TrueBlue4ever

Well, just start another one. No better place than Toronto.

That shorty is a back breaker. Schmidt and Samberg having their worst game in a while.

If people think going over $200k is too much for Brady (and I would agree - although did I miss where it has been clearly stated what he in fact is asking for, or is this just fan speculation and guessing at numbers?), then what is too much for Schoen?

Jets just hanging around, throw greasy stuff to the net and maybe this game can be stolen.

First time in 15 games we have given up more than one goal in a period.

Methinks the “3 or less” streak ends tonight.

The deal was not to guarantee the player, but to guarantee his negotiating rights prior to free agency. Honestly, if Brown wanted to walk away from any Ottawa offer, I don’t see how it would nullify the trade, as the Bombers met their condition (exclusive negotiating rights for a few weeks). Just like when Darian Durant got his signing bonus here and promptly retired. sucked but he did not need to forfeit the money, just a bad deal made by Winnipeg.

I have to say I am surprised at how many have turned on Brady and are prepared to shrug and just let him walk, especially thinking that it locks in Schoen now. I totally get the concept that running backs have a shorter shelf life than receivers (and agree with that) and that they can be a dime a dozen and his production can be easily replaced more than other positions (not as sure that is agree given the heights he achieved, or that it is any tougher to unearth a receiver, but I am willing to concede that point rather than argue about a hypothetical hair splitting matter). However, a few things to ponder if comparing Oliveira/Schoen and assuming we must let one go and it will guarantee us the other: MONEY Brady made $100,000 last year, max $114,000 with bonuses (this according to 3DownNation, and I’d have to think he hit all of his plausible bonus plateaus), and is seeking to be the highest paid back (and re-set the market, though that may be fans and media talking more than his one playful tweet which I personally think some are taking way too seriously to get offended by, jmo). Highest paid back last year was $170,000, Demski made $175,000 (as a Canadian comparable), so even re-setting the market I can’t fathom it being higher than $200,000. I would peg it at between $175,000-$190,000 at the top end. Dalton made $70,000 or so last year (Wpg Sun, who said he made near rookie minimum). If he is #1 or 2 in the CFL, then the bar for him is $300,000 given the current market set by Kenny Lawler. I would peg him at $225,000-250,000 on the open market. So in theory, those worrying about overpaying and costing us elsewhere on the roster should be more concerned about the larger pay increase being Schoen, no? LIFESPAN Brady is 26, Dalton is 27, so neither is getting old, and since a max contract is 3 years and is a rarity in the CFL, the shorter shelf life of a running back should not really come into play. DURABILITY Brady plays a pounding game, so always a threat of injury, but Dalton is coming off an injury himself, and who knows how healed up he is, in light of his rush back into the Grey Cup lineup and the non-factor that he was in that game. He sure got beaten up last season, curious to see how he rebounds. IMPORTANCE This is where I am curious about opinions. Both are key to our attack, but it was said that the offence ran through Brady (no pun intended). If Dalton goes down, we still have Lawler, Demski, Wolitarsky, Bailey, and BOLO for our corps, plus whatever young American we bring in this season. If Brady is out, we have Augustine, McCrae or a new American. In which position do you see more of a drop off? And only one of Brady and Dalton is a ratio-breaking Canadian. LOYALTY i again wonder how much of the Brady dismissal is due to the tweet and nothing else. I did not read it as a middle finger to Winnipeg or the fans, just a playful response to the media tweet of “the sky’s the limit” rather than a threat to bleed teams dry. But that’s just me. In any event, Dalton has not necessarily shown any greater loyalty by wanting to try the NFL route in consecutive seasons, if one wants to get their nose out of joint (I do not, players words or expressed desires of maximizing their careers does not irk me). I don’t see either as being more or less loyal to the club. I always remembered Dave Ritchie saying “Canadians are gold, Americans are silver” so I am surprised so many seem willing to just say bye-bye to the MOC who did something no other back period has done since Jon Cornish and only Charles Roberts has done before in a Winnipeg jersey (2,000 scrimmage yards). Dalton put up league-leading or comparable numbers, but Brady lapped the field with his performance last year. I feel that people are underselling his accomplishments, or the importance of his play at the position (and more so the position itself in the Bomber offence), a little too readily. Anyway? Just some musings. Sorry about the length, hoping it might generate more discussion.

Next time we should negotiate naming rights with Hewlett-Packard. Then I could finally be on board with Fort Hew.

