Leaderboard

Lolololololololol................

Great article. Partially answers the age-old question of "Why is that guy on the roster?" Kramdi’s on-field success brings joy to his grieving family By: Taylor Allen Posted: 6:20 PM CST Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023 HAMILTON — Redha Kramdi was midway through his first training camp with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers when a phone call changed everything. His older brother Sami — his No. 1 fan, his role model, and the person who insisted on dropping him off at the airport to wish him luck when it was time to fly out to Winnipeg to get to work — had died in his sleep. Sami was just 28 years old. SUPPLIED Redha Kramdi (right) was at his first training camp with the Blue Bombers when his brother Sami (left) died in his sleep. “My rookie season was the hardest year of my life. His void will always be felt in my family because he meant so much. He was the big bro, so he was always making sure that everyone was right – my parents, my sisters, myself. Of course, I miss him every day and this week, I wish he was here,” said Kramdi, a defensive back from Montreal. Kramdi and the Blue and Gold are preparing to play his hometown Alouettes in Sunday’s Grey Cup at Tim Hortons Field. “He came to every game he could… and unfortunately, he didn’t get to see me play as a pro. But hanging out with some of his friends, they’re like ‘Man, you don’t understand how proud your brother was. That’s the only thing he talked about from the day you got drafted to the day he passed away.’” When Kramdi — who was chosen 16th overall by the Bombers in the 2021 CFL Draft out of the University of Montreal — returned home for the funeral, Nesrine, the elder of his two younger sisters, assured him that she’d take care of the family. She wanted him to focus on football, and to the best of his abilities, that’s what he did. “One of my close friends just lost his mom and I told him don’t force yourself to feel good. Feel the pain. And when you feel good, you feel good,” said Kramdi, 26. “Don’t force yourself to be like ‘Today’s the day I’m going to get over it.’ You don’t get over losing a brother, or losing a parent, you just learn to live without that person.” A pulled hamstring limited Kramdi in 2021, but the following year saw him establish himself as one of the team’s best special teamers. He even made some starts on defence at dime back (weak-side linebacker). This season, the position is his as he took the job from American veteran Alden Darby, Jr. in Week 7 and hasn’t looked back since. Kramdi’s ascension has been the absolute best thing for his family. “When I see how strong Redha is, it makes me stronger,” said Nesrine, who’s making the trip to Hamilton on Sunday with her husband, dad Madani, and 18-year-old sister Aya, in a phone interview. “We’re in pain, but when we see Redha out on the field, it’s joy. The four hours that he’s playing, we don’t think about (the pain). That’s a way for us to just feel proud because we have so much joy.” Being resilient is one thing, but his football I.Q. is the biggest reason why the son of Algerian immigrants has been able to climb the ladder and not only start but excel at one of the most complicated positions on the field. It goes back to his time at the U Sports level when he played under head coach Danny Maciocia — the current general manager of the Alouettes. Every day, Maciocia would call up a handful of defensive players to the whiteboard at the front of the room and ask them to break down a specific play. Most could tell you what their position group should be doing, but all 12 players? Not a chance — unless it was Kramdi being asked. On one occasion, Maciocia went out of his way to test Kramdi with a complicated formation. He still managed to knock it out of the park. “That will always have a lasting effect on me, just the way he went up to the board, took charge, and explained it in detail. I remember vividly that people in that meeting room stood up and gave him a standing ovation,” said Maciocia. “It was really something that you typically don’t see, even at this level, this level we’re experiencing here this week.” Als safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy — the East Division’s nominee for Most Outstanding Canadian — played for the Montreal Carabins alongside Kramdi and had a similar take on his former teammate. “I’m always joking with him that when he chooses to retire that he’s going to be a coach or a scout, or a GM someday. He’s really, really into it and he loves it and he’s good at it. He’s got a great football eye. Watch for it, you’ll probably talk to him one day as a coach,” said Dequoy. “Let’s say you put in the tape from another Grey Cup or something. I mean, at one point, you’re going to look at your phone, but he’s always dialed in on the tape. He’s interested and wants to see what’s going to happen. There’s that curiosity in him that makes him great.” Bombers safety Brandon Alexander saw that from Kramdi from Day 1. “He’s one of the smartest guys I’ve been around, and I think he’s definitely one of the most underrated football players in the CFL. I’ve always advocated to find a way to put Redha on the field — for two years now, to be honest with you. Now that he has that chance, I’m excited for him, I’m happy for him,” said Alexander. An injury prevented Kramdi from taking the field at last year’s Grey Cup, but this week, he’ll be in the thick of things. Considering the note his career started on, he couldn’t be happier to be where he’s at now. “There’s no words to describe how much my heart is filled with thankfulness,” said Kramdi. taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Yup! I saw him too.

