Jaxon

So you'd rather have inaccurate information to judge your talent on? Do you think that they should add 20 lbs and 3" in height to player's information in the roster to make them more flattering too? IMHO, they should put the most accurate information possible.

The players will be getting an increase, there is no doubt in that. They are really just talking about how much of an increase. Professional sports negotiations are really quite different than most others in that they don't negotiate a specific salary, only parameters. In most operations, the specifics are negotiated. A factory worker gets $xx.xx per hour, a warehouse worker gets $xx.xx per hour, a truck driver gets $xx.xx etc. The equivalent would be for the union to say a qb gets this, a RB gets that, etc. Instead they talk about caps, minimums, and basic terms, but the players and their agents still work out the individual deals. From a global perspective, the business is quite different, and it is different for each team. Most businesses have to cover their capital costs. In the CFL, some do, some "sort of" do, others not so much. The Bombers have to pay off the stadium, which is a huge expense. The interest alone is more than the salary cap. The players can't expect that the majority of the TV revenue will be flowing to them when there are lots of bills to be paid. At the same time, the players deserve a reasonable increase. In the end, I believe that Brown was posturing to support his history and his friends. It's hard to imagine the CFLPA going on strike when they know that the overall business is stable, but not wildly profitable....especially when they will get an increase over last year.

You are right on this. I can't think of many in the past 3-4 years. Prior to that, the one that comes to mind is Marcus Howell, but he retired in 2010. His career: "returned 75 kickoffs for 1,642 yards and one score and brought 241 punts back for 2,200 yards, including a 96-yard touchdown return in 2007 with Calgary." --cfl.ca

Gill will likely go high first round. He has the speed, the strength, and the size to impress everyone at the combine. His only downside might be his interest from the NFL. Coombs will show off his speed at the combine, but I'm not sure that he will go first round. The concern on Coombs is his size/power. He has incredible balance, and that along with his speed allowed him to shine at the CIS level. If he got a glimps of daylight, he was gone. I think the CFL teams will look at him as a kick-returner, and a change-up back. I'm not so sure that they will look at him as a starting RB. As such, I suspect he will fall to the second round. The big wild card in this draft is Duvernay-Tardif. I wouldn't take him second overall, but if I was drafting in the bottom of the 1st round, I'd have to consider it.

........to be roasted by the Winnipeg Rifles. April 17th at The Pinnacle Club. Details to follow.

Personally, I like the plan for BMO field. Skydome was never a good football stadium IMHO. I'm excited to get to a CFL game in the new venue. I hope the plan works out.

Buck, O'Shea, and Walters were all at the Rifles winter camp a couple of weeks ago. Buck was guest coaching with the runningbacks with Rifle running back coach and former Bomber Brett McNeil. O'Shea and Walters were scouting out a couple of young prospects. Naturally they spent some time chatting. Winnipeg's football community is quite tight. There are always lots of conversations taking place.

No, he's still age eligible to return to the Rifles. (DOB Sept 5, 1992) He was initially a territorial protection which would allow him to play pre-season games for the Bombers without counting against the numbers. He could have continue to practise with the Bombers and play for the Rifles. This ended on July 18 when the Bombers wanted to dress him for a regular season game on July 20th. Once they did that, he lost the special territorial protection status. This occured as a result of the West hit on Watson at the end of practise. Watson was injured and so the Bombers decided to forgo Carter's special status. He never saw the field in the game. http://www.bluebombers.com/article/blue-bombers-sign-brett-carter-to-contract-will-dress-friday-night He is now a free agent.

It always bugged me that during the old Ottawa dispersal draft (when they folded), the Bombers passed in the final few rounds when they could have grabbed his rights. We could have had his CFL rights for free......they may not be worth anything if he catches on elsewhere in the NFL or decides to retire, but f he comes to the CFL with another team, we will really look bad.

Looks like he tested free agency, and discovered that the Bombers were competitive for his services afterall. Sometimes the grass isn't greener elsewhere. I welcome him back to the fold, and look forward to watch him compete for a roster spot.

let's hope 24 years Way too soon. I might still be alive in 24 years.

