Rich

Lets not forget this paragraph from Campbell's article: If this was their starting point, don't think this was the expectation of what their agents thought the final number would be. However it is interesting that this info was leaked. Have to think negotiations have hit an impasse.

Trades don't typically happen until closer to the trade deadline because the buyers are typically cap or close to the cap teams, and the later in the season you can wait the less remaining salary they have to fit under the cap. Buff's cap hit is $5.2, Ladd is $4.4M. 30 games in, that is 37% of the season so 63% of their salaries left. $3.3M for Buff and $2.8M for Ladd. Now go here http://stats.nhlnumbers.com/teams?year=2016 sort by cap space and see how many contenders can actually afford these guys right now. Not many who you would consider sure fire contenders right now. They won't be traded till later in the season until their remaining cap hit goes down or some bubble teams decide they are in a position to make a push. At the trade deadline, there are about 20 games left or 24% of the salary. That is $1.25M for Buff and $1.1M for Ladd. Of course you can always retain some salary but what you get now won't be the teams "best offer". Especially once the deadline heats up and you pit two buyers against one another. I would wait unless it is an offer you can't pass up.

Hellebuyck starts

He has a signed contract with the Jets. He will be with the Jets or Moose next year.

Colts are first in their division at 17 - 10 - 0 Windsor is first in their division at 16-9-4 Just sounds like they were each looking for a different piece on their team.

There was an interesting article (don't know if anyone has linked it here) that talked about the need to implement an "administrative cap" .. thought it was on point. I'll see if I can dig it up .. edit: here it is - http://3downnation.com/2015/12/08/its-time-again-for-a-cfl-spending-cap-it-saved-the-riders-once/ This reminds me of the days when Edmonton could 'buy' their way into the Grey Cup. The Bombers had some good teams back then, but not the same purse strings. Result? 5 Grey Cups in a row for Edmonton.Another result? The SMS. Saskatchewan probably threw a few TD passes with these hires, and everybody is stunned...and jealous. But could any other team have afforded these moves? I highly doubt it. Good or bad, it's moving forward... From 1973 the Eskimos went to the Grey Cup in nine out of ten years. Over half of that time playing out of Clarke Stadium. They then moved into the CFL's third largest stadium (Commonwealth) that had approximately 42,300 seats, with about 39,500 being sideline seats. The 70's were a good time to build a team as there was no free agency. If you found good players you basically got to keep them. If other teams, notably the BC Lions, were not good at evaluating talent you could pick up their castoffs (i.e. Tom Wilkinson, Bob Howes) or make trades for guys like Larry Highbaugh. 1972 was a great year for the Eskimos to pick up cast-offs since being the worst team in 1971 meant they got first crack at cuts. I also recall the Eskimos had a scout, Frankie Morris, evaluating Canadian talent. His wikipedia page states that he was a member of seven Grey Cup teams as a part of management (for people outside Edmonton, that means Grey Cup winning teams). He died in 2009 at 85 so it is fairly likely he wasn't involved with the Eskimos for the '05, '03 and '93 Cups. Safe to say 1975 was his first Grey Cup as a scout. Winnipeg stadium was as big as Clarke Stadium. I'm not sure other teams were scouting like the Eskimos back then. He was scouting before the Eskimos could possibly have any advantage over the other teams. When the Eskimos wanted Tommy Scott from the Bombers they couldn't wait until the end of the year for him to be a free agent and outbid the Bombers. They had to trade for him. How did that trade work out for the Bombers? I would say pretty well. Can you name any players the Eskimos got from other teams because that other team couldn't afford them? What can you point to to say the Eskimos bought that team? When did the SMS start? I've seen people say they bought Grey Cups but no one every seems to provide evidence. Your opinion doesn't surprise me because it is a common conscience clearing opinion most Eskimo fans have. There was no cap so they were free to spend as much as they wanted. They were destroying the league to a point where we almost didn't have one. The eskimoes are in unchartered waters this year however, as their roster will get raided at free agency. Back in the good old days before the pesky salary cap the esks could win year after year and not lose a single player because they could continue to pay them more than anyone else could. Now that the sms is in place, teams that win the cup commonly have a moderate turnover of their roster because free agents want more money to stay. That's why its harder to string cup wins together and sustain success in the modern CFL. Calgary being the benchmark recently for sustained success has relied heavily on great scouting to keep things going. I also think that is why the Edmonton media is sour about the Jones situation, they thought the glory years were back. Any city, including Regina, who won a championship only to have its entire coaching staff pilfered by another team a few weeks after that championship win would be sour. Not criticizing Regina for doing it. Just saying if the shoe was on the other foot, what would the fans and media in Regina be saying right now? I don't think it has anything to do with people thinking the glory years were back.

