was after 2 years non-playing), we don't know what if anything has changed in his life or maturity level, we don't know how he will be accepted in the locker room on his return. I really love what we know about him, want answers about what we don't know, and am willing to bet that KW has a lot of the answers we are wondering about and felt comfortable putting ink to paper on him.

Some people (myself included) were just fed up with all the nonsense surrounding the vaccine/Covid/politics/idiots at that time. I for one, kind of took it out on pretty well everyone who didn’t want to get it. Still think getting it was the right thing to do, but I’ve adjusted my judgement towards those who don’t.

Lol a lot of happy people here... not such when he wasn't vaccinated. Just saying

And that's the whole point. The league is trying to create some continuity. One of the biggest complaints is how much players move around, you can't even buy a jersey.

Both sides don't have good points. I asked myself and told myself that I was doing the right thing shouldn't be allowed to trump public policy. Lockdowns and mask wearing are political decisions, not science decisions. The science says they both work & less people would be dead & will die in the future if we used them. The "I don't wanna's" have made things worse for everybody & are allowing the deaths to go up. My wife and I are on our 5th round of vaccinations and got Covid after the 4th. Without the vaccines, we'd both likely have been in the hospital fighting for our lives. With the vaccines, we we in bed for a week hacking up our lungs. We've got long Covid symptoms. Can't get through the day without a nap. This is the result of a non-mask wearing, non-shutdown society that's run by politicians who care more about the polls than people's lives.

With the exception of Desjarlais, little turnover since 2019

Such a crappy reason. But it is what it is. It's in the past now and the only person who really paid a price was him. Glad he's back and on a long-term deal, anyway. He adds depth and nastiness to an already strong OL corps.

Well I promised myself I wouldn't let myself rejoin this conversation here I am. Although I'll keep it brief I'm twice vaccinated but expressed much concern about how everything was handled. Never once did I physically or verbally attack anyone, although I could say the latter happened to me several times ( even though being x2 vaccinated ) Can't paint the whole camp ( on either side ) with the same brush Ugh this whole conversation brings up shifty feelings and I wish I hadn't mentioned it at all. Whatevers happened happened, both view points have shown validity, both in overstepping and needing to care for our weak and vulnerable. If only people could have a reasonable conversation without stepping to personal insults and attacks. It seems our country and North America in general can't have a healthy debate anymore. One thing I've learned about dialog with others is that my view point moves when a good point is made. Disagreements are good to give each other a larger scope

I'm going to miss her. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/19/jacinda-ardern-resigns-as-prime-minister-of-new-zealand?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Yes, well, it was seen as quitting on the team when they were headed for the Grey Cup.

My reaction to Tui Eli signing a 3 year deal!

I love that other team’s fans are wondering how we are able to bring our guys back. Well, to start : 1. We manage the SMS better than any team 2. Guys want to be here 3. You can basically add playoff money into your salary 4. We draft well

The important thing is that you had fun and that you pretended everything was just fine.

I went to a smoking area once and everyone was smoking. I guess it's safe now.

TIL.... Brandon is completely loony tunes... Yikes.

You know Wade Miller runs this whole damn league!

His interview with Tait actually gives you a lot of the answers you are looking for. The team/MOS had his back and were in contact with him all of 2022, even though he was no longer under contract. He acknowledges his decision might not have been the one the other players made but they supported him regardless. He says his desire to play has only grown during his time away and the support he got from the team. https://www.bluebombers.com/2023/01/18/theres-a-fire-i-feel-it-eli-returns-for-3-years-in-blue-gold/

While I thought Eli was wrong for refusing the vaccine and still do, that is in the past. I’ll let bygones be bygones and support him. Conditions have changed.