A bomber blow out would not be boring. That last grey cup game in Hamilton took years off my life.

So @DTonOB led me down the rabbit hole with this tweet, and I dug up the stats in the CFL (1958 and beyond) era. There have been 28 teams to lose a regular season game by 30 or more points and then play in the Grey Cup that same year. Those teams are 12-16 in the Grey Cup game. The Cup winners are : 1988 Wpg (lost 36-3 to B.C.) 1989 Sask (lost 49-17 to Edm) 1990 Wpg (lost 55-11 to Sask - the 44 point loss is the largest ever for a same season Grey Cup winner) 1993 Edm (lost 53-11 to Wpg and 52-14 to Winnipeg - the only CFL team to ever lose 2 games by 30 points and then win a Grey Cup the same season) 1994 BC (lost 62-21 to Cal) 1999 Ham (lost 52-19 to Mtl) 2000 BC (lost 35-2 to Cal) 2004 Tor (lost 58-20 to Mtl) 2007 Sask (lost 42-12 to BC) 2010 Mtl (lost 40-3 to Ham) 2011 BC (lost 42-10 to Ham) 2022 Tor (lost 44-3 to BC) Winnipeg has the best winning percentage, having won 2 Cups and losing zero in a year where they lose a game by 30+ in the same regular season, while Ottawa is 0-2 in Grey Cups where they lost a game by 30+ points that same year. BC is 3-1 in that situation for the most GC wins. Hamilton is the worst at 1-7. Incidentally, Montreal is 1-4. As an aside, on 9 prior occasions, a team has lost by 30 points or more to a team and then met that same team in the Grey Cup that same year (which is the scenario we have this year). Those losing teams are 2-7 in the Grey Cup. Winnipeg has been involved in both of the scenarios where the 30+ point loser later won the Cup against the same team: 1988 Wpg lost in B.C. 36-3 in the season opener, beat them 22-21 in the Grey Cup This one stings - as mentioned above the Bombers beat Edmonton twice in 1993 by 30+ points in the regular season, then lost to them 33-23 in the Grey Cup (with Matt Dunigan injured) Also, 4 times a team has lost multiple games by 30+ points and still made it to the Grey Cup. Other than Edmonton in 1993, all those teams would lose the big game. Sask in 1997 lost to Winnipeg 43-12 and 55-10 in the regular season before losing to Toronto in the 1997 Cup, and Hamilton did it twice, losing the 1980 Cup to Edm after losing 53-18 to Edm and 49-10 to Mtl earlier that season, and then in 2013 when they lost 37-0 to Sask and 36-5 to Mtl before succumbing to the Riders in the Cup game. On the flip side, Winnipeg won a game by 45 points over Sask this season. There have been 17 teams to win by 45+ points in a regular season game and then play in that year’s Grey Cup. Those teams are 9-8 in the championship game. Edmonton holds the record for biggest margin of victory by a team that went on to win that year’s Grey Cup, beating Toronto by 54 points (61-7) in 1981. They also beat Mtl 62-11 that year, becoming one of only two teams to win multiple games by 45+ and then win the Cup later that same year. More on the other team at the end (hint, 1999 Hamilton). Calgary beat Hamilton 60-1, and that 59 point spread is the largest for a winning team that would later lose that year’s Grey Cup, in 2017. Incidentally, that Calgary squad won a second game by 45+ points, beating Mtl 59-11, to become the only team to lose a Grey Cup in the same season that they won multiple games by 45 or more. And there are teams have have been on both ends of the spectrum, winning by 45+ and losing by 30+ in the same year and going on to play in the Grey Cup. BC has done it twice and won the Cup both times (1994 lost to Cal 62-21 and beating Shreveport 67-15 before defeating Baltimore in a home Grey Cup, and in 2000 lost to Cal 35-2, beat Tor 51-4, and won the Cup over Mtl), Sask did it once in 2009 and lost the Cup (lost 43-10 to Mtl, beat Wpg 55-10, then lost the “13th man” Cup to the Als). And the one other team to be on both sides of the big win/big loss coin is the fascinating 1999 Hamilton Tiger-Cats squad. That year they had 3 margins of victory greater than 45 points and also lost a game by more than 30, and ended up winning the Grey Cup over Calgary at season’s end. They are the only club to register 3 wins of that margin in a Grey Cup year. Beyond that, the first two wins (54-8 over Edm and 63-17 over Sask) were in consecutive games, so the combined margin of +92 in back-to-back games is a single season CFL record as best I can tell. Then later that same season, after losing 52-19 to Mtl, they beat Wpg the next week 65-15, and the 83 point swing in consecutive games is also a record in the CFL era. And now you know…..the rest of the story.

