Ripper

Interesting list. Walker from the Riders is definitely going to have a great year now that he is platooning with Guyton. The Rider front 4 is going to be even better than last year. With Emry locking down the middle, more heat from up front is definitely coming. I'm excited to see things unfold. Other player on list that grabs my attention is Cotton. He looked solid last year and locked down the starting spot IMO. I posted on here before that you guys had found the guy you were looking for, With the improvements on the OLine he could be the x factor and have a huge year IMO.

And J Richardson, Emry, Watson. Its the roll the dice year for us. We apparently are just going to wing it from here on out. You guys are nothing without Durant. Proved it last year. Any team without its starter is in big trouble. Pretty basic football 101. The more surprising part for me was how ineffective the passing game was when Durant was still healthy. It's one thing to be a run-based offence, but the passing game looked completely out of sync for most of the year no matter who was under center. I don't know what to expect from that team this year. The O looked bad all year. Hopefully getting rid of Cortez helps that situation

And J Richardson, Emry, Watson. Its the roll the dice year for us. We apparently are just going to wing it from here on out. You guys are nothing without Durant. Proved it last year. Any team without its starter is in big trouble. Pretty basic football 101.

Where does Volny signing in Montreal fit in for you guys? Wasn't he Canadian?

Meh, I'd say moving from Foley and Kilgore (or whoever they had at MLB) to Emry and Hall is a big upgrade. Other than that, they've retained depth similar to what we've brought in because we didn't have it in the first place. Let's see how things keep unfolding, though. The biggest changes the riders had to make IMO were on the coaching staff and scouting dept. Those are the changes that the fans are excited about. The riders have a pretty good team already, there weren't a lot of moves that had to be made.I agree. Gonna be a dog fight in the west this year. I like the moves you guys have made. Outside of Bryant, none of them are earth shattering. BUT, Walters has a plan it appears and he is slowly putting the pieces together. The Bombers are going to be very much in the hunt this year. You already had a qb, rb and kicker from last year which was a good start. Are making moves to shore up the oline, which i'm sorry to say guys was really rough last year. Willy with more time means more points on the board which means more wins for you. You guys need to make some moves on the defensive side of the ball now. Hickman? I'm happy for you guys, its exciting when the team starts making moves, IN A GOOD WAY.

Giguere has been too good for the league since the day he graced us by coming. At 29, he just hasn't delivered and he is past the point of getting any better IMO. I also think Austin is at the cap and can't afford to go high for him. If he sits a while he may sign back with the cats at a far lower price. He isn't a super star and the Ticats won't miss him if he goes. I hope we steer clear of him and I imagine we will.

Meh, I'd say moving from Foley and Kilgore (or whoever they had at MLB) to Emry and Hall is a big upgrade. Other than that, they've retained depth similar to what we've brought in because we didn't have it in the first place. Let's see how things keep unfolding, though. The biggest changes the riders had to make IMO were on the coaching staff and scouting dept. Those are the changes that the fans are excited about. The riders have a pretty good team already, there weren't a lot of moves that had to be made.

You guys better not be trying to steal our "if you can't recruit you buy" mantra. I know Taman used to be in Winnipeg but he brought to Regina and its ours now,

Bang on post. Glenn either takes a good cut now and gets signed as a backup because basically that's all he has left for options. Or he sits home and waits/hopes for a injury and gets the call and makes his money but only for a part of the season

If the Riders had him last year when Durant went down, they would have been in much better shape. Don't think Glenn would have helped. That O was out of sync all year. I'm really hoping we steer clear of Glenn, he is done and will cost too much also.

Mchenry and Sunseri back with Riders

I was hoping he would re-sign with them. I am now hopeful he plays. I for one am looking forward to seeing Hurl start for you guys. He will shore up the run game that's for sure. Richie Hall and a healthy DL are going to shore up the run game more than anything... I know. I was just slinging a little free agency mud for fun. Both Hurl and Clark are backups anyway.

I was hoping he would re-sign with them. I am now hopeful he plays. I for one am looking forward to seeing Hurl start for you guys. He will shore up the run game that's for sure.

Boudreax is still a free agent I believe. He isn't signed as far as I've heard.

And J Richardson, Emry, Watson. Its the roll the dice year for us. We apparently are just going to wing it from here on out.