I gave them an "A", because I included Willy and Banks as part of the process. IMHO, they needed to change the culture of the locker room, and they did this very well. I believe that Kohlert was an example of the Bombers management being prepared for the Ottawa expansion draft....something that I felt was lacking in previous management. If they'd have gotten Bourke, I'd have given them an A+

I workout with a trainer 3 days a week. (M-W-F) No electronics as clearly the communication factor comes into play. On Tues, Thurs, and Saturday, I do 1/2 hour of cardio and 15 min of stretching. I've thought about taking music for the cardio sessions, but I agree with 17to85 that it's a great time to clear my head and think issues through. It doesn't bother me that people listen to music when working out, but it is a pain when you want to get on a piece of equipment and someone is sitting there texting away and not really using the equipment.

Willy is being brought in as the starter, no doubt. Hall earn the right to return to the club. I suspect, however, that we will see a new #3 in place of Goltz. He didn't show well as a starter, but had a good record on short yardage. I still don't understand why the team went to Boltus in that role for the last few games, when it was clear that Goltz was better at that role. I can only assume that they have given up on him.

I'm not sure what Brett Carter's status is. IIRC he was on the practise roster at the end of the season, which would make him a free agent. I noticed that the CJFL site lists him as attending the CFL combine this year. http://www.cjfl.net/cjfl-at-cfl-combine-2014-p190203 I hope the Bombers extend him. He's got great hands based on his time with the Rifles and what he showed in training camp and the pre-season games last year. Note: I have a bias in favour of Manitoba players.

Wow, interesting move by Barker. All I can conclude is that Barker realized that he was leaving anyway, and that he couldn't get a trade done. No point in dragging it out. Perhaps this will help the Argo's sign a neg-list QB or other prospect. We will see if the Bombers have a legit shot at Collaros now. Will he sign with someone quickly, or will it be drawn out? How much NFL interest is there? Does he sign now, as the only QB on the market with some playing time, or does he wait to see where he stacks up against other potential free agents coming out in 2 weeks (Willy, Burris) ? The day just got interesting.

HMMM, Does this mean that the Regina Thunder (CJFL) and the University of Regina Rams (CIS) will have to pay $12 per ticket? Most teams charge about that for a ticket in either league. Does the stadium fund now get 100% of gate revenue for amateur ball?

Gill will wear 95 tomorrow for team west (Blue).

IMHO, Gill will go late first round, but may slide to second round if he gets strong NFL interest at the east-west bowl. No one wants to waste a draft pick on a guy that is going to the show. Against that, there is a spot on every team for a DL with his size and strength. Coombs will likely go 3rd to 4th round. Great talent, great speed, unbelievable balance, but is undersized. He's always proven his critics wrong, but the bias against smaller players exists. He could well be available for the Bombers at 20th overall. I think most CFL teams will look at him as a kick returner who can backup at RB, rather than as a starter. I personally believe that he could be an outstanding rotational back in the CFL. Not built for every play pounding, but when it's time to make the LB's run, sub him in and pitch the ball or make a tired LB try to cover him in man coverage out of the backfield and let's watch him go. (Disclaimer: I have a huge bias in favour of Manitoba players)

I was dissappointed that Brett didn't get a better shot with the Bombers. He has a tendancy to be "clutch" when the chips are down. I believe that with some development, Brett Cameron would be better than Renaud. (disclaimer note: I have an unjustifiable bias in favour of Manitoba based players) Now he will be guided by Bobby Dyce in Regina. I suspect he will do very well there.

The "whaaaat" add for McD is the one that bugs me the most. Normally ads don't bother me, but that one get's under my skin.

IMHO, I think pi should be 15 yds and an auto 1st down. It should also be a "restricted" penalty. Currently, it is unrestricted, which means that a pi in the end zone gets placed at the one. If it were restricted, the ball would go 1/2 the distance same as most other penalties. Too many td's are virtually awarded over questionable pi calls in the end zone.

Goodbye to kneeling when not leading.

props to you.....made me laugh!

I don't get taking 3 FB's. I'd love to hear the REDBLACKS explanation for this. I'm sure that all teams protected their OL as best they could, but there had to be more available than this. I really wish that the CFL had published the lists. I understand that they were trying to protect the feelings of players who may have been left unprotected, but they needed to balance this off against the entertainment value to the fans. We love to analyze, discuss, and debate the moves. This is the entertainment business, and I feel that the league missed the opportunity to exploit this rare situation.