TBURGESS

You've got that wrong and you know it. You're one of those 'If you're not overtly positive all the time, you're negative' folks. I look at both sides, not just at the positives. You used to do that too, but have gone over to the Pollyanna side. Now you seem more interested in how negative I am than anything else. Angry that I don't see things the same way you do. If you and others didn't care what I type, you'd let it go. You wouldn't consistently bring up my name or call me out. You'd just think... that guy doesn't think the same as I do. It's kinda of funny/sad actually considering how you react to every tiny perceived slight against you on these boards. I want the Bombers to get 1st in the West and go on to win the Grey Cup. I was at the game the last time they won it all. I still remember what it felt like. I want the Bombers to make the right decisions so they can win the Cup again. I don't assume that every decision they make is good or bad. I call each one as I see it. I don't assume that just because it's a good looking pick that it's going to work out, because lots of good looking picks never work out. I don't assume that players who gave up on football or were out of the game for a year or more will suddenly become fully invested again and that's what it takes to play in the CFL. I don't assume that a blown out knee will get back to normal especially in the short term. I don't assume that 'if he hadn't got injured' or 'if he hadn't taken a year off' he'd have been drafted to the NFL is true or even means anything. I don't assume that this years draft picks are all going to be starters, let alone as good as the all stars we lost. I agree that everything might turn out the way we hope it does, but I don't assume it.

Intellectual like OMG EVERY PICK WAS AMAZING! We've completely fixed our NI problems! All of our picks will be all stars in a couple of years! Even better than the all stars we lost in the off season!

Nah. I leave most of them alone, but I live in a few posters heads without paying rent and they like to bring my name up when they post so I reply.

I like both picks, but lets be honest. None of us has any idea if the new draft picks will work out or not. Even the Bombers management doesn't know yet. Suggesting that 3 untested rookies are going to be great is one scenario, but there are tons of other scenarios too. If everything goes the way folks around here think it will, then this years starters will be so good that the draft picks won't even get a chance to start for at least a couple of years.

Everyone has 'star' potential before they play against CFL level competition. Pancaking a freshman in college is very different than doing it to a pro. Eli's been out of football for a year. He'll need to get back into football shape before he gets to camp. He may decide to give up on football again. He'll start at the bottom of the depth chart. I'd expect a PR season for him this year. The point I'm trying to make is... Lets see what the new draft picks can do against CFL level competition before we put them up on a pedestal. One, both or neither may make it in the CFL, let alone be stars.

@wbbfan You're saying that our 2 new draft picks and Gray are all better than Couture, Foketi, Neufeld and Speller? What are you basing your opinion on? It's certainly not based on how well they've played at the CFL level.

I'm certain that's not the plan. 3 guys with zero CFL experience is a recipe for disaster. The level of stupid in this idea is very high indeed.

Liked the first 2 picks. Don't like this one. Would have taken Wilkinson.

Vandervoot has a catch in 2 years. That's Jade Etienne like numbers.

No, I'm saying fans know the backups names and think the new starters will play almost as well as the all-stars they are replacing because they believe the stories being put out by the Bombers media folks. Folks around the league, who don't follow the Bombers as closely know that the backups would still be backups if we hadn't lost 2 all star NI OL. Being on the Bombers for a few years doesn't equal being ready to start. Being a first round draft pick doesn't mean being good enough to start in your first season. Being on the team for a couple of games last year doesn't mean knowing the system and it doesn't make you a non-rookie. There are lots of examples of players who were with the team for years and never did anything. Lots of examples of first round draft picks who turned out to be busts. Sounds like Jones is already inked in at safety. Big gamble for a guy whose never been a starter and who is coming off of a season ending injury last year.

More hogwash.

What a bunch of hogwash. If you ever read anything I've typed, you'd know that wasn't remotely true.

People outside of Bomber fans sites think that losing our best two NI OL in the same year is a problem. They think that replacing two all star NI OL with guys who have a couple of starts each or no starts depending on who wins the starters spots, is a big issue. It's only around here that folks think last years backups will be as good as last years all star starters.

As in all work stoppages, both sides have something to lose. Usually management has the upper hand because they can last longer. I'm not sure that's the case in the CFL. A camp and a season delay would cost the CFL and teams revenue. TSN isn't going to pay them. No one in the stands. Teams have had no revenue at all for as long as the players and they still have to pay their staff. Some teams are just barely hanging on as it is. Losing a game or two's revenue could put them under and the league would have to take them over. That could literally kill the league. They also run the risk of losing fans, not just short term, but long term (Ex: I used to be a big baseball fan. I lost interest back in 1994 and now only watch a game or two a year). Fans in the stands are the lifeblood of the league and numbers have been dropping even before a strike.

Yes, I think the CFL cares. The players are the product. Without them, no games.

That's the same question I asked when the CFL decided not to pay players the bonus money. IMO and I'm no lawyer... It's likely that the AAF are in breach, but that doesn't mean the contracts are automatically and quickly brought to an end. More likely that the players would have to sue, which they'd win, but that would take time.

Am I reading it right? Did we make $2.6 Mil and then pay out $2.7 Mil meaning a $100K loss? Or.. is the $2.6 Mil over and above the payment meaning a $2.6 Mil gain?

Everyone I didn't name is below average. Tier 4 - 6 are below average.

The list needs to be tier'd. Tier 1 - All stars and Ratio Breakers. Harris. We had 3 more last year. Tier 2 - Solid contributors, guys you wouldn't want to lose. Woli, Neuf (for last 2 years play), Demski, (Although some folks think he's disposable), Miller, Remple? Tier 3 - Backups and young guys with an upside. Coutour, Gray, Peterman, Speller?, Simonise?, Augustine? Tier 4 - Starters/Special teamers until someone better comes along. Jones, Briggs, Thomas Tier 5 - JAG's (Just another guy) Tier 6 - Actively trying to replace.

Typical fan forum 'analysis'. None of our NI's are below average. 😄 BTW: Above average and average or better both kinda mean the same thing. I agree that Harris should be in his own category... ratio breaker.

I say there's no way we should be in cap hell. Got rid of 7 starters salaries, including 3 all star NI's and we got rid of some higher priced backups like Wild and Leggett. Paid some extra to a few players and added Jefferson and Rose. Likely it means we don't want to pay 2 more first round draft picks. In which case, make sure to draft someone who is going to the NFL this year.

FTR: 1974 - 12 day strike.

No I'm suggesting that last year's backups, who are now starters, shouldn't be considered as good as last years all stars who they are replacing until/unless they prove it. You're confusing where we are right now, with were we might be at the end of the season. Two very different things. I'm not worried. I'm not saying we won't be competitive. I'm not suggesting that the Stamps or us will be near the bottom of the league. In the beginning, I said that both teams lost a lot of talent in the off season and that I have them a 1 & 2 overall. FTR: We lost more NI talent (Which is what we're actually talking about) than the Stamps did. 3 all stars to 1. You have to assume that our new starters are as good as other teams last years starters to assume that we will be better than most teams in NI talent. I'm not going there with you.

'Isn't noticeably worse than the rest of the league' isn't the same as 'close to the best'. If you were talking last year, then I'd agree that our Canuck talent was one of, if not the best in the league. Take 3 all stars away and I don't think it's still true. The 'who knows what we will think of' group are just that. They may or may not be great this year or down the road. What we do know is 2 of them will likely be starters this year, because we don't have any other real choices. If the league goes down to 5 NI starters, then we're in a much better spot. Our top 5 may even be 'close to the best'. 1 star. 2 second tier. 2 average to below average.

Is it tho?