Armchair GM

I would. Just because it makes sense for Ottawa, doesn't mean it makes sense for us.

Willy's the QB I wanted most, so very happy about this. There is also a pretty awesome side effect though... Ottawa's gotta have $850k tied up at the QB position. As much as Desjardins is publicly stating he's bringing all of that ass to showbiz... there's no way it makes it to camp. Ottawa's price tag for Glenn just dropped.

Ya kno, it doesn't surprise me one ounce that you already think this without even getting out of the off-season.. Stay classy bud. Keep the faith!! Forget class, sell me on all the great things that have transpired this off season. Granted, he still has many months to make it happen, but so far are you honestly impressed? Or are you just being "positive?" Oy. Can we sell you on the fact that we avoided a giant albatross of a contract on Burris; and that Hamilton and Kent Austin were a flashier sell for Collaros instead? Way too early to be passing judgment on Walters. The mess that Mack left the organization in... pile on all that you want. But way too early to judge Walters.

His previous track record, along with significantly overpaying for Burris, suggest differently. Guy spends heavily on CFL-expereinced QB's; regardless of impact on roster. Jury's out on Walters. Yesterday I was super-pissed about losing out on Burris. I'd still be super-pissed to lose out on him anywhere under $400k. But he's been made the 2nd highest-paid in the CFL at 39; and for 3 years. I think I'd be more pissed if it was on our payroll.

You mean Korey Banks lied to me on Twitter? Doing what leaders do... championing his team. And he's absolutely a great leader for doing so. But keep in mind he had no choice in the matter... his contract was traded to Winnipeg. We've been able to offer the only starting QB job in the CFL with no competition, as well as reportedly the most money, to 2 guys we coveted. And couldn't close them.

LOL... really? They were supposed to plan for Hamilton to sign Collaros and release Burris, and as well assume that they would win the Burris bidding war? And Ottawa's not getting heat because they did something pretty impressive... won the 39-yr old QB as an EXPANSION FRANCHISE; with him choosing said expansion roster over an existing team in Winnipeg. There is something still very wrong in Winnipeg that players are attuned to, and our management is not convincing guys that we're righting the ship.

You're pointing the finger at the driver, when the car's steering malfunctioned.

As for © - who else would want Glenn if we don't take him? Would he go back to Calgary? Cowtown and Montreal would be the clubhouse favorites.

Burris will likely be making $350-375k-ish in Ottawa. It's entirely conceivable we could get both done for about the same. Ottawa's stance in publicly stating that they're going to camp with Burris and Glenn is likely just a ploy to create trade value for Glenn. Doubt they will retain him for the whole season. Too much money tied up at the QB position, and no reps for DeMarco to grow at #3 on the depth chart. Pretty high stakes game of chicken... I want to say that we could have avoided it, but I'm not sure we could have if we made the highest offers. Players don't want to play in Winnipeg, and that is the evolving storyline here.

The coordinators are the least inspiring group I've ever seen, they made a lot of noise about getting a FA qb and struck out on the 2 that hit the market... Walters seems to give up a lot when he trades for pieces... it's just a lot of things starting to form a picture here. You're painting a pretty compelling picture. I don't want to agree with you, but I'm starting to. I'll give him free agency and the draft before grading him... but it is becoming clearer that not enough has changed in Bomber-land.

I'm not freaking out about missing on Burris. I'm freaking out because it's obvious that we are not in any way, shape or form a desirable destination for players who have a choice. And that's a problem. And you're surprised by this? Do we have to be surprised by this, to be upset about this? The market is telling us that 2 FA's that WE COVETED don't view Winnipeg as anything more than a last resort. It's not the individual QB's that I'm upset we lost on. It's the increasing likelihood that our greatest fear is coming true... that no one of any value wants to play here.