Yeah that doesn't happen in any other city.

That was the Bombers and why they started showing the drawing of the ticket on the Jumbotron during commercials. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/historic/31384849.html

The problem is that Ehlers still had another year of junior eligibility and can therefore not be sent down to the Moose. It had been said that he would rather go play in Europe this year than plan in Juniors. I think the Jets wanted to keep him close to home and within the organization.

I believe that was specifically in regards to the QBs brought in. Where last time he was told which QBs would be brought in, this time he wanted to at least be part of the discussion.

Well then, apparently based on a few posters here and maybe even Ehlers himself, his response should have been, "Thanks for the question, but it's not a boost in my confidence that's needed, but a boost in linemate talent is what's needed' . . .. Or maybe he just needs time to work through and adjust to the elevated competition in the NHL like most rookies do.

Going to be interesting for sure in SK over the next few years to see how it all pans out. How many times in other organizations have they spent and spent (see Maple Leafs) and have it blow up in their faces. Not saying it is going to happen there, but it would be nice to see. Although I will say, if I had the choice, I'd rather it be the Bombers making these hires.

My Mom is retired (a senior), lives in a condo complex and was really worried about the boxes when they were first getting them, but now actually prefers them. It is very convenient if she wants to mail things out, because each box also acts as an outgoing mailbox. Of course it is relatively convenient for her because her box is pretty close to her entry and she hasn't gone through a winter yet. I see no problem with box delivery for the majority of Canadians, with to the door service on an exception basis for those that are unable to go get their own mail for health reasons.

So you were unhappy with his promise to "save home mail delivery" during the election? Didn't realize it was a promise. But if it meant going back and wasting all the work and planning that has already been done, then yes it was a stupid promise. For this was really the plan I'd also have to ask why we would only reverse this for people that had already been converted? Wouldn't all people, including new developments who typically pay much higher taxes, deserve mailbox delivery? The answer is of course not. With the Internet, mail delivery today isn't as core a service as it was 20 years ago.

All new developments also already get the boxes. I'd actually be more mad if he reversed it after all the money they paid to roll-out the new delivery plans and installation of the mail boxes.

I wouldn't. He has certainly slowed down, but who do we really have to replace him right now? How would you feel if he gets injured playing in the tournament?

Oh no, that article was quite clear. Byfuglien for Eberle, Nikitin AND a draft pick / prospect. Done deal!

Sign me up for this one.

http://fortune.com/2015/12/08/donald-trump-bill-gates-internet/

From what I can gather, it is the shouting True North then the cheering that follows it up. That and cheering for a corporation is apparently disrespectful to the veterans who have fought for our Country. He goes on to say it is fine for the Dallas fans to shout out "Stars" during their anthem because that is the name of the team, while it is not fine in Winnipeg because True North is the name of the corporation. Huh? So we can cheer for a team, but everyone knows all corporations are evil, so we can't cheer for them. Even though they own the team you are allowed to cheer for and if it wasn't for the corporation there wouldn't be a team to cheer for, which Winnipegers know all to well. Got it. I've never really understood the cheering after "True North" part myself. it is kind of like you are cheering yourself for yelling out those words, which seems odd to me, but it doesn't bother me nor do I find it disrespectful. The comments are not favourable to his article. I suspect most of them are from Winnipeg, don't think anyone else really cares.

I tried reading this article 3 times on my phone and each time their ads booted me off to another site. For that reason I put no stock in what they say. Winnipeg has a tradition of this. Same thing at Bomber games when people yell Blue during the anthems.

I'm really indifferent on the Lapo hire. But at the same time I can't think of a hire that would make me feel any different. This organization just has to start winning. Nothing else really matters.

I did want Cortez, but he's out of the running now. My second choice wouldn't be PLAP. In fact, I'd go with a guy who's never been an OC over PLAP.I guess my new choice is Chapdelaine. Pretty good track record even last year until he lost both Durrant and Glenn. Jones? Nah, he's not been a good OC. I'd take him as a receivers coach tho. Mass? I think he'll be the Eskie HC. The Redblacks wouldn't even let us interview him for OC. Jackson? Never been an OC. I'd take him over PLAP but, I'd rather have him as a QB coach. I'm good with either Chaps or Lapo. The last time Lapo was here, he doesnt have a good and durable QB. Great, we'll find out tomorrow that Chaps is now jobless. Chaps better choice is to go in Ottawa with a durable Henry Burris. I dont think he will go back in Buono's arm and go to Edmonton with will probably have a rookie-HC and brand new coaching staff. I know people have been saying this for a while now, but Burris is going to be 41 next year. Nobody escapes Father Time forever. I think Ottawa regresses next year.

O'Shea's quote on why he hired Marcel two years ago: