bigg jay

If there are a bunch of high quality FA linebackers available, that could drive the cost down. Only so many positions and so much $ available.

There was a bonus of 100k due on the 15th but that would have been in addition to the 100k guarantee that was in his contract. If they waited until after the 15th, they would be into Corney for 200k.

500k plus the 100k they owe Corney.

Given the Biggie talk this week, 3DN has an interesting article about potential FA linebackers in BC. The part about MLB no longer being viewed the same way these days caught my eye. Wonder if GM's feel the same way. "However, middle linebacker is no longer viewed as the premium position it once was and the Lions will be wary of overspending in a spot where statistics are often inflated." https://3downnation.com/2024/01/06/tough-decisions-loom-in-b-c-lions-loaded-linebacking-corps/

Well not too strange if he's been shopping his services for months and hasn't had any takers. Dumpster fire looks like it was his only option.

He was good enough to be voted an all-star by his peers and good enough to get some NFL interest... Both of which came as a surprise to me.

Yup, I doubt there were many interested teams last year when Hamilton was shopping him around so he would already know what the market looked like for him.

Unless the current team has given the player permission to seek a trade. When Evans got sent to BC, a new contract was needed in order to make the trade happen so his agent was negotiating with the Lions even though he was still under contract with Hamilton.

Poor Grimey. All those years wasted in Edmonton.

I'm ok with having Biggie back to platoon but he was the 3rd highest paid LB in the league last year so he'd have to be willing to take way less money as a part time player. That money could go a long way towards bringing younger core guys back.

IIRC, Bond was only starting because Neufeld couldn't stay healthy. We already had Couture at center and Chungh at the other guard position (we had also signed Jeff Keeping as a FA but he missed the whole season). Bond did play at a high level for us those 2 seasons but if not for injuries, would he have even seen the field?

Not necessarily. Last year we re-signed Willie at the end of November but we ended up going over the cap so they either paid the fine to have more room in 2023 or his salary did not count against the 2022 cap. 3DN reported it was the club's option whether or not they wanted his 100k signing bonus to count against last year's cap or not.

Apparenrly, Demerio Houston has a workout scheduled with the Chargers. Haven't seen it reported by media yet, just saw it being shared on IG.

To me, there's a difference between players would could not live up to their expectations and a player who, due to health issues, didn't get the chance to. We'll never know what Patrick could have done had he been healthy but we know what a healthy Daigle & Yakupov did.

He's still starting for the Falcons at nickle back and is their main punt returner.

Breakdown of the players from Ed Tait. https://www.bluebombers.com/2023/12/12/neg-list-players-revealed/

They have to do a slow rollout for multiple reasons but sure go a head a b**tch about a good thing.

Where he ranks as highest paid non-QB would depend on whether or not other players reached some or all their bonuses. He's tied for 8th (with 4 other players) for a base salary but could be as low as 13th (3 way tie) if every player maxed out their bonuses. Guys making more or the same as Willie in 2023 (per 3DN): Defensive Line: Orimolade (240k), Mauldin (200-209k), Betts (180-206), Ceresna (205-215), Lanier 250k Receiver: Lewis (320k), Lawler (250-258k), Dunbar (200-206k), Gittens (200k), White (187-220k) Offensive Line: Desjarlais (250.5-256.5k), Korte (220-229k), Beard (200-207.5k), Figueroa (199.8-205.8k), Bladek (190-200k)

Don't you know what a privilege it is to play for the Riders? Willie is fortunate that he didn't have to pay them for that honour! 😂

Every year as soon as GC is done.

Even when he wasn't getting sacks, Willie was still making an impact and (arguably) had a better season than last year so I don't think age is an issue for him yet. Rotation, or lack thereof, is a bigger issue (imo). 2022: 33 tackles, 7 sacks, 10 knockdowns, 2 forced fumbles & 1 interception. 2023: 21 tackles, 11 sacks, 13 knockdowns, 3 forced fumbles & no interceptions.

Harris maybe a good fit for them but as you said, any QB is going to get killed and at his age, that's a huge issue for them. They've been trying to fix the oline "quickly" for a few years now but JOD doesn't seem to know how to do it.

I'm sure Ambles is wondering that too. You bring in a veteran receiver as a back-up in case of injuries and then don't use him when that exact scenario plays out. What was the point of signing him? BOLO is also a pending FA. Unless he was also banged up, what does that say about his future with the club? It doesn't exactly send a vote of confidence that he can't get a single ball thrown his way, despite how depleted the receiving core was.

It's the only thing that they do well.