JuranBoldenRules

I wouldn't mind adding a guy like Kendial Lawrence, but sounds like he isn't even listening to CFL offers right now. There are also a few import receivers I could see the Bombers having interest in if the prices come down, Wallace Miles and Ellingson. A lot of guys seem to be waiting on the NFL. I think they'll sign a QB, either Brohm or maybe a late entrant into the LeFevour sweepstakes depending on the price, but I think he'll stay in the East. And I hope they re-sign Johnny Sears.

Derick Armstrong type, will likely play the boundary WR, allow Denmark, Moore and Kohlert to play slot most of the time. Those guys took turns at the boundary last year but we didn't have a true fit for that spot, Denmark played it best. Isn't he aporox 40 pounds lighter than Armstrong? I've read more people comparing him to Edwards. 6'3 190-195. Armstrong was 6'2 205-210 I mostly remember him from that pre-season game in Winnipeg last year and the game in Ottawa where he had a bad drop then came back and had a nice TD. He's definitely a guy who is going to be a back shoulder, jump ball type WR, more about using his body to get position and fighting for the ball than a guy running real precise routes to get open. Not much like Edwards at all IMO.

Interior would have to improve a whole hell of a lot from last year. We've basically upgraded one position and added depth.

Derick Armstrong type, will likely play the boundary WR, allow Denmark, Moore and Kohlert to play slot most of the time. Those guys took turns at the boundary last year but we didn't have a true fit for that spot, Denmark played it best.

A bluff for what? Public opinion on this hotel issue?

The SOD terms matter because Centreventure doesn't have the authority to change the scope of a project that council already approved, particularly when the city is going to take a huge bath on the deal CV negotiated. They could negotiate with True North, but it would have to come back to council. The money to purchase the Carlton Inn came from the City of Winnipeg, it's a public property now. Centreventure is more like a hype man then an entity that can make multi-million dollar decisions with no oversight. Problem is that previous administrations have allowed Centreventure far too much autonomy and now the lines are extremely blurred. True North and Chipman are bystanders, but they also know the rules of the game. Chipman has been involved with Centreventure for years.

Well, Chipman was serving on the board of Centreventure when SOD came back saying they could not meet the terms of the agreement they had to develop the Carlton Inn site. Chipman knew Centreventure was prone and desperate, he was part of Centreventure. He didn't directly negotiate with himself as he recused himself from the Centreventure board, but he knew the hand Centreventure was playing. Centreventure pulled an end around and skipped the part about having an open proposal process and reporting all the goings on to city council, Centreventure is a creation of city council after all. Council and the mayor cannot view the details of the agreement between True North and Centreventure due to a confidentiality agreement in that deal and review the demands placed on the developer in comparison to the original demands on SOD. As a private businessman, Chipman took advantage of the situation. Fair enough. As a city, we don't know what the options were, because we don't know what the agreement entails and if the demands on the developer were adjusted from original ones placed on SOD, there could have been other parties willing to offer to develop the hotel site, potentially in a way that didn't cost the taxpayer as much. I listened to Chipman on CJOB for about an hour combined this AM, and the more I hear him get defensive the more I wonder what's actually going on here. He really has nothing to put forward in terms of details, it's all bluster. Why would he begrudge the city doing it's due diligence and what is being hidden? I'm not questioning his motives because public money is involved as he would suggest, I'm questioning his motives because he won't disclose them or much else. If you want public money in your developments, you need to be willing to follow the process. If you want to move in secret and below the radar, pay for it yourself.

How about misrepresented? Chipman also said a copy of the option agreement for the project was sent to City Hall and that Bowman and other city councillors had access to it, despite claims made by Bowman the information contained in the agreement hasn’t been handed over. “It was delivered to the city solicitor on December first under conditions that clearly allow it to be used by the city, its administration and the mayor himself for the collective assessment and due diligence on our project.” Chipman's overreaction? Interesting that you should choose to present Chipman in that light. He states that he wanted to present the facts and because of how things were handled..at City Hall, they want to reevaluate what they do going forward. That seems pretty clear and pretty fair. It is in no way Chipman's fault how the matter was handled by CentreVenture, nor should the spotlight be shone on True North when they have presented a viable alternative. Bowman could have easily handled this whole affair in a much better fashion, but rushed into statements that don't present the entire story. His bad. Chipman has a proven record in Winnipeg and his objection to the characterization of True North and this proposed deal is understandable. Bowman doesn't have to rubber stamp anything…but he certainly shouldn't have called True North's intentions into question. Here's Chipman's media address and it is powerful and interesting: https://soundcloud.com/680cjob/mark-chipman-full The confidentiality agreement in the deal signed by Centreventure and True North kind of prevents anyone else from presenting the entire story. Would be nice if Chipman would give us that story instead of getting his back up when the city asks questions about where it's money is going. The only objection by Bowman, and he's quite right to object, is that an arms length corporation went around what the actual elected representatives approved when they panicked. There's some weird stuff there since Chipman was on the board and fully aware of everything going on. Some have suggested that other True North developments and interests scuttled any chance SOD had to find a different partner to run the proposed hotel, but I'm choosing to believe Chipman's version of events on that side of things until the facts prove I shouldn't.

