bigg jay

Looks like Arash nailed it again! 😂

Was living in a seniors complex, hosting poetry readings as of a year ago.

Riders lose their starting left tackle to the NFL. https://3downnation.com/2025/01/07/saskatchewan-roughriders-release-ol-trevor-reid-to-pursue-nfl-opportunity/

How many teams lose 3 straight championship games? The Buffalo Bills fired Bill Polian (former Bomber personnel director) as GM after 3 straight Superbowl losses so there is precedent for making changes on a successful team if you can't win the one that matters.

https://3downnation.com/2025/01/07/toronto-argos-receiver-makai-polk-signs-with-atlanta-falcons/

Willie has taken less to stay here before, but he also had an interesting tweet after the season ended where he said "Last years price ain't the same price!!!!". Obviously, that's open for interpretation but it might mean he's looking for a bigger payday that I'm not sure his play this season has earned (aside from GC where he was great). Last years Willie ain't the same Willie so what do you pay for next year?

I wonder why the official announcement took so long when the news broke almost a month ago? https://3downnation.com/2024/12/15/ottawa-redblacks-hire-william-fields-as-new-defensive-coordinator/

Nope, scheduled to make $210k in 2025 according to 3DN. He's from Cali so maybe he asked to be closer to home?

Wonder where they got this idea from? 😂 https://3downnation.com/2025/01/06/winnipeg-blue-bombers-head-coach-mike-oshea-invited-on-mentors-trip-with-toronto-maple-leafs/

Based on the way Kyle phrased it during his post-season presser, it didn't sound like they had a whole lot of room in the 2024 cap left. He said they were going to check down the penny how much they had & use it on a signing bonus for somebody (singular). Stanley got a signing bonus as part of his deal so they may have spent it all right there. Walters himself said it affects who they may want to bring back or go after in FA. He was asked about next years roster and he said they need to know who the OC will be before they can really start looking at that.

Fight thread ≠ Flight thread

https://3downnation.com/2024/12/24/new-york-jets-work-out-two-members-of-winnipeg-blue-bombers/

I don't disagree but the flip side is they are paying a third of Rourke's salary in marketing money. That's a lot of money to go around telling kids that the CFL is just an unfortunate detour.

I could see that (McInnis to Calgary). Yesterday, BC picked Lenius up off the scrap heap so maybe they're hoping he can stay healthy enough to be his replacement? He will be much cheaper than what McInnis is going to make.

Which means they now have the highest paid players on both sides of the ball. Interesting that Betts is all salary and no marketing money.

Yep, he had a major stroke in late winter/early spring IIRC. Didn't know him personally but always enjoyed his food when I went to Lovey's.

Yes, all PR salaries count against the cap. I would guess it doesn't happen often because of the cap but you'd have to think a guy like Drew Richmond was making more than the minimum (why else would you sit on the PR for 3 years at that minimum rate?).

Also that the PR is a minimum of $750 a week - clubs can pay them more if they choose but it all comes out of the cap just the same.

Rob has (and continues to) looked for place in Winnipeg so I'm sure it'll happen eventually. He actually kicked tires on the spot that turned into Belle's so it looks like that place was destined for BBQ one way or the other.

A recent review of Belle's (like a few hours old recent) on Reddit does not sound promising. The one thing you need to nail is the food and they don't seem to be doing that. I'll be sticking to Bigg Smoak in Steinbach.

I think timing also plays a part in the grade. Things might look a bit rosier in Sask (at the moment) with Mace there vs the end of Dickie's run so they'll get a good grade. I would have thought the Bombers would have scored bit higher on the management side since we never seem to sign guys to crazy deals an then force them to renegotiate it or be released. They may have to let guys walk if they can't fit them under the cap but at least they seem to be more upfront about it than some. other teams. I also wouldn't necessarily say we're frugal either (maybe more selective on where we spend or less willing to overpay in FA) since we are at or over the cap most years so the money is being shelled out. The 3DN article does a good job of including what went into each category but not necessarily why teams got the grades they got. https://3downnation.com/2024/12/17/cflpa-unveils-inaugural-cfl-team-report-card-results/

Doman - Oh you want you want tickets for your family? The Box Office is that way! 50 Cent isn't playing for free you know!

Full comparison from 3DN: Have to laugh at the football ops & management grades the Riders got. They let the players get to do whatever the f**k they want and have for years now so it doesn't surprise me that they got good scores in that regard.

I thought it was terrible (the whole second half of season 5 really, since Costner left). It felt very rushed and a lot of it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

100%, I love those shows. I just finished re-watching Breaking Bad with my wife, who hadn't watched before, so I'm looking forward to watching BCS again