Noeller

And as we know now, it was Brady that the Argos wanted initially, but when he chose to re sign in Winnipeg, the Argos took the leftover Harris. So they definitely see value in him. Just a matter of whether they feel comfortable going with Ouellette.

more on kick returns:

JA is NOT the answer..... but there are plenty of Americans who could be, for sure.

I'm all for player safety but wildly against being like the NFL. Kick returns are one of the things that make the CFL more exciting than the NFL.

there's definitely RBs at his quality available (especially Americans) that won't cost NEARLY as much.... our system is as important as his ability.

it's not Harris, it's his agent, who is apparently somewhat of a "pitbull".....they have said they "want to reset the market for RBs in the CFL"....

honestly, I'm as big on "we have to keep our locals!!" as anyone, but if he really wants to get grossly overpaid, then let him go try. I truly believe he's not irreplaceable. I think he's really good, but there's options there, including going back to IMP at RB...

really curious about what the LB salaries are.... I was definitely unaware (if) Bighill is making "top 3" money at his position. Also Brian Cole is an upgrade at LB, with Kyrie Wilson sliding over to the middle, if needed. I have no problem with that scenario. And hopefully we have plenty more in camp this year to start getting ready for '25....

Nope - two years running. This was the hardest thing for me to adjust in my head this off-season. We were absolutely the best team in the league the past two seasons, but we didn't get it done in a "one-game-winner-take-all" scenario. It happens. Still no question in my mind we are the elite...class of the league. is he getting that?

so you think he'll be a liability when at 100% health this year?

Are you expecting him to play on one leg for the 2024 season?

Chevy the clubhouse leader for NHL Executive Of The Year...

I'm getting set to fire up Echo tonight after work and I'm a big fan of Son Of A Critch on CBC, which starts this week as well. Most of the streaming stuff I watch is prepping new seasons but a ways off yet...

here's some quotes for ya's:

another note from Walters today was that Oliveira and Schoen have said they are committed to trying to catch on with the NFL right now, so they're not even willing to talk about CFL contracts.... Interesting that Schoen is still trying to kick the can.

It's Ottawa with an outside chance at Calgary...

John Hodge folks...

https://3downnation.com/2024/01/08/if-you-dont-make-a-move-youre-gonna-lose-him-oshea-addresses-youngers-promotion-halls-demotion-in-winnipeg/ The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced a shakeup of their coaching staff on Monday as defensive backs coach Jordan Younger was named the club’s defensive coordinator and Richie Hall was demoted to an undefined assistant role. Head coach Mike O’Shea still clearly holds Hall in high esteem but felt it was important to stay ahead of the game for fear of losing Younger to another team in the future. “You just know there’s gonna come a time where, if you don’t make a move, you’re gonna lose him and I didn’t want to get to that point,” O’Shea told the media via videoconference. “It’s not an easy decision, obviously. You’re talking about two guys that I have long-standing relationships with and value a lot, so to be able to have both on our staff was certainly what the aim was but you can’t really guarantee that. I’m just so excited that Richie agreed to stay on.” Younger was rumoured to be a candidate for the defensive coordinator position in Saskatchewan if Buck Pierce had been hired as the team’s head coach. O’Shea denied that this move was made in response to any particular team’s interest in Younger but to the way in which he’s generally viewed around the league. “I just know the climate,” he said. “He’s doing great work and everybody’s noticing. You’ve gotta strike first.” The veteran bench boss doesn’t know what Hall’s title will be for the upcoming season but made it clear his role won’t change all that much. The 63-year-old joined Winnipeg in 2015 and served as the club’s defensive coordinator for eight seasons, helping the team reach four straight Grey Cup appearances. Since 2019, his defences have routinely finished at or near the top of the CFL’s defensive rankings. “There’s not a day goes by that there isn’t one, two, three, four guys that wander in and out of Richie’s office to sit down and have a chat and it’s not always about football. I think he’s coming on his 40th year in the CFL, so to be able to keep that kind of CFL knowledge base around, that experience, and then also to have one of the greatest human beings in our league stick around our team is pretty good. [Younger] will be I’m sure leaning on him as much as much as possible, too,” said O’Shea. “(Hall will) be on the defensive side coaching but I also think Buck and him have great conversations about offence versus defence. And, once again, that many years is such a precious resource you need to find a way to keep it. Once again, we’re very grateful that Richie even put in a tough spot like this decided to stay with our team.” The team also announced that Mike Miller is now their special teams coordinator. While disappointed that Miller wasn’t able to continue his playing career due to a shoulder injury that kept him out of the entire 2023 season, O’Shea is excited to see what the 34-year-old from Riverview, N.B. will bring to the club’s special teams units. “He’s got that quiet approach where you see him talking to guys all the time, trying to help guys improve and help his teammates become better special teamers and help get them into better positions on the field. He’s always helping out with the young guys,” said O’Shea. When asked how he knows Miller is ready for his new coaching role, O’Shea recalled how he became the special teams coordinator of the Toronto Argonauts in 2010 despite having no previous coaching experience at the time. “I guess that’s probably hard to describe. There was a point where Jim Barker thought I was ready. I think it’s just you know he can do it. We’re not looking for it to be perfect. We don’t need an unbelievable lecture style — stand up in front of everybody and deliver great prose. We need a guy like Mike that the players are gonna battle for. Is it always gonna sound perfect? Is the technology piece gonna work out every time? No, but it’s OK. If I can go back and remember my first week, I didn’t know how to turn on a computer, so Mike’s well ahead of the game in that regard.” Paul Boudreau spent the past six seasons on Winnipeg’s coaching staff but wasn’t offered a contract extension to remain as the club’s special teams coordinator. Though the Blue Bombers have yet to formally announce their coaching staff for 2024, O’Shea indicated it will otherwise remain intact. The club will not be making an external hire to replace Younger as defensive backs coach with the role being handled by the club’s defensive staff. “How it gets organized on a daily basis out on the field, that’s going to be part of the layer that [Younger] will add, however it works,” said O’Shea. “They all can coach and they can all coach multiple spots and what it looks like on a daily basis out there on the practice field, we’ll see.”

Just a fwiw...

Definitely makes Montreal a front runner for Schoen anyhow....

Jeeze that's a huge loss for them...

great moves... only curious thing is keeping Hall around. If you're a new guy trying to put your stamp on the gig, it's a bit awkward having the last guy still there overseeing it...... but I am sure that they've got everyone's blessing and it'll be a relatively smooth transition. All in all this seems like really good moves for the Bombers.