That alone seems like enough to play in the NFL doesn't it? and can't route running be learned? The Seahawks are very good at taking players that experts say are not good enough, (Richard Sherman) and training them to be more than good enough. And not rewarding Matthews for his great post season play would be out of character for that team. It would be enough if 100 tall and reasonably fast guys didn't graduate from the NCAA every season. Matthews really benefited from New England's defensive gameplan and Seattle's offensive gameplan. New England put their two best corners on Kearse and Baldwin. Once one of those corners was put on Matthews, he didn't make a catch for the rest of the game. But he put his name out there and gave himself another opportunity to prove himself heading into next season, and if nothing else he went for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

Which at this point is basically nothing. Just a shiny video. City already loses money on the proposed hotel deal if it were to go through, although that seems inevitable no matter who develops that site given how CentreVenture has mismanaged this whole situation. Who knows how much public money/subsidy would be required as part of the proposed $400 million development? Council doesn't know. That's why Bowman can't just be a rubber stamp, nor should he be. Next step should be the dismantling of CentreVenture. We also know Bowman lied about seeing the vid. Lied is a strong word. He said he'd heard rumours and rumblings but the details of the development had not be presented to himself or council. That's still where we are at. Bowman has nothing to apologize for except for Chipman's overreaction to anything Chipman views as potentially questioning his reputation. Anything that requires millions of dollars of public money or a change in an already approved plan that will cost the city millions should hit the floor of council. Why is this seen as acting against Chipman? If this development is such a great thing and makes good financial sense for the city, he should have nothing to worry about.

Which at this point is basically nothing. Just a shiny video. City already loses money on the proposed hotel deal if it were to go through, although that seems inevitable no matter who develops that site given how CentreVenture has mismanaged this whole situation. Who knows how much public money/subsidy would be required as part of the proposed $400 million development? Council doesn't know. That's why Bowman can't just be a rubber stamp, nor should he be. Next step should be the dismantling of CentreVenture.

Bowman needs to be careful about setting the same precedent of hiding information from council that his predecessor and his CAO operated with. I'd rather miss out on one good development than hand a scummy CAO carte blanche to the municipal public purse and end up having tens of millions of uncontrollable cost overruns like we've had on pretty much every major development in this city of late. All the details of these deals need to hit the floor of council when they are proposed so that the people representing us can decide. Chipman should respect this process too. I don't believe he did anything wrong, but he's gotta know that logically CentreVenture can't be making major land deals above the city council.

Same goes for Lawless. We've become a loser media market. The good ones move up to Edmonton, Calgary or Toronto in a couple years, the mediocre ones stay and become local stars. The worst part of Wheeler is his ridiculous level of arrogance in real-life. He attended a friend of mine's wedding a few years back when he was still on Power with Hal and got into it with one of the bridesmaids because she didn't know who he was and was completely unimpressed when he kept announcing who he was. This resulted in everyone laughing at him for the rest of the night, which he didn't seem to understand. One of the few times he's made me laugh. I've only met Lawless once, at Labour Day a few years ago. I don't often agree with his takes and don't really respect his point of view, but he at least seems like a normal guy who doesn't take himself seriously in an intense fashion all of the time.

But why does Walters have to replace Watson now? Bombers played half the season last year without Watson and when he did play he didn't do much. JFG filled in admirably. Cause we need to have more than 2 NI receivers who can reasonably play next season, special teams too.

The word is RATIONALE. Not a bad haul for Watson, who is basically done physically, but Walters has to replace him now. Not sure Bastien does that. Think they'll be using a high pick and probably adding a NI receiver in free agency too.

