Jaxon

My guess is that we lose Poblah and Swiston in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. I think Ottawa will take primarily o-line from most teams.

Wally must be happy, he gets to protect 2 more NI's for DeMarco.

I like his straight forward nature. (I'm going to paraphrase here) We tell guys that they are in danger every year to loosing out to someone younger and cheaper, so they better work hard to justify their spot and their salary. No BS there.

Biggest concern isn't temperature as much as rain. Rain would be bad, very bad.

Good for him. It's good to see a player making his own decisions. I really appreciated his hard work, and his devotion to specialty teams. I also enjoyed seeing his "Canada Corner" in the locker room. All the best to him in the next chapter in his life.

I think that Dyce could also be in the mix for OC.

So, how does this play on O'Shea? He may have felt that he was in line to become DC in Toronto. I personally believe that SPC is a more demanding role, but many others feel that the DC is a higher position. It would be interesting to know more.

Getting an opportunity to workout and getting a substantial contract offer are world's apart. Any young starter in the CFL with a half decent agent can get invited to a workout, maybe even a TC invite. The acid test is the "signing bonus". That's what shows that they are truly interested. The NFL is full of training camp fodder. From their viewpoint, it is cheap to bring a guy in for a look.

This is a huge upgrade from Mack. Go get'm Kyle. Interesting times ahead.

I go to the Grey Cup every year....I don't even know the total. I took my daughter this year, she's 22 and this was her 11th Grey Cup. I sometimes take her, sometimes my sons, often my father, and sometimes my wife wants to go. I'm a Grey Cup vet, and I have a true love for our game. I've been to the Grey Cup in every CFL city except Hamilton. (I Include Ottawa, as I was at the 2004 Grey Cup there, which was super) I've been to multiple Grey Cups in most cities. I offer the following opinions on this year's event: The Good: The fans immediately around us were good fans (even though they were all green) We held decent football conversations with them. They were good natured and we enjoyed meeting them. The weather was better than anticipated. Fortunately, we were protected from the wind in our seats, so it was quite warm. The wind had some impact on the game, but for outdoors on the prairies, it was okay. We got a good parking spot and were able to get to the stadium efficiently and also to exit quickly. We walked about 1.5 km, which is fine. The half time show was decent. Much better performer than last year's. (I'm not a fan of the Beibs) The Bad: Some very rude/obnoxious Rider fans as we were leaving after the game. I understand that they are the minority, but obnoxious winners are much worse than sore losers. Game production was substandard to virtually every other Grey Cup I've been too. It just seemed to be run by amateurs. This was also evident in the botched player introductions. It looked second rate. It also really felt like a local only event. Many of the sponsors were local, and gave local prizes. Even the good things, like large donations to charity that were announced, were all local....so a business guy in a Rider jersey presenting a cheque to a local charity rep in a Rider jersey. Nothing was national. To me, at the Grey Cup, it should be a guy in a suit presenting a cheque to a national organization. It should recognize the whole league. Price/value. 300.00 to sit in a semi-temporary endzone seat and be restricted to limited temporary food services and porta-potties. Really? For that price, you should at least be able to access the main facilities. The game wasn't competitive, but that just happens sometimes. The Ugly The lack of hotel rooms. I decided to drive to Regina for the game, and drive back afterwards, so as to keep my attendance record in tact. I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in staying in a trailer/RV park, and I'm not comfortable billeting with strangers. I normally go to Grey Cup on Thursday and attend events for a few days, and return on Monday. In Regina, this isn't possible as the rooms were sold out prior to the game being officially announced. It's not just the lack of hotel rooms that is the concern, but the effect on everything else. Grey Cup is usually a national celebration, where you see many fans from all of the teams in pubs, restaurants and shops around town. This Grey Cup wasn't that way, it was a Rider home game, with very little out of town representation. The entrances to the stadium. We arrived at the stadium at 3:45 for a 5:00 start. We were directed to the North entrance and lined up for 15 minutes to the north east side of the north entrance. When we finally got near the entry point an official came and said to all of us in line that we had to "go to the line coming in from the south west. (directing us down a packed back alley). By the time we got to the end of that line it took another 1 hour and 15 minutes to gain access to the ticket check point that we had previously been to. With all of the temporary seating that they put in, they didn't account for enough ticket takers/access points. We passed by 4-5 locked gates that easily could have been made to be entry points, so it was really just poorly thought out. We finally got to our seats at 5:15, an hour and a half after arriving at the stadium. 1st Grey Cup I've every been too that I didn't have at least 1 beer, as I couldn't bring myself to stand in 2 more lines to get one (you have to line up at one to by a token, and a second to get the beer) Brutal start, and it really did sour our impression of the event. I'm not sure if I'd attend a Grey Cup in Regina again, and for me, that is a sad statement. I am still a great fan of the game and the league. I'll reconsider after they get a new stadium....but still worry about the hotel situation there. I'll be booking my hotel for Vancouver 2014 very soon, as that city is just better equipped to host the game.

