Mike

Yep. It definitely helps. They don't appear to have taken away any eligibility options (anyone who once was still would be) but they've made it easier to determine in some cases and added different possibilities on how one could be eligible.

Here's another example ... a guy like David Scott from UBC. 5th year upcoming as a receiver for the school, born in Texas. He's probably eligible now, provided that he can successfully pass the citizenship test. That's one fairly decent prospect added already, without even looking much into it. Same with a guy like Travoy Martinez from Saskatchewan.

As an example ... Simon Fraser currently has 24 Americans on their spring roster. That's potentially 24 more "nationals" being added to the talent pool. From one school. Probably the school with the largest sample, but other big schools will have a handful here and there as well.

Not all that knowledgeable about the process but generally doesn't it take quite awhile to get Canadian citizenship, like at least a few years? A lot of these players who come up here from the U.S. might be out of the league by the time they get their Canadian citizenship. It's not about getting Americans who come up here to play pro ball granted "national" status. It's about getting the status granted for Americans who come up here to play CIS ball (or NCAA via Simon Fraser) I'm not sure how feasible it will be though. The rule is 1095 days in a 4 year span. So complete your degree, graduate as a senior, hit the CFL. Good for future guys who fit the mold of guys like Doc Cassama, Akiem Hicks, etc.

oh wow. From now on, all you have to do to be a "national" (non-import) is be a Canadian citizen at the time of your first contract signing. That changes A LOT.

Officially ratified. Will update with details as they roll in No more 9-game injured list. 6-game injured list now. 44 man active roster, 2 man reserve (instead of 42/4) Practice roster expanded from 7 to 10 (12 to 15 in fall) NO MORE NON IMPORTS AND IMPORTS They are now known as "nationals and internationals"

Yup. and make sure you dont sit in the end zone. You will be quickly escorted over to the assigned seating area. Let us know how Hall and Willy look today. Just to be clear, there isn't a practice today. They're travelling.

So it looks like ... 3 non-imports on the offensive line 2 non-import receivers 2 rotating on defense between Bucknor, Thomas, Newman and maybe a few other spare parts. That's not so bad.

A+ post

according to that thing we're starting 8 Canadians. and other than where injuries have taken over, it doesn't actually look THAT bad. obviously, it means nothing but maybe there's some potential. I like the idea of that offensive line they have there. Curious to see how they play.

You would think that hypothetically, given the opportunity to increase a NI talent pool that was stretched a bit thin with another team added to the mix, the CFL would take the opportunity to grant a guy like Cassama NI status if he qualified. Can you share any of the details from what you saw in the CBA? Curious to hear how they may determine NI status now compared to how they did before.

Also ... since you mentioned him before, what about Doc Cassama? I know he applied and was denied NI status. Is it possible he could reapply and new rules in the CBA could allow him eligibility?

Rids, what's the deal with Boris Bede? I swear he was with Montreal for a while last year. He's not anymore. Was he ever or am I just imagining things? And as of right now, is he a non-import?

Split this, just because I think it's an intriguing discussion but I didn't want to sidetrack a different thread.

The best players play many positions in high school ball. I'd bet most of the star receivers or running backs in this league, maybe even some defensive backs, played quarterback in high school for some period of time. High school is a different animal.

I thought Tillman had pretty much scouted Laurent on his own - no one seemed to have heard of him before the Supplemental...? The Laurent situation is a very unique one. Bruce Feldman (who was at ESPN at the time) came across a Duane Forde article ranking the top defensive linemen available in the CFL draft. He contacted me asking if those 10 guys were all better than Ted Laurent or at least why there was no mention of Ted. Bruce had written the fantastic book "Meat Market" and got to know that recruiting class very well at Ole Miss and Ted was part of that class. After a couple of emails it was confirmed that Ted would qualify for the draft but it was beyond the date to get onto the official draft list so he ended up in the supplemental draft in one of the largest supplementals in a long time. These kids that move with family members to the States during their teens are nearly impossible to keep track of especially when they move before high school. The high school kids are a little easier if they've made a name for themselves a bit. Hypothetically, what would happen if they found out a guy who had played in the NFL for a couple years (let's say he's 27 or 28) was actually eligible to be a NI. An established player. Would he suddenly be declared eligible for the next draft?

It's all optics, in a way. We just cut a 3rd overall pick who was by and large useless. We rejoice. We trade a 7th overall pick who was by and large useless. We worry that we didn't get good value.

