Noeller

Loved Grapes tearing him apart last night. Love Love Loved it....

**** Toronto, **** the Argos...."imagine the league without the Argos", Iso? I try to every day...

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/bombers/maxwell-smart-99-top-agents-available-291141241.html?cx_navSource=d-top-story Maxwell Smart, 99, top agents available Bombers won't get much stronger through free agencyBy: Ed Tait Kyle Walters looks at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers depth chart and -- alongside a few spots brimming with Grade-A talent -- sees some ginormous holes and areas in need of serious upgrade. But the Bomber GM is hardly going to open the club's wallet and fill up a shopping cart when CFL free agency opens on Tuesday. Free agency seldom works that way in the salary-cap era, even with the pressures of building a contender in a year the organization is playing host to the Grey Cup. This year's free-agent crop is hardly considered bumper by Bombers brass and other league executives, especially now that Saskatchewan Roughriders non-import offensive tackle Ben Heenan -- who was headed for free agency -- has landed with the Indianapolis Colts while others, such Hamilton Tiger-Cats dynamic receiver/returner Brandon Banks, have re-signed in recent weeks. But there are some intriguing pieces out there that might pique the interest of Walters & Co. "We're looking at offensive-line help and will still look in free agency to upgrade that position," said Walters on Friday. "You always look at Canadians in general and at any position along the offensive line. "Still, you've got all these plans and you spend all this time watching film on free agents, punching in numbers and doing all this stuff and, in the end, you just don't know. You have no idea, no clue how things are going to shake down in these days before free agency. "What I caution people is, be very careful thinking that free agency is going to be the plan to solve your roster deficiencies. You can't count on it, you just don't know what it's going to cost and it's a hard salary cap. There's a domino effect. You just can't go out and spend blindly across the board. There's a give and take." Walters would not offer any specific hints as to who the club would target -- that would constitute tampering, after all -- but he did say the club has made offers to quarterback Brian Brohm and linebacker/defensive back Johnny Sears, Jr. (who is close to returning) -- two of the team's 11 prospective free agents. The others, including offensive linemen Glenn January, Dan Knapp and Gord Hinse, receivers Romby Bryant, Aaron Kelly and Brett Carter, running back Carl Volny, defensive back Desia Dunn and linebacker Mike Cornell -- all seem destined to hit the open market next week. The Bombers will likely start five Canadians on offence and two on defence, filling those spots with three interior offensive linemen and two receivers along with cornerback Matt Bucknor, defensive tackle Jake Thomas and -- depending on the package -- a couple ofother homegrown options on defence. The departure of Ian Wild to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the fact Sears has yet to re-sign leaves big question marks in the linebacking corps. Now, while the Bomber neg list is said to be loaded with American offensive tackles, the Bombers may have their interest piqued by some of the talent soon to be available and the team could use a consistent threat in the receiving corps to go alongside Clarence Denmark, Nick Moore and Canadians Rory Kohlert and Julian Feoli-Gudino. Walters also raved about what will be available to all nine CFL teams in the upcoming draft. "It's dynamite. Best it's been in a long time," said Walters. "It's loaded. A good, good, good draft." Here's what the Bombers roster currently looks like and whether the team might chase free agents at certain positions: WHAT THE BOMBERS HAVE QUARTERBACK Returning starter: Drew Willy Reserves: Robert Marve, Josh Portis Free agent: Brian Brohm Synopsis: Brohm is still in the Bomber picture as the two sides are talking, but there is no need to chase anyone in free agency. Willy is the clear-cut No. 1 and the club likes the upside of