Jacquie

Except Austin didn't come back until he was HC and GM. Didn't he turn down the Riders when they offered him the HC position a couple years ago? Truly nit picking, Jacquie. Do you think every NCAA coach won't come up here unless they are both a HC & GM? It isn't nitpicking if Austin turned down big money for just a HC job a couple of years earlier. And I wasn't saying every NCAA coach - I specifically was referring to Austin.

The reports I saw all said "next week" - no specific day.

Except Austin didn't come back until he was HC and GM. Didn't he turn down the Riders when they offered him the HC position a couple years ago?

They do? Some of the comments they both made about our Canadian content, the way the Bombers have drafted, how the team needs to develop players, how we were deliberately not players in free agency all under Mack. Right from the start they haven't been complimentary about the man as well as how things needed to change To disagree with how someone did their job doesn't mean he was despised. Did Miller even know Mack personally.

Woodson was extended by the Argos in January.

They don't know which teams have made offers.

Would converting either of them be a good idea given the value of a good centre?

Why would he need to move up from 2nd overall to get Goosen? I meant we take Lavertu with the second overall, then trade up to get Goosen. Why should we try to draft them both?

Why would he need to move up from 2nd overall to get Goosen?

What about Chris Greaves. It's a little early to be pronouncing judgment on the 2012 and 2013 draft imo.

Easy answer would be because no one signed him.

You're not wrong. It says that right in the little article under his picture.

Holding out? Where did it say anyone was holding out?

If the Bombers did that and then didn't sign any of those targeted there would have been mass hysteria in the media and on the message boards.

How many NIs did we have on the roster at the time of the expansion draft? Considering the third round had 12 NI players protected (I would guess Henoc was the only potential FA protected) and we had 11 or 12 potential FAs, how many signed players could there have been for them to choose from.

Does anyone think it was a mistake by the Lions to tweet the names of the FA players they offered contracts? Especially since they weren't able to sign any of them.

Not necessarily...but it's a different style of football, especially for OL, so it adds something on top of what any rookie would need to adjust to coming from CIS which could make it a longer transition, but depending on the individual it could be smooth or it could be tougher...much like it would be for any rookie. I'm sure it is something he'll be quizzed on. Didn't Tyson Pencer come from that league? That might be why it's taking longer for him to develop. Pencer went to Washington State University (Div I) for a couple seasons then went to play junior football in BC.

What makes you think Tillman was still being paid by the Eskimos?

Did you mean Butler, not Ferri? No. The poster didn't name name the two Canadian starting LBs in his post, so I named two. If he meant Butler, well I consider him a safety first and if he was serious on whiffing on him, then what can I say? I asked because Ferri is an import.

No he isn't still being paid by them. He's was helping with FA which he couldn't do if he was still under contract to the university.

Did you mean Butler, not Ferri?

The Riders will be just fine. Their O-line is still one of the best if not the best in the league, they have and they have a good QB. Running backs are a dime a dozen as well. Yes they need to replace Butler but they still have a very good football team for 2014. It will be very interesting to see how they do without Dressler. I think he was the best receiver in the league last year. Even more interesting now with Sheets signing with Oakland. They lost 3 in a row when Sheets was out of the line-up.

Seems like people always think a player was paid too much when it's a player they couldn't sign.

B+ Getting Bourke or Butler would have been nice but I don't think we had a real shot at them in the first place. I like the guys we signed and am not disappointed about not getting one of the OL who were available. I'm going to wait to see how the rest of the off-season goes before getting too worried about the o-line. Too lofty since Perrett wasn't a free agent.

Here's an excerpt from a Leader-Post article that was linked to at TEP about Newman signing with us: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/sports/Bombers+Hello+Newman/9496348/story.html