Ah, the old 'over-blown reaction' post... in the last years, TO found Collaros, Cal found BLM, BC developed Mike Reilly... these guys do exist. For the record, I think WIlly has a strong arm and brains, accuracy will come. Marve has all three from what I can see. Brohm has strength and Hall has 'accuracy'... alone its not enough. The old "overblown reaction post"? Let's see, you opened with: because for some reason only you have the clarity of vision to think that better quarterbacks are better than worse quarterbacks. Uh, great. Well let's play the one up game - the Bombers should find a QB with brains, accuracy and a strong arm....and mobility. No, wait - they should get a QB with brains, accuracy, a strong arm, mobility....and experience. Nope, nope, they should get a QB with brains, accuracy, a strong arm, mobility, experience....and durability. No, no, that guy would be garbage, they should get a QB with brains, accuracy, a strong arm, mobility, experience, durability, leadership, a strong family background and early upbringing in the missionary field, a dad who was a football coach in high school, beautiful Dinwiddie eyes AND Usain Bolt-like speed. Anything less is not worthy of consideration. (you were arguing against a point that no one was making) you forget strong swimmers. I want our next QB to breed the type of winners that will make our quarterback position a spot passed down from generation to generation. anything less is unacceptable and just insulting, to be honest.

Speaking of revisionist history.... That was Mark Cohon(?) being more of a rookie commissioner than any blame on Taman. Trading Mace and Canada for Moreno was a decent desperation trade to keep our playoff hopes alive. The CFL had no understanding of the importance of NI talent when they acted as a 'mediator'. You can't defend Mack on one hand and then throw Taman under the bus. Where did I even mention Taman?

With Mack, Pencer, Etienne and Poblah now gone, what are we going to argue about? Poblah was a pretty silly argument to have anyway, everyone and their dog agreed that he was a prospect well worth using a first rounder on and if he was in the draft he likely was the #1 pick. Just happened that the guy couldn't translate all those physical tools into anything of substance. Exactly. Sometimes a pick is bad because you don't do your homework. (Pencer) And then sometimes a pick is bad just because they can't figure it out. (Poblah) Poblah was about as surefire of a choice as there was coming out of college. Hell, he was being recruited as an import before his eligibility was established. Remember how dominant he was in training camp the first year he was here? I remember Jovon Johnson saying he's as tough a matchup one on one as he had ever faced in practice. And then as it turned out, he sucked when the lights came on. And, I think part of it, is just how inconsistently we use our NI skill position players .. we draft guys like Volny and Woodson .. and there's no real plan to use these guys (this is a pet peeve of mine) .. Poblah was a great prospect but perhaps he just never found his niche in the offense because of how he was used .. just tossing it out there for the sake of discussion .. I *DO* hope the guy succeeds .. has the physical tools to make a career of it .. Agree. I think for a while, Mack used to look at things and say "we don't have one of those, get one" when he needed to stop and think about it to realize the reason he didn't have one is because he didn't need one. Or maybe they are just flyers. I don't know.

I'd rather they go with Cotton and a guy like Woods who can line up anywhere on the field (SB, RB, etc)

With Mack, Pencer, Etienne and Poblah now gone, what are we going to argue about? Poblah was a pretty silly argument to have anyway, everyone and their dog agreed that he was a prospect well worth using a first rounder on and if he was in the draft he likely was the #1 pick. Just happened that the guy couldn't translate all those physical tools into anything of substance. Exactly. Sometimes a pick is bad because you don't do your homework. (Pencer) And then sometimes a pick is bad just because they can't figure it out. (Poblah) Poblah was about as surefire of a choice as there was coming out of college. Hell, he was being recruited as an import before his eligibility was established. Remember how dominant he was in training camp the first year he was here? I remember Jovon Johnson saying he's as tough a matchup one on one as he had ever faced in practice. And then as it turned out, he sucked when the lights came on.

Not really, there's a pretty good difference in my mind between 4 and 8 when a team is trading down. I know you're a Mack apologist but bear with me here... The story, as we are told, is that O'B forced Mack's hand into the trade before Buono made the move. If Mack had been connected, he would have heard rumblings... as if Edm doesn't call the bombers and ask for something... At that time, we had #3, #16, #21, etc... we had the 'firepower' to move up again and get Westerman, Mack sat on his hands and was schooled by Buono. You're doing a lot of assuming in this scenario.

Corey Mace and a first round pick (instead of Tom Canada) for Zeke Moreno. One of the great trades of our time.