I have to disagree with Iso on this point. Being a Specialty Teams Co-ordinator is > being a linebacker coach. (I've been both, albeit at the amateur level) IMHO being a STC is more complex than being a DC, as a DC gets more help from their position coaches. The details involved in specialty teams are very complex, and the game day management is significant. I've been extremely impressed with O'Shea as a STC, he's been creative, aggressive, and successful. To be a STC, you need a detailed knowledge of the game, especially the nuances that are different from the small field game played down south. The other factor is that O'Shea is a Canadian, and has a deeper understanding of our game. This isn't an override, but it is a factor. I really don't know who I would choose between Khari and O'Shea; I've got a deep appreciation for both. I'd be happy to have both/either.

Clearly the press are speculatng, that's part of the job. It's also clear that Miller has be interviewing several candidates for the jobs, which is why all these different names keep popping up. An interview isn't a formally arranged meeting with the press invited to sit in. It's often an informal lunch, or a meeting in a hotel room. There is lots of that going on this week for sure. Let's also not forget that some of the names being tossed around are involved in a big game this week, while others were still involved up until last Sunday. It isn't hard to imagine a potential candidate saying, "I'll talk to you after the season is over". To be honest, I wouldn't be impressed with anyone who said otherwise. I personally happen to think that Walters is an excellent candidate for GM, but I also know that other viable candidates should be interviewed. Given that we have only had 3 days to discuss people from Calgary and Toronto, and it will be next week before we can realistically talk to people from Sask and Hamilton, I'm not surprised that no announcement has been made. I'm prepared to just chill until the end of the month.

The article lacks depth.....if you are going to write something like this, you should name names. (I'm referring to the Sun writer, not the poster)

These things can be worked around. Bombers trade a conditional draft pick for him, if he doesn't sign with us by a certain time, then the trade is voided.

http://www.cfl.ca/article/cfl-adjusts-eligibility-rules-for-draft I'm still trying to fully understand the changes that were quietly made to the CFL draft eligibility rules a coupld of weeks ago. My understanding is that certain players who would have been eligible to be drafted, such as Coombs from Manitoba, will now have to wait an additional year. Overall it is a good move, but it will mean that there are fewer players available in this year's draft, so it is a bad time to finish last....(or be Ottawa).