He got the job done, it was the D failed to get the job done in the playoffs. The excuse train is rolling.

What the actual... Here is a tip for voters in the future. Outstanding, is literally a mashup of the words "standing out". Nobody stood out more amongst their peers than Brady this year. Jesus.

Semi-dressed? That's making some reporters all hot and bothered, I bet.

Kramdi only gets better with every start.

Id run through a brick wall for that man. How could you not like Bailey? The guy is pure motivation, exactly what you look for in a teammate and he's a damn decent receiver too. I hope they find a way to keep this guy, love em.

That's inexcusable. Collaros was better than Kelly and Brady was better than Zach.

Bombers D is better in almost every major defensive category. But feast on this: Montreal passes over 20 yards - 30/74 40.5%, 1,030 yds, 9 TD, 9 Int Winnipeg passes over 20 yards - 55/113 48.7%, 1,957 yds, 21 TD, 3 Int I think we can all agree that it's much easier to defend against a one-dimensional team. Yet another reason to be very optimistic. https://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-GN-Gm-95-Grey-Cup-Preview-2.pdf

And I would argue a Bomber blowout would add those years back to life.

That 1993 team would have beat the piss out of Edmonton if Dunigan was playing.

I am more worried that Bighill plays hurt than he doesn't play.

Kelly is now saying he essentially played the whole game with a concussion. One that occurred early in the first half but he can't identify the hit or the play as to when it happened. If he's not just making excuses which would be well within his character you have to wonder if it was a case of him being too selfish to tell the medical staff and the coaches or if he told them and they put his health at risk by not putting him into concussion protocol and removing him from the game. I see three scenarios. 1. He's an excuse making wuss. 2. He's selfish and not a team player. 3. The team should be investigated for abuse of a player.

very good photos of Bomber practise in Hamilton. brady is thick https://www.cfl.ca/through-the-lens-bombers-practice-thursday-at-thf/

Are they an 8 win in a row team? I don’t think so. I honestly don’t think it matters who we are playing Sunday. This team is not leaving without the Cup.

We did last game...and last few games of the year a lot of 3 man fronts with Cole and Clements as edge rushers...or at the line then dropping off....so expect much the same again...

I don't want to call him selfish. But I think his warrior mentality might have him (and MOS) convinced that he has to be out there for his brothers. And if he can get himself to 70% or something, he'll force himself out there. And that's what I don't want.

I have zero worries about BO EVER not showing up for any game. High, high character player. He will be ready and will leave it all out there.

That open field sack was pretty impressive. Nice to see the clean guy get through and finish.

Montreal is a team capable of winning from capitalizing on other teams mistakes. They do not have the ability to win at this level of competition without those mistakes. Playing clean football has to be our focus as it pretty much assures us victory. Nichols in his final year with us was the favorite for MOP until his injury.

I'm sure glad Bailey was willing to take a big discount to come back.

Yes, the Cats took the Bombers were granted - but plenty of people were taking notice of the 2019 Bombers - including BLM The Bombers were underdogs, but they were not, say, the 2001 Calgary Stampeders Actually, I see a lot of that 2019 team in the 2023 edition -especially when they play bully ball

Not surprised a lot of media doing mental gymnastics to pick against the Bombers. We are the bad guys after all.

we were watching the '21 GC the other night and commenting on the difference between Brady and Harris's body types. I remember when AH33 got hit with the PED scandal, and Doug Brown laughed it off saying that Harris had a "Dad Bod", and man, when you compare Harris to Brady O, it's nuts. I don't know how Harris was able to compete with such a comparatively frail body. Brady O is thick in the lower half.... insane legs. You watch those videos he posts of him doing squats the day after a game... it's bonkers. Faj can't throw deeper than 10 yards... his wide side outs are embarrassing. Just begging to get picked off. The only thing he's got are the high percentage short throws and timing routes....

Nothing to do with him playing to his stupid base. Our defence has been better in basically every possible way. Also coming off a 9 sack 2 interception game. So of course their defence will be more impactful because Chad Kelly made incomprehensibly terrible throws. Fajardo is an interception and or sack waiting to happen.

How did the riders miss the boat on this guy?