Updated: Bomber Roster – Player Status for 2023: Quarterback Zach Collaros (A) – Under Contract Dru Brown (A) – Under Contract Dakota Prukop (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Running Back Brady Oliveira – (N) – Under Contract Johnny Augustine (N) – Under Contract Fullback Konner Burtenshaw (N) – Under Contract Mike Miller (N) – Unsigned Free Agent Receiver Carlton Agudosi (A) – Under Contract Tavaris Harrison (A) – Under Contract Jaivon Heiligh (A) – Under Contract Brendan O’Leary-Orange (N) – Under Contract Drew Wolitarsky (N) – Under Contract Dalton Shoen (A) – Under Contract but in NFL Window Rasheed Bailey (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Nic Demski (N) – Unsigned Free Agent Greg Ellingson (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Janarion Grant (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Timothy Knuettel (G) – Unsigned Free Agent Greg McCrae (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Luke McMillan (N) – Unsigned Free Agent Offensive line Liam Dobson (N) – Under Contract Geoff Gray (N) – Under Contract Chris Kolankowski (N) - Under Contract Tomoya Machino (G) - Under Contract Drew Richmond (A) – Under Contract Stanley Bryant (A) Re-signed Jermarcus Hardrick (A) Re-signed Patrick Neufeld (N) Re-signed Tui Eli (N) - Signed 3 Years Michael Couture (N) – Unsigned Free Agent Eric Lofton (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Tyler Witt (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Defensive line Thiadric Hansen (G) – Under Contract Cole Adamson (N) – Under Contract Cameron Lawson (N) – Under Contract Ricky Walker (A) – Under Contract Jackson Jeffcoat (A) Re-signed Willie Jefferson (A) Re-signed Jake Thomas (N) Re-Signed Keion Adams (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Casey Sayles (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Linebacker Tanner Cadwallader (N) – Under Contract Malik Clements (A) - Under Contract Brian Cole (A) - Under Contract Adam Bighill (A) Re-signed Kyrie Wilson (A) Re-signed Jesse Briggs (N) – Unsigned Free Agent Shayne Gauthier (N) – Unsigned Free Agent Les Maruo (G) – Unsigned Free Agent DeJuan Cooper (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Defensive back Brandon Alexander (A) – Under Contract Karon Delince (A) – Under Contract Nick Hallet (N) – Under Contract Noah Hallet (N) – Under Contract Evan Holm (A) – Under Contract Demerio Houston (A) – Under Contract Redha Kramdi (N) – Under Contract Deatrick Nichols (A) – Under Contract Jamal Parker (A) – Under Contract Desmond Lawrence (A) Re-signed Winston Rose (A) Re-signed Alden Darby (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Mercy Maston (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Nick Taylor (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Souleymane Karamoko (G) – Unsigned Free Agent Cedric Lavigne (N) – Unsigned Free Agent Donald Rutledge Jr. (A) Left for USFL Tyrell Ford (N) – Signed in NFL Kicker Mark Liegghio – (N) Under Contract Ali Mourtada (A) – Unsigned Free Agent Long snapper Mike Benson (N) Re-Signed

Appreciate the update in stance. A person of quality will reflect and update their views accordingly. It was a strange time, and I hope it's past us now Valid point

He never had surgery Eli was a top 3..4 NFL center prospect before injury wiped out his senior season...what a huge and unexpected signing Man...imagine Eli and Dobson just mauling the crap outta guys....

I'd bet Couture is all but gone.

That's a name I never expected to see again! Unreal!

Not to make this political, but my personal belief ( and I won't carry this on any further ) is that a lot of people were **** on and called cooks for not getting vaccinated. A lot of silence with that same crowd, with no vaccine passports necessary Sorry to derail. Eli was cast off for this reason though

Like the 3 years part. With Nuefeld, Stan and Hardrick taking it one year at time its nice to have some stability.

17to85 and I were just saying "that is a lot of nasty assholes on that line"......nobody taking liberties against ZC8, that's for sure...

I LOVE this signing... unfortautely it probably means that Couture is on his way out... but between Tui, Neufeld, Gray, Dobson and Kola... we're still pretty well stacked at Cdn Interior O-line... Walters you SOB, you've done it again!

It's always projection with the right.