Shouldn't this read

I disagree. The level of play is highest in the PFC. (Prairie Football Conference) The PFC, where the Rifles play, has proven to be the strongest division in the CJFL. The PFC champion won the national championship 7 of the past 10 years, and 15 of the last 20. The level of play is much stronger in the PFC than in the BCFC as demonstrated by playoff wins over the short, medium and long term. Furthermore, Winnipeg should have an advantage in that CJFL players can practice with CFL clubs, so the proximity is there. It's tougher in BC, where for example, it is a long road from the Okanagan Sun to Vancouver. The only advantage that the BCFC has is that their costs are lower, due primarily lower travel costs. Against that the Lions financially support all 6 junior team, while the Bombers only fund 1. (Primarily through a portion of 50/50 revenue) The advantage is the rights to 6 rosters worth of players compared to 1. BCs whole development system is more advanced than ours, even though their high school league plays American rules. BC and Saskatchewan produce far more CIS players than they should, Manitoba produces far less, although we are getting better. BCs junior league also has a following. They have a lot more money and a lot to offer their players in terms of scholarships and job placements depending on what players want and need. Good luck finding a dozen people who aren't related to Rifles players who care or attend their games. There's also some interest in Edmonton and the Saskatoon Hilltops. Everywhere else they play in front of crowds you could count by hand before the first series is over. The Quebec league is getting better too, and some interest in the Montreal suburbs. Gone to quite a few tailgates here in Kelowna for Sun games. One time we even deep-fried a turkey in the parking lot! Attendance at the last Rifle game was 874. That's alot of relatives! (average of 14 per player), so I suspect that your "dozen" may be a bit low. You are correct though that normal attendance is in the 400 person range, and many are friends, relatives, football junkies, or alumnae. The Rifles are letting kids 14 and under in for free (new this year) so it's an inexpensive way for families to see a game at IGF. Also new this year, the beer stand is open. As the alumnae grows, I suspect attendance will as well. With 4 home games in a year, it's hoped that the alumnae will use it as a chance to see old friends and teammates. The Okanagan Sun are the poster boys for a well run organization. (Saskatoon is for winning). The Sun have the advantage of being the premier football program in the area, and they do a good job of promoting that. Rifles are 3rd behind the Bombers and Bison,

The money that the Rifles get from the Bombers comes from the 50/50 as well.

I did say that there is logic to the argument, but there are other factors. Yes, having a larger pool (such as the USA) will obviously create more prospects. BC's population is 4.6 million, Manitoba's is 1.2 million, therefore other factors being equal, they would produce roughly 4 times the number of prospects. My point is that to turn those prospects into diamonds via Junior football, will require substantial work. This is where I believe the Rifles ought to have an advantage. The exemption, as it stands, is based upon where a player plays junior football, not where he was born or raised. Hence Harris was a BC protected player, because he played junior there. If a CFL team budget allows them to donate 100,000 per year to Junior Football, in Winnipeg it would all go to the Rifles, in BC it would be split 6 ways, so each team would get 16,600. This would allow the Rifles a recruiting advantage through scholorships and resources. (I'm not saying that this is an actual amount, this is just for illustration purposes) That should allow the Rifles to recruit from larger pools. It is very true that at this level, most of the talent is local, because it is too expensive to move out of province to play football. Most of the players live rent free at home with their families. There are always young men at this age looking to move as a right of passage, but that works in many directions. Also, to convert that player from a prospect to a diamond, they need coaching, training, and encouragement. Here too, the Rifles ought to have an advantage. If every CFL team invited 3 Junior players to camp, then a prospect with the Rifles would have a greater chance of getting an invite, and the opportunity to develop. Typically in Regina, the Riders will have 2-3 junior players practising all year long with the Riders and playing for the Thunder. The CFL team gets to develop these players at no cost to them everyday in practice for a couple of years. They are free players on the practice roster. The Bombers could/should do the same. In the BC league, it is tough for a player to travel to practise daily due to the 6 teams being spread out. Perhaps the comparison to BC is misplaced, and we should be comparing to Saskatchewan, which is more similar. The Riders have had great success in grooming junior players and moving them up to play for them. Similar size population to Manitoba, similar geography. They do a good job of ingraining the desire to play for the Riders into all of the local talent, and many of them find their way home at some point in their careers. This is true whether they go to the CFL via Junior, or through the CIS. At the end of the day, I'm very pleased that Walters has his eyes set on developing local kids and being involved in the local football community. The Rifles have the potential to be a fantastic asset for the Bombers, and I think that he realizes it.