Marve and Portis. RUNNING BACK/FULLBACK Returning starter: Paris Cotton Reserves: Michel-Pierre Pontbriand*, Carl Fitzgerald*, Cameron Marshall, Sam McGuffie New face: Tim Cronk* Free agent: Carl Volny* Synopsis: Finding rare talents such as Charles Roberts might be difficult, but unearthing challengers to Cotton from any free-agent camp or scouting trip down south isn't. Don't expect the Bombers to be in any sort of potential bidding war for Curtis Steele of Toronto or Edmonton's Kendial Lawrence. RECEIVER Returning starters: Nick Moore, Rory Kohlert*, Clarence Denmark Reserves: Julian Feoli-Gudino*, Justin Wilson, Jerrell Jackson, Kurt Goodrich New faces: Toney Clemons, Kris Bastien* Free agents: Romby Bryant, Brett Carter*, Aaron Kelly Synopsis: It's natural to draw a connection between Ernest Jackson of B.C. and the Bombers -- he was a college teammate of Drew Willy at Buffalo -- but he might be expensive. There are Canadians Sam Giguere (Hamilton), Spencer Watt (Toronto) and Brad Sinopoli (Calgary) but they, too, will command high dollars. A couple of intriguing imports are Greg Ellingson (Hamilton) and Darvin Adams (Toronto). OFFENSIVE LINE Returning starters: Chris Greaves*, Steve Morley*, Matthias Goossen*, Devin Tyler, Jace Daniels Free agent signing: Dominic Picard* (projected starting centre). Reserves: Patrick Neufeld*, Quinn Everett* New face: David Mims Free agents: Glenn January, Gord Hinse*, Dan Knapp Synopsis: Landing Picard was huge to the Bombers plan to start their three best Canadians inside. With all signs pointing to January leaving, the Bombers could be looking at proven imports on the market -- even though they like both Tyler and Daniels. That might put SirVincent Rogers (Toronto) and Stanley Bryant and Edwin Harrison (both of Calgary) in their crosshairs. The Stamps' Brett Jones, a Canadian who was the league's best rookie in 2013 and top lineman last year, is either likely to sign down south or return to Calgary for a lot more $$. DEFENSIVE LINE Returning starters: Bryant Turner, Jr., Greg Peach, Jake Thomas*, Jason Vega Reserves: Zach Anderson, Louie Richardson*, Ameet Pall*, Thaddeus Gibson, Greg Hickman, Kashawn Fraser. Marvin Booker, Deantre Harlan. Synopsis: There's actually a lot more talent here than the Bombers -- so maligned a year ago for their work against the run -- might get credit for league-wide. A new scheme under new defensive boss Richie Hall will help here; ditto for the potential upside of players like Gibson and Harlan. LINEBACKER Returning starter: Don Unamba Reserves: Jesse Briggs*, Craig Newman*, Dan West* New faces: Shamari Benton, NFL departure: Ian Wild (Pittsburgh) Free agents: Johnny Sears, Jr., Mike Cornell* Synopsis: A new deal for Sears, Jr. could be completed as early as this weekend and that would help. Losing Wild stings but just as at RB, the Bombers believe their scouting staff can find replacements down south. What might help is more Canadian depth to give them flexibility in who starts on defence. Keenan MacDougall (Calgary) and Sam Hurl (Saskatchewan) could be on the radar. DEFENSIVE BACKS Returning starters: Bruce Johnson, Maurice Leggett, Chris Randle, Troy Stoudermire, Demond Washington, Matt Bucknor* Reserves: Derek Jones*, Teague Sherman*, Shea Pierre* New faces: Johnny Adams, Jarrid Bryant, Demetrius Wright Free agent: Desia Dunn Synopsis: Easily the most talented and deepest part of the Bomber roster. The additions of Johnson, Leggett, Randle, Bucknor and Stoudermire completely transformed the team's pass defence a year ago and has the team's secondary moving into the league's elite. Highly unlikely they'll spend on CFL free agents here, choosing instead to bolster depth from their neg list. KICKER/SPECIALISTS Plackekicker/punter: Lirim Hajrullahu Long-snapper: Carl Fitzgerald, Tim Cronk NFL departure: Wild Retired: Mike Renaud Synopsis: Hajrullahu was a revelation as a placekicker last year and his work as a punter will only improve. Wild was a solid long-snapper and that's why Cronk, who has had stints with B.C. and Saskatchewan, was brought in to challenge Fitzgerald and whoever might be lined up at that spot. ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 7, 2015 C6