Great post. That being said I still believe paying a soon to be 39 year old wildly inconsistent quarterback is extremely short sighted even if it doesn't handcuff us financially. I just don't see the point in investing money in a QB that by the time he is ready to ride off into retirement, the team will be in a position to compete for a championship. I think it also delays the development of whoever will be #2 on the depth chart for the season whether that be Willy or someone else. Think that this statement defines the past decade of Bombers mismanagement. We need to stop thinking that experienced guys are just unnecessary placeholders for the young guys that are on their way up. They're not. Experienced players can offer leadership along with the higher level of play that comes with their experience. They can help slow the game down for the young guys via mentoring. Does anyone think BLM would have been as game ready for his first start if he were here or Edmonton, instead of in Calgary, sitting behind Glenn and Tate?

but what number is Semaj Moody going to wear now?! Give him 42. Spell it backwards like his given name.

God these quotes from Banks are refreshing. Not enough guys like him on our roster right now.

Yeah he trades them to someone else... the issue here to me is that more and more it seems like Walters pays sticker price for guys in trade, sticker price is sucker price. One of the biggest parts of being a great GM is creating the foundation of a successful franchise. Until Walters accomplishes that, top free agents that consider more than just money are going to blackball Winnipeg. So the conversation becomes how do you create that as fast as possible? Even if the word was Banks would have been out on the street on Feb 15th, Winnipeg's not the prettiest destination right now, so we'd have had to pony up top dollar, and still might get passed up by an aging vet FA looking to win now. Bottom line, we're paying Poblah to get a leader to Winnipeg, without having to outbid others or be a winning team to do so.

A tried and tested leader at bare minimum, for a young receiver that has shown signs of regression, instead of development.

I don't see Poblah as potential anymore, and trading him for a proven player is a step in the right direction. Joe Mack loved 'potential' and look where it got us. I just think though, that if Wally is looking at moving Banks it's because he's one step away from cutting him, think that Walters could have played a bit more hard ball rather than letting Wally dictate the move. Some people love to take chances on those potential guys I suspect that there could have been some better asset management gone on. I don't give 2 shits about losing Poblah but so far I am not convinced that Walters is a good trader. I know Wally likes riding on top of the wave and all, but do you think that Wally would be willing to just cut a respected leader and DB like Banks though, even at 34? Even if he's the team's 3rd best corner, that seems like a bad team move to me. Unless he's lost a couple of steps and is no longer good enough to stay on the field. True leaders are in short supply... as long as Banks can still ball on the opposition's 3rd/4th best receiver, I'm good with this trade.

Bomber fans have demonstrated time and time again that they do not have the patience required to develop a new qb. Right, it's the fans' fault... You saying that this team hasn't made knee jerk reactions because fans in the city are growing restless? Fans are hardly to blame. Up to the organization to set their plan, and set it up for success. The game doesn't slow down for new CFL QB's immediately. QB development would be far more likely to succeed with an improved OL and WR/SB set than we have given our developing QB's over the last few years. Look what Khari had to work with when he came here vs. what we gave Elliott, Brink, Goltz, and Hall... any wonder he developed and the others didn't?

Austin tried twice to extend his contract and Burris turned him down. .... And now back to the Austin Has No Loyalty Game. Thanks for conveniently not mentioning any salary numbers or indications of any sort. It keeps your credibility nice and low.

Would it really be? Missing out on a 1-to-2 year stop-gap QB with his best days behind him? I'd be okay with (not ecstatic about, but okay with) Drew Willy being brought in, and a competition between Willy and Max Hall for the starting gig. Give him a low guaranteed number and huge incentives. Direct the rest of the Collaros piggybank towards fixing the OL. Seriously... is it that much worse than Burris? Two days ago we were hoping for THE EXACT SAME THING WITH COLLAROS? He of 7 career CFL starts.

I mean this 100% when I say it... I believe her more than Penton after that ridiculous Plan B column today... And if he does end up here... lucky her, I guess.

Would make logical sense... except that the Bombers reportedly offered the larger contract to Collaros. But Penton championing "Plan B" is cute...

Right. Because the franchise gained instant respectability the moment the old guard was ushered out, and the new guard ushered in. It doesn't work that way. We have to live with the fallout of the sins of Kelly, Mack, and Burke for as long as it takes us to show ourselves to the rest of the league as a destination; not a burial ground.

Thank you. Simpson all day over Ford. Complete package minus the afterburners.

We like Will Ford over Chad Simpson now? Flavor of the week? Or do we actually think he's a better RB than Simpson?