I hope he signs in Montreal

I had no doubt that Jackson would stay in Regina. The Mark trade is a bit interesting in that the Rider really don't have a kicker, O'Neill is mediocre at best and Milo is going downhill, Quinn Sharp ???? who knows. Depending on how high or low the conditional pick is, Desjardins actually made a decent trade. Agreed. I would have sent fatboy slim to Ottawa and kept John Mark. He had a good camp with us last year.

Tristan Jackson and Kevin Regimbald extend with Riders. Riders trade kicker John Mark to Ottawa for conditional 2016 pick

Do any of you think you will lose Sears in free agency? I could see some interest in him around the league.

Jones name didn't come up as often as Heenan because Taman announced that Heenan was testing the market and because it was widely assumed that Jones would either go NFL or re-sign with the Stamps prior to FA. However, there is little doubt that Jones is a HUGE fish in a small pond. He will be the highest paid OL in the league for whatever team signs him. 300k? Yea....that's a number that could be realistic. Can't see 300, he is too young to get that high that fast. He'll have no where to go from there. But definitely agree he will be the highest paid Olineman in the league this year. I think 250-265 gets it done. Why is he too young? By all accounts, he is the best offensive lineman in the league (I personally think Stanley Bryant is the best lineman in the league, but Jones' resume says Most Outstanding Lineman 2014 so he gets the nod) and he's got the right passport. If he wants to let offers flood in, he's going to be the highest paid non QB in the history of the SMS era. If anything, his age works in his favor. 250-265k was Heenan territory. I'm not saying Jones signs for 300k because I don't necessarily think he's a "I'm going to the highest bidder" kind of guy, but I would be shocked if he doesn't get at least one offer than starts with a 3. Josh Bourke, at 31 years old, hit a contract of 215k annually last year. When he signed the deal, the salary cap was 4.4 million. His deal = 4.8% of annual cap max. Brett Jones, at 24 years old, would be earning 5.9% of the annual cap max in 2015 if he signs for 300k. 1.1% difference for a guy who is 7 years younger, getting better and already has been declared the best OL in the league? I don't think it's unreasonable at all. I'm not completely disagreeing with what you are saying. I just think if he signs a 3 year deal and is making 300 plus the first year he is an awfully expensive player to have on your team. Labatte reportedly made 240k last year with the riders. I'll stick with my original estimate on salary numbers.

Jones name didn't come up as often as Heenan because Taman announced that Heenan was testing the market and because it was widely assumed that Jones would either go NFL or re-sign with the Stamps prior to FA. However, there is little doubt that Jones is a HUGE fish in a small pond. He will be the highest paid OL in the league for whatever team signs him. 300k? Yea....that's a number that could be realistic.

He is a nice kid, he went to high school with my daughter. I hope he gets a great opportunity. He is 23 and will be a good player for a long time in this league. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't love to see him come back home and play here. I have a feeling that he will stay in Calgary. Huff is anything but dumb, he can see what he has in Jones. I can see the Stamps being very aggressive in trying to keep him.

You are assuming that there were actually Heenan dollars to spend. Taman said in his interview after Heenan signed in the NFL, that he was going to outbid anyone for Heenan but that it would have had major effects on his current roster had he done so. I think you are probably right. Taman would have had Heenan's contract money from last year and additional money from sms going up but I believe if Jones comes here someone will have to go or not be resigned to make room for him. If nothing else, I hope Taman drives the price up for the stamps, they've done it to us in the past.

I've wondered that also. Just a theory but I've been wondering if Taman is sitting back a bit on Dan Clark, Tristan Jackson, and Brian Peters in case he needs the money for Jones. The three above mentioned are people I'd like us to keep, but if we are going after Jones likely 2 of them have to go.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think some are ok with it because you guys are hosting it this year. We are building a new stadium and I want us to have our regular shot at hosting the cup. To hell with the Argos, enough league money has went to them over the years. MLSE is a joke anyway, look at the Leafs, laughing stock of the nhl. The same fate awaits the Argos under their control, the difference will be that the whole stadium won't be sold out with season tickets from second and third generation drones dreaming of championships from yester years. They will fail and the Argos will continue to a burden to the league. How many cups have we given to Braley these past few years via the LIons/Argos? Has that helped?