Iso any word in Calgary about the rumoured joint arena/stadium proposal for the Stamps/Flames of late? Or is that on the backburner with the drop in oil and probable huge deficit in Alberta? I've heard rumours that some kind of announcement is coming "soon", whatever that means. The word soon has been for a couple of years now. All 3 levels of government have said no to any kind of public funding & now with the provincial economy in the tank the Flames would be crazy to even consider that as an option. The primary Flames owner Murray Edwards is a billionaire & I've heard stories a new arena will be 100% privately funded by him but it will come at a price for fans. If you want season tickets to watch the Flames, rock concert, circus, pro lacrosse then you'll have to pay expensive individual seat licenses. If it's anything like the 49ers owners have done then I'm thinking maybe ten to 15 grand financed over a five year period for a decent seat. I also think the arena will be stand alone & no new stadium will be attached with the project. I'm just speculating here. Bettman was in last week for a special closed door meeting with Nenshi trying to grease the wheels. To no avail of course...

Sounds like what Walters had been saying,too. Build thru the draft, don't overpay in FA.

at this point, with all the baggage...if you can get a 2nd round pick for Kane, you take it and run. It's addition by subtraction.

Read original posts in this thread...tells you everything.

Teaching your kids to be whiny ******* is a serious issue. What happened in the room can definitely be considered bullying, by today's standards (...f*** you, Glee...) but this is just the kind of thing that happens in locker rooms at pretty much all levels once you hit your teens. I saw this kind of stuff in hockey at 13 years old. It only gets "worse" from there if you don't learn to adapt. Bottom line: If you're a genuinely nice person who cares about your teammates and works hard every day, you're going to have a wonderful time with no problems whatsoever... Maybe Im too old to have grown up in the coddle phase of child rearing. But unless its revealed that there was a clear pattern of this kind of behaviour towards Kane, its irresponsible to call it bullying. When I was in school, they actually had school-sponsored "hazing" that was "all in good fun". I've been in locker rooms where a jerk player would end up with wet clothes but it wouldnt be water...if you get my drift. Im not saying its right. I guess Buff could have just walked up to Kane and punched him in the face. I still had "Hazing Week" during the first week of school. Parents would FREAK now if they saw what went on even 20 years ago. I can remember the shampoo bottles being filled with "not shampoo" for certain guys in the locker room, but generally it's all in good fun. The people who get it worst are the ones who whine and *****. Take it like a man, and you become accepted.

Teaching your kids to be whiny ******* is a serious issue. What happened in the room can definitely be considered bullying, by today's standards (...f*** you, Glee...) but this is just the kind of thing that happens in locker rooms at pretty much all levels once you hit your teens. I saw this kind of stuff in hockey at 13 years old. It only gets "worse" from there if you don't learn to adapt. Bottom line: If you're a genuinely nice person who cares about your teammates and works hard every day, you're going to have a wonderful time with no problems whatsoever...

He can know what he's been told, but unless you were there, you will never know the facts... There is not a doubt in my mind that this kid has been a huge pain in the ass for the rest of the team for a long time now, but they tried to rehab him because of the natural talent. Couldn't be done. Now he's gotta get gone, and they can get back to the business of winning some hockey games.

Bona fide Me First football player too. Pretty pathetic display during the GC & afterwards. #gottagrowup Get used to it. Its the 21st century athlete ...Our boy Toews says hi.... I wouldn't be so quick to anoint him a golden boy. He's not the nicest guy either from a lot of accounts. Who cares if he's a nice guy? The point is that you would never catch him crying on the bench after a missed opportunity. By all accounts, the ultimate leader in the NHL right now...

Bona fide Me First football player too. Pretty pathetic display during the GC & afterwards. #gottagrowup Get used to it. Its the 21st century athlete ...Our boy Toews says hi....

There are certain things that only people who have lived the locker room culture can understand. What Buff (or whoever) did is completely acceptable. I don't believe for one second that this is the first time Kane has broken rules or gone against his teammates. This was long overdue, as is his impending trade...

I just assumed he was living in Bobby C's basement and was going to inherit the "family" business, as the adopted son

Have always been a big Renaud fan. Glad he can go out on his own terms.

If all of a sudden Bilukidi or Mulumba fall in our lap, we're laughing. Anybody know how likely that might be? I haven't heard much, but wasn't one of them outta PR time...?

Scary looking dude, but again, 400+ is WAY too big...even for the NFL, where it's more about size than speed.

Biggest issue with Ellingson is "is he healthy?"....if he is, that's a guy who can help you. If he's not, not sure he's really worth the attention unless he comes in at a real lowball price.

Not sure "impressed" is the right word...

aka John Pinette, one of the greatest stand-ups of all time....

"...no, I mean they're BIIIIG...I mean, I look at them and go 'oh you've really let yourself go'..." One of my all-time favorite stand-up acts of all time! Best....RIP...

"...no, I mean they're BIIIIG...I mean, I look at them and go 'oh you've really let yourself go'..."

that is a big, fat kid....just way too slow, by the looks of that tape. But I'm sure Dobie can turn him into *something*...whether that's on the DL or OL...

I almost never go to TEP.....it's a really weird board not meant for the hardcore fans.