M.Silverback

Agree. I'd love to know who voted against Harris. Not exactly a lot of media who would be eligible - Bauming; Wyman; Irving; Hamilton; Friesen; McIntyre (?); Orlesky (?). So, somewhere between 6 - 10? Who am I missing? And they honestly thought Mike Miller was the top Canadian? Clearly a non support statement to Harris, but Miller? I could justify this if there was a close second. Like say an all star Canadian O-line like Goossen was last year. But a special teamer?! Not really even the team's best special teamer?! It's nuts. Really bad look local media.

I wonder. Seems like the trend now is for NFL teams to prefer a veteran journeyman back up QB, and maybe have a draft pick or highly touted UDFA as developmental. Streveler I don’t think would be of much interest. Hybrid what? QB/RB? Doesn’t have much good CFL tape throwing

I mean, BLM is playing at the peak of his powers. Best QB in the CFL. But man, very little resistance from the D

Wow. BLM carving us up

McManis. King of the shoulder pop versus form fit tackle. Highlights versus effectiveness. Hated coaching players like that

McGuire has the best throwing motion of any Bomber QB

Lapo would be a great college OC with his little misdirection running plays and direct snaps

Someone text Lapo tell him Wolitarsky is still on the team

Yikes!

So much time for BLM

He does have the Riddell Great Gazoo model helmet

I hate Calgary

Ha! We don't like Bob?! He's great on radio play by play. Plus, his grumpy old man responses to twitter trolls kill me. Someone told him he needs a nap one time, he responded with "I like naps", Funny and likely true!

That's tough to do. Based on some kind of ratio I only have in my own brain, in order: Masoli, Arbuckle, Nichols, Streveler, Collaros. Based on a completely arbitrary, in my head ratio of ability/expected contract/value of contract/age/injury history/potential/peak tier (i.e. I think Nichols has peaked as a mid or low mid tier; Arbuckle could be higher than that; Collaros was (pre multiple concussions) higher than that. This is why GM's get paid well, and get canned when they mess up. Not easy.

Nope. Just speculating based on most of the time players and their agents ask for more money than their current contracts, not less. Nichols is roughly $450K now. A raise makes sense, doesn't it? And second, comparing to QB's roughly in his tier - Harris - making around $600K; Masoli - likely will be; even Franklin who is below Nichols is somewhere around $350K; Fajardo about $450K - which I think as Nichols agent I would argue for more money based on career experience. So maybe Nichols really wants to be here and takes less than comparables in the market. Is there a link to that?

Maybe no one. Not saying for sure those players get released or let them walk. Just speculating on who might be considered if say Walters went after some other free agents or trades. Or who Walters will have to decide on in terms of giving increases to and for how much. How much is Jefferson worth to the Bombers? How much can he get in the CFL, assuming he doesn't get an NFL shot? Started with a hypothetical Harris salary question. I just think Harris would be one of the last players Walters would consider in terms of salary dumps. You could be right. But, player agents. Never heard of one opening negotiations with requesting the same pay or less. Especially given some new comparables out there for QB salaries.

People do seem to be forgetting - surgery to throwing shoulder! Worst thing for a QB. Especially one who didn't have a gun to begin with. He's likely going to be impacted. Even if he comes back and say is 80% of what he was throwing wise, do you want to pay say $600K per year for that?

For sure. And if he were some decent American RB, gone. Or some RB who is fourth in rushing in the league, gone. But he's Winnipegger Andrew Harris. Arguably the best known, most loved Bomber. And still good. 100% agree that the offensive scheme should not be built around him, or any RB. And agree we need and will free up some cash. Walters has always been good at that. Rarely takes on or extends a player we shouldn't. And has released some purely on salary. If I had to guess, some potential salary casualties - Bighill, Adams, possibly Jefferson depending on how much he wants, maybe Hardrick who I like, but could be looking for $ if his contract is up, some of the veteran DB's. And Nichols. He's the big one. I'd be shocked if Walters gives him a raise from his current deal.

Agree. The other thing with Harris is he is still an elite player. Not saying I'd have an offensive system that runs so much and gives him so many touches. But, even in a more pass oriented system, he's still valuable as he can catch, block, threat in play action. He's probably an overpay in terms of RB's in general, but, as you said, PR nightmare, plus he's still very good.

Ah. Thanks. Then maybe Masoli? If it's Masoli or Nichols at roughly the same contract you can at least make a choice. Streveler as back up. Maguire developmental. Maguire may actually be a better QB in the long run than Streveler. Plus, not 100% sure we're getting peak Nichols back. In isolation if I told you that your team was signing a 33 year old, mid tier QB coming off surgery to his throwing shoulder, you likely wouldn't be "sign me up!"

Nichols/Streveler - Bombers QB's 2020. Pro: They are both experienced CFL QB's and can win games in the CFL . One very experienced, the other less so. And as is proven every season, teams need more than one QB. Every starter has and will miss some games. So having two QB's that can truly start is really the smart move. Con: Neither one is an elite QB in the CFL. Many questions, but, the big one is do you need an elite QB to win a Grey Cup? Certainly helps. If BLM wins this year provides more evidence to this. But, the only other truly elite QB in the CFL won't be in the playoffs. For the second year in a row. Another question is salary. If Nichols wants close to elite level money, I'd say you can't do it. If Streveler wants close to mid tier money - Harris, Fajardo - I'd be really hesitant. Especially since you might be able to get Arbuckle or Evans for around the same amount. Many questions. Which all may be solved when Zach lights it up the next three games and takes to the Grey Cup 😅!!! We can hope, right?

I think Masoli is a free agent. Not sure Hamilton will let him walk. Would you consider him? I think I would, depending on the price.

True. I'm sure they hash things out and come to some type of consensus or disagree but commit position. I'm guessing that sometimes though arriving at the point of lockstep may be a bit rocky. Perhaps O'Shea lobbies for certain players longer or harder than maybe Miller and Walters, certainly the fans, would like.

Wonder which receiver sits with Adams back in the line up - Whitehead or Bailey. My guess O'Shea will sit Bailey. I'd sit Whitehead. According to a "CFL Insider" quoted in Kirk Penton's weekly column on The Athletic, " I don't know why (the Bombers) haven't played number 88 (Rasheed Bailey) more, but he's a good football player". Us too CFL Insider! But I guess you have not been introduced to Coach O'Shea.

Your post nailed it. To me a pro head coach should demonstrate loyalty to his players by not crapping on them in the media. If a player fumbles, misses a tackle, whatever, as a good pro head coach you don't use that as an excuse to dump on a player publicly. It's a team game, lots of chances to win, he's a key member of our team blah, blah, blah. But, I'd tell all players behind closed doors enjoy every moment of being a pro athlete because it can end very quickly. Injuries, contract issues, or performance. If another player can perform better than you, they will play. Period. Happens to every pro player at some point. At some point some QB will be a better option than Tom Brady. O'Shea seems very reluctant to give that message to players. Makes me wonder what happened with Drew Willy all those years ago. Did Kyle Walters pull rank and tell O'Shea that Willy was done?