Here is how it really went down. Shortly after ESF loss Kelly picks up his phone and calls his agent: CK: Hey thought I would give you a call because the season's over up here and I am ready to start talking with NFL teams about going back South. Agent: Ummmm....did you watch the game film from the ESF? Yea....it might be a while before someone calls. CK: Well I know I played bad, but was it that bad that NFL teams will overlook my great season? Agent: Yup...it was that bad. CK: Well what if I said I had a concussion and that's why I played so bad, would that help? Agent: Well there is nothing helpful about trying to sell a concussed QB but I guess anything that could explain that melt down is semi-helpful. CK: Great...that's what I will do. Watch for the article on 3DN. They are stupid enough to not see through this.

can't see it either...and we know BO is gonna be on a mission...and leave it all out there...especially if he gets boned out of the MOP award for the excuse guy

Glenn remains my favourite Bomber QB. I have one framed Bomber player photo on my wall and its Glenn. I will defend that man to the death. He was a Kevin Eiben belly flop away from ending our drought. And Nichols was a big part of the foundation we built. The way our D played in 2019, he could have won it for us too. Two QBs denied a special place in Bomber history due to injuries, IMO.

Sure glad the Bombers found a way to bring back Bailey back after signing Lawler, not the flashiest but he gives 100% on every play gets his hands dirty and does what the team wants him to do

If Biggie is out there it is because he can play at the level he is used to. He's not selfish. If he ain't ready he won't go.

You'd have to think that if he was concussed .. and hid it .. or it went unnoticed .. or was simply trotted back out there by the Argos despite suffering a head injury .. that the league and CFLPA might have a few questions for the Argos and their medical staff. That's not a good look for any organization.

I know we will.

Yup. Ouellette was running wild on Montreal until the Argos were forced to abandon the run. Brady should have a game.

We actually handed them all 17 points, as the FG was also a result of another turnover in our own end which they promptly went 2 and out and kicked the FG IIRC. In two games this year they have literally driven for 3 points against us. All other points were a result of turnovers.

This is on Dinwiddie. He gave Dukes plenty of reps for just this scenario. Kelly goes down or flails, and the coach couldn't pull the trigger. With Dukes going in the second half, I bet they win.

I see no reason to believe they can eliminate BO. He has averaged 119.5 yards/6.3 ypc against them this season. They were mid pack in run defence this year, I am not sure why everyone is suddenly thinking they are some run stopping machine all of a sudden.

I just think this is all rather convenient excuse making and that it shows a ton about his character. Own up to your crap game and quit making excuses Chad.

I was feeling sorry for him until he conveniently used it as an excuse for immediately vacating the field instead of shaking hands. That's when narcissist alarm bells began blaring in my character assessment portion of my amygdala.

Chad Kelly now stating that he did not make poor decisions, he was concussed and that is why he would not shake hands as well. He does not know when the concussion happened or when he first noticed it...but concussed. I'm not calling him a liar but I've smelled fishing trawlers that smelled less fishy.

My all-time fav was when the league didn’t like the sneaky tackle eligible play because defences were hindered, so they made it a requirement that the o-line player had to check in and declare eligibility as a receiver, and the refs had to announce it on the stadium mike so there were no surprises. Bombers in Calgary and the Stamps have that play declared about a half dozen times. Each time Proulx has to go on the mike and say “Calgary number fifty-tree is illegible on display”. The crowd struggled not to laugh, and even Bob Irving in the broadcast booth uttered out loud “Poor Andre” after the sixth butchered attempt at “eligible”. The league actually stopped forcing the refs to announce it over the PA system after that game, IIRC. Having said that, my favorite ref to see on the field.

I"d say the DL play we saw on Sunday, is at least even with the Als DL - at least.

minimized pics....and better yet pic 6's...

I can understand the optimism of facing Montreal in the grey cup... However, I really hope the bombers don't make the same mistake they made last year of overlooking Toronto. Yes, we dominated Montreal this year and they have a lot of momentum. Keep in mind that the Hometown crowd that the bombers feed off of won't be there in Hamilton. that is something to consider... Although I don't think the players needed to play at their top level. Anyways, I really hope everyone here is right and it will be a cakewalk but I have seen the bombers play down to their opponent and it's not pretty.

He's probably still down money but he's already making some of it back in playoff bonuses. Wouldn't have gotten an extra cent if he had signed with the Riders.

The suggestion that the Bombers can't do anything until the extensions are done is ludicrous. The management staff are Bombers employees until their deals are up. They are still working.

Agreed. Fajardo is just Prukop with a shitty personality