Noeller

I'll be going to the various parties during the week, but I won't go to the game unless the Bombers are in it. If the Bombers are in the game, I'll pay pretty much whatever, but the parties (to me) are much more important. Spirit of Edmonton and TD MB Social are absolute "Can't Miss" events...

ehhhh....it's content.....I'm desperate for anything. #IsItJuneYet

https://www.tsn.ca/a-closer-look-at-the-key-issues-as-cfl-cflpa-head-to-the-bargaining-table-1.1268816?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

https://www.bluebombers.com/2019/03/04/two-months-draft-day/?utm_source=dlvr.it

You're way off on this one, Iso.....Dave Naylor actually just had an article about how the whole "CFL players make no money" thing is really a misnomer and part of their image problem. You can't compare it to "other leagues" because what other leagues are in the same situation as the CFL? Same number of teams, same TV deal, etc....where's the direct comparison?

I've decided I'm voting for Miller. He was the ST Captain for a long time, and one of the smartest ST players we ever had. It was his responsibility to make sure everyone was lined up properly, and if he didn't like the looks of things, take the necessary OS penalty to get things lined up the way they should be. He took heat from a lot of stupid fans that didn't understand, but that guy was a truly great ST player. Gets my vote.

I'm low key loving the Beaulieu trade. I always liked that kid and hoped he would develop into the 1st-Round pick talent people thought he would be. Not sure he'll ever get there, but he's looked solid so far...exactly what they've needed with the injuries they have on the back end.

If the Jets get close to 100% healthy for playoffs, they're going to make some noise....

https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/cfl-players-not-happy-wait-off-season-bonuses/ Rob Maver says CFL players aren’t a happy bunch as their union continues preparations for the start of collective bargaining negotiation with the league. The CFL Players’ Association and CFL will formally begin contract talks March 11-12 in Toronto. The union is holding its annual general meeting in Niagara Falls, Ont., and will conclude the gathering Saturday. A huge bone of contention for CFL players is the league having instructed its teams to not pay them off-season bonuses until after new agreement is ratified. The present deal is scheduled to expire May 15. The CFLPA believes the CFL’s stance is a move to force players into quickly adopting a new agreement. But Maver, a Calgary Stampeders player rep, said all it’s done is irk the union membership. "Guys are angry about it, this is money that’s been agreed upon previously and the optics of this are bad," Maver said during a conference call Friday following the second day of the AGM. "They’re trying to get something done quickly and they know this is a way they could potentially go about doing it. "It’s not like CFL players are going to Vegas and posting pictures of them holding stacks of bills like Evander Kane did when the NHL locked out (its players in 2012-13). These are guys that are struggling to make ends meet so the fact the league is going back and failing to honour signed contracts has frankly pissed a lot of people off." Kane, then with the Winnipeg Jets, created quite a stir when he tweeted a photo of himself with wads of cash atop a Las Vegas rooftop. It showed him pretending to use the money as a phone to call boxer Floyd Mayweather. Quarterback Trevor Harris, a former Ottawa Redblacks player rep who signed as a free agent this off-season with the Edmonton Eskimos, echoed Maver’s sentiments. "It feels like not a great deal for us and some of the guys have been upset about it but here we are," he said. "We’re doing the best we can right now and all we can to bring a good deal to the table." The beginning of contract talks will give the CFL and its players less than three months to strike a deal without impacting the start of the regular season. The ’19 campaign is scheduled to open June 13 in Hamilton with the Tiger-Cats hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders. "I understand the value of being fully prepared and that things can happen between now and training camp," Maver said. "If we rush to the table too soon, we are limiting the opportunities that we’re able to get a fair shake at." Case and point is CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie long-term vision for the league. This off-season, Ambrosie has secured partnerships with football associations in Mexico and eight European countries and Ambrosie has said there’s potential for the league to reach television agreements with some of its new partners. With talks starting later this month, Maver said that’s something that can definitely be included in contract negotiations. While players aren’t happy about having not yet received their off-season bonuses, Harris said the mood at the AGM has been one of calm. "I think the guys in the room are all united and we’re excited to be in there talking about this so we can bring a fair and respectable (offer) to the table," he said. "We want to make sure we’re doing the best we can for the players to protect the league and players."

I love this and really hope those asshats to the west fall into a dark period that rivals their Al Ford years...

In fairness he's hardly ever been to the Brier. In all the years that his team was the best in the world, they lost the MB finals every year. Lost to Stoughton, lost to Fowler (ouch), lost to Carruthers... I think he's only been twice. He and Carruthers teamed up this year but haven't been very good for the most part.

I demand votes for Stoddard for his role in the Lager ST Play....