Ya this one isn't really shady as much as it is a major screw-up by Centreventure who got desperate when Stuart Olson Dominion couldn't put a deal together for a chain hotel to operate what was to be built in the original proposal. The major problem here is a lack of oversight (information getting to council) and clear guidelines for arms length governmental agencies like Centreventure or even WFD/WPS to work under when it comes to these land deals. Makes it easy for the Sheegl's and Shindico's of the world to press their personal agendas forward with all the blurred lines and avoid real scrutiny until the deal is already past the point of no return. Stuart Olson Dominion and Abou-Zaid are 5 words I don't want to hear in the same sentence as "Winnipeg" for a long time. A lot of ignorance and incompetence in their work in this city.

The fact that nobody with a CFL history is interested in the job is a pretty good indication of how the job is viewed. A thankless job with no opportunity for the commissioner to control the dialogue or get anything done.

Only problem is that Mark Chipman publicly endorsed Brian Bowman for mayor. My instincts tell me that Chipman expected something in return for that endorsement and that mayor Bowman will cave and allow TNSE to develop the land. I suspect Mr Bowman and Mr Chipman have spoken several times over the past couple weeks on this matter.We will see what kind of backbone our mayor has this week. RFP and he's got a backbone (although TNSE could still win the bid through the RFP), or council decides to give the contract directly to TNSE means Bowman is paying back a favour to Chipman. Will be interesting... Absolutely nonsense. This is the "dirty" aspect of politics. Someone endorses a politician and must be expecting a favour? Give me a break. There is absolutely nothing to indicate Chipman traded his endorsement for a favour.What it seems like is CV has a deal for a hotel project there. SOD claims they have a deal too. Let them both submit bids and let council pick one. Done and done. Supposedly SOD was having trouble finding a hotel partner and let CV know that. If CV turned around and did their own search and made a deal with TN and then SOD said hey wait we think we have a partner now, I can understand if CV was reluctant to throw away their work. Especially if SOd's partner isn't local like TN Not that I am defending CV at all. They got way too far away from their original mandate. Bowman will clean it up. If anything bowman will be tougher on Chipman to dissuade anyone from accusing him of a conflict. I see nothing that indicates bowman is Sammy. You are being very naive here. Election support from business in exchange for political favors happens ALL the time. But I sure hope you're right about Bowman treating Chipman tougher. You're accusing two people of criminal behavior in this thread. You really think two lawyers would be dumb enough to have an almost direct and transparent quid pro quo around a municipal election endorsement and deferential treatment in the SHED?

Normally you'd think that, then we went into last season with Aaron Kelly and Romby Bryant. More like being caught under a tipped over vending machine. Receiver is an area McManus really has to show something in. For the most part the guys he brought to camp and to the practice roster in season did not look like CFL quality players either when they got an opportunity.

Kohlert pretty much is "our Rob Bagg." If Kohlert got a half-dozen games in as our only experienced receiver he'd have the same stats.

I think they are about equal on the whole. JFG is faster, more athletic generally, Kohlert a bit more technically sound.

Back to the question on Foucault. This answers it. He never signed a CFL contract so the Als hold his rights until he does.

There was a bit of that, struggling to find a block that could be attributed to poor work by the line as a whole. But Greaves just got plain beat physically and knocked right into the backfield far too often. Major regression from what he had shown the previous couple seasons. We saw Goossen at guard, and yes he can't block well enough to play there for any length of time without our QB getting killed. That's exactly my point. We don't have a surplus of guards or "interior" guys because at least two of those guys (Goossen and Picard) can't block consistently enough to play anywhere but centre where they won't get isolated 1 on 1 with a defensive lineman very often.

Don't agree on tackle over guard. First of all, take the best player with consideration given to availability around the NFL. Secondly, we don't have a surplus of interior guys. Picard and Morley are just about done, Greaves is coming off a horrendous season and Neufeld can't stay healthy, Goossen looks ready to play centre. If two guys were equal, but I was sure one would be able to play guard vs a guy who'd have to adjust to the speed of the CFL to be a tackle (basically everyone available would), I'm taking the guard.

I'd be shocked if the dollar stays that high without oil coming back up towards $100 a barrel. I think we'll be looking a dollar in the 70s sooner than later. It'll be bad for Alberta, Newfoundland and Saskatchewan, but overall the money saved on energy by everyone, including business and government should flow back into the economy and lessen the blow on the whole for Canada. But certain businesses have a bad habit of hoarding capital in this country, namely the banks.