I disagree. The level of play is highest in the PFC. (Prairie Football Conference) The PFC, where the Rifles play, has proven to be the strongest division in the CJFL. The PFC champion won the national championship 7 of the past 10 years, and 15 of the last 20. The level of play is much stronger in the PFC than in the BCFC as demonstrated by playoff wins over the short, medium and long term. Furthermore, Winnipeg should have an advantage in that CJFL players can practice with CFL clubs, so the proximity is there. It's tougher in BC, where for example, it is a long road from the Okanagan Sun to Vancouver. The only advantage that the BCFC has is that their costs are lower, due primarily lower travel costs. Against that the Lions financially support all 6 junior team, while the Bombers only fund 1. (Primarily through a portion of 50/50 revenue) The advantage is the rights to 6 rosters worth of players compared to 1. I understand the arguement, and it is logical, but there are other factors. Certainly having choice over 360 players, on the surface, would be greater than having a choice over 60. I don't disagree with that premise. My arguement is that in reality you are looking for a diamond, not volume. The volume will come from the CIS players, and from the USA. If the highschool/midget leagues produce a half dozen top prospects per year, then working very closely with one club could be advantageous over working with 6 clubs. Working with a small group of elite players, you can groom them, stay on top of them, train them, and be important to them. You can work with that club to ensure that they have funding for scholarships for the top players and you can influence the coaching and program. When you try to spread that out, it gets diluted. I believe that the sniper rifle (going after very specific targets) could be more effective that the shotgun (hitting lots of broader targets) in this situation.

I disagree. The level of play is highest in the PFC. (Prairie Football Conference) The PFC, where the Rifles play, has proven to be the strongest division in the CJFL. The PFC champion won the national championship 7 of the past 10 years, and 15 of the last 20. The level of play is much stronger in the PFC than in the BCFC as demonstrated by playoff wins over the short, medium and long term. Furthermore, Winnipeg should have an advantage in that CJFL players can practice with CFL clubs, so the proximity is there. It's tougher in BC, where for example, it is a long road from the Okanagan Sun to Vancouver. The only advantage that the BCFC has is that their costs are lower, due primarily lower travel costs. Against that the Lions financially support all 6 junior team, while the Bombers only fund 1. (Primarily through a portion of 50/50 revenue)

Just read that and it's really interesting about Walters and the high school football but it sure would be nice if reporters could get their facts straight. Harris is a Lion because he was a territorial exemption. It's not like the Bombers could have forced him to play for the Rifles. Yes and no. They couldn't force him, but they could have encouraged him. The Lions work very closely with the teams in the BC junior league to identify players, and council them on career path options. They also provide large levels of funding, as do the Stamps, Eskies, and Riders. The Bombers have supported the Rifles, but not to the same extent. Most players coming out of high school don't realize what their options are. Wally knows that he can put a territorial protection on a player in the BCFC, so he encourages young players to play junior. He backs it up with invites to training camp. BC had 4 junior players in their camp this spring. Mack doesn't know who the Rifles are, and didn't know there was a way to protect players. Walters understands the process; he attended the Rifle dinner this spring (The Reinbold Roast). IIRC, he sat with Brett Carter at that dinner. (The Rifles put a player or coach at every table). If Wally says to a high school player "we've got an eye on you, you should play for the VI Raiders" That kid is going to listen to the pitch. Hopefully Walters will work with the Rifles the same way. If Walters finds a diamond in the local community, and he helps that kid develop with the Rifles, he can protect him. The UofM Bison are a great program, and a great option for many, but not for all. There are some talented football players who aren't academically suited for university. Some may be better suited to the UofW or to RRCC. The Rifles can provide options for these players. From the Bombers viewpoint, they have to draft players from the UofM, and those players can be drafted by any other team. The rules for junior are different.

Game jersies have gotten tighter and tighter over the past few years. Noe most lineman need assistance to get their's on. I remember talking to Coach Harris (God rest his soul) about this a few years ago. He was that back when he played the jersies were all loose fitting, but now they a super tight to prevent the holding, and to help keep the pads snug. Any body else remember the tear away jersies of the late 1970's? Those things could really slow down a game.

I disagree. Walters is a straight forward, look him in the eye and tell the truth kind of guy. From what I know about Henoc and his family, I think that they can appreciate that type of approach. I don't think signing him will be easy....every player wants to be part of a winning team, and we have struggled this year. I don't think, however, that Walters is at a disadvantage to other GM's based on experiance. The bigger factor will be what he is able to offer.

Brian gave all of the "Old Dutch Crunchers" who played at half time at the Rifle game a tour of the Bison facility. He's clearly very proud of the set-up. If you get a chance to go in person, it is awesome.