I'll tell you this: Winnipeg is absolutely no worse than either Calgary or Edmonton. I'll personally take Winnipeg over either of those two any day of the week.

Brier starts tomorrow with the Wild Card play in game between Epping and Bottcher. McEwen/Carruthers representing MB but unless they find some previously undiscovered magic, they'll be in tough to make playoffs.

Re: Manziel -- looks like he missed meetings with people whose job it was to "keep him on the straight and narrow" https://3downnation.com/2019/02/28/johnny-manziel-skipped-meetings-required-by-the-cfl-sources/

Voted AJ3 for both this time around...I'd forgotten just how good that guy was. Gonna have to fire up some of my DVDs from the 2000 season...

I hate that ******* ginger with a fiery passion for all he did to us over the years..............but............I respect the hell out of him as a CFL QB.

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/ambrosie-manziel-failed-one-of-the-conditions-that-was-set-for-him~1622276/ambrosie-manziel-failed-one-of-the-conditions-that-was-set-for-him~1622276

the irony is that they badly outplayed the Wild in the 3rd. They had a great 3rd period, save for a crucial 2 minutes. Shame...

More to the story:

no kidding...gave up years of future for one guy who was a wild card at BEST.......and then you just outright release him (a bonus was due March 1st apparently). What a mess that ******* organization is...

According to Hodge, it's the first time in a long time that the Top 3 prospects will be attending the national combine...

https://www.tsn.ca/top-prospect-betts-leads-list-of-cfl-combine-invites-1.1264942 CFL 20m ago Top prospect Betts leads list of CFL Combine invites TSN.ca Staff The CFL announced the 2019 Combine schedule and participants list Wednesday, with top-ranked prospect Mathieu Betts leading the list of players that will take part in the National Combine. Betts, a defensive lineman from Laval University, was the top prospect on the CFL Scouting Bureau's winter rankings. CFL 20m ago Top prospect Betts leads list of CFL Combine invites TSN.ca Staff The CFL announced the 2019 Combine schedule and participants list Wednesday, with top-ranked prospect Mathieu Betts leading the list of players that will take part in the National Combine. Betts, a defensive lineman from Laval University, was the top prospect on the CFL Scouting Bureau's winter rankings. The second and third ranked prospects, offensive lineman Shane Richards and receiver Justin McInnis, will also be at the National Combine. The CFL Combine schedule kicks off March 11 with the Western Regional Combine and culminates with the National Combine March 22-24. NATIONAL COMBINE PARTICIPANTS NAME NO. POS. COLLEGE ANDERSON, Nathaniel 90 DL Missouri BETTS, Mathieu 91 DL Laval BIBAKU SIMBA, Maurice 56 OL Concordia BOATENG, Matthew 20 DB Fresno State DESJARDINS, Vincent 92 DL Laval DESJARLAIS, Drew 50 OL Windsor GIBBON, Jesse 51 OL Waterloo GITTENS JR., Kurleigh 81 WR Wilfrid Laurier GRANT, Thomas 93 DL Acadia GRIFFITHS, Connor 94 DL UBC HARKE, Jonathan 52 OL Alberta HARRY, Jamie 23 DB Ottawa HUNCHAK, Colton 82 WR York JOSEPH, Cedric 31 RB Western JULIEN-GRANT, Kaion 83 WR St. Francis Xavier KALINIC, Nicola 84 WR York KARL, Hunter 85 WR Calgary KATSANTONIS, Stavros 21 DB UBC LAWLEY, Sheriden 95 DL UBC LEE, Malcom 22 DB UBC LENIUS-DICKEY, Brayden 80 WR New Mexico LYLES, Jamel 32 RB Manitoba MCINNIS, Justin 86 WR Arkansas State MERCHANT, Chris 1 QB Western O'CONNOR, Michael 2 QB UBC OSEI-KUSI, Chris 87 WR Queen's POLAN, Gabriel 33 RB Sherbrooke RICHARDS, Malik 89 WR Mount Allison RICHARDS, Shane 53 OL Oklahoma State ROBINSON, Noah 40 LB Missouri ROY, Vincent 54 OL Sherbrooke SAVARD, Alexandre 88 WR Laval SAXELID, Kyle 55 OL UNLV SMITH, Robert 96 DL Wilfrid Laurier SOPIK, Fraser 41 LB Western STARCZALA, Eric 57 OL Guelph THOMASSIN, Samuel 64 OL Laval WILKINSON, Zachary 58 OL Northern Colorado WILLIAMS, Zackary 59 OL Manitoba

I think it's time to either lock this thread or move it to Gen Forum.....it's long since done having anything to do with the CFL...