Nope, did not forget. Also this….

I think there are clouds perpetually rolling in over certain houses in Alberta. And no Noeller I don’t view you that way. I get more of this vibe from you at times (at least when Booch, a.k.a Spike, posts).

Just a hunch but wondering if we don’t see Scheifele until after the all-star break?

As far as I know (based only on what I have seen in the past) if a goalie mask comes off they blow the play dead pretty much immediately, but that may be subject to “immediate scoring chance” which would have to be basically simultaneous given how quick the whistle is usually on that type of play. As for other equipment, any skater loses a blade, the play goes on, so probably the same for the goalie. But where another player breaks his stick and must drop it right away, goalies are allowed to play with a broken stick (presumably because they can’t go to the bench to retrieve one, and no other player can bring them a stick from the bench). So there may be a different rule for goalies here too, but I am unaware of it if it exists.

My only issue with those who have an issue with Wheeler was that it wasn’t like he ever dogged it out on the ice. He ruptured a test-icle (really censors, that word gets blocked, but motherfucker slides right through??????) blocking a shot, and was always pushing hard in games, even when the skills eroded. If anything, I could see teammates chafing under his surly demeanour for being a hard ass and maybe pushing them too hard (now I am not in the dressing room so this is pure speculation, but I say boo-hoo to any pro athlete who didn’t like how tough their captain was being on them for demanding effort if that is the case), but hard to imagine a country club atmosphere during his time if he is leading by example. I guess one day the full story will come out.

And we have Montreal’s 2nd round pick this year (courtesy LA and the Dubois trade) so that right now is 7 picks later.

I would guess that this is based on what the NFL discovered about CTE and how reckless the hitting is on special teams. It isn’t about obvious injuries but the long term effects of brain damage. Remember that the wedge busting play and having more than two blockers together is a new rule to prevent the kicking team have that suicide player blast into 4 blockers to “bust the wedge”. All a result of the CTE lawsuit and NFL settlement and reducing the risk of brain damage long term. Following the huge downturn in scoring in 2021, the league stated out loud that they wanted more scoring and less punts, so they moved kickoffs back 5 yards and changed the starting point post-FG to the 40 to facilitate more field goal chances with shorter drives.

Shoutout for Bucky deserves a song. Any suggestions? Here’s one: Two things that make this team different. Perfetti blocking a shot up 5-0 with 3 seconds left to lock down the shutout, and Scheifele comes back after his injury simply to celebrate with the team when he could have just stayed in the locker room. These tiny things just scream “team”. Must be the most fun a lot of these players have had in a long time, they are making it look simple (won’t say “easy” because they are definitely working hard). And Vancouver had taken over top spot in the NHL for about an hour with their win earlier, but we have it back now. Canadian teams 1-2 in the league as we near the midway point.

And if I have calculated correctly, the All-Star Game coaches are selected based on top points percentages in each division at the season’s halfway point (which happens this coming Saturday). Any Jets win or Stars loss, and any combo of Jets wins and Avs losses totalling 2 and Bowness will coach the Central.

Men against boys tonight. Score flattered the Yotes.

That kind of counts as a power play goal.

Agreed. He could make really quick reads and zip it in with velocity. And his pairing with Flutie was the catalyst for his best years. I lamented his loss from the club, just not sure the team would have hung on for another 5 years until he was ready, especially since they went all in on Dunigan. Very happy to have him back now, though. And fully appreciated his time in Blue and Gold, as you said.

I won’t deny that he had potential, but he was hardly the sure thing with Winnipeg that people seem to remember with 20/20 hindsight. His 1990 Grey Cup performance was one TD pass in garbage time with the team up 43-11 and the defender fell down in pass coverage. He had a 45% completion rate in his time in Winnipeg, and did not even become a full time starter until 1995 in BC, when he threw for 19 TDs and 26 INTs that year, then was let go to Edmonton. He became a back-up specialist in 1994, known for coming off the bench to pull out games, like the Grey Cup that year. But his passer rating was middling at best. Even in his MVP season in 1999 in Hamilton his rating was a career best 92.4, and he was only over 80.0 four times in 17 years, while being worse than 73.0 eleven times. He only hit 60% in completion percentage once. He threw more INTs than TDs in 11 of his 17 seasons, and only once was his TD:INT ratio better than 2:1. Now, he was good at piling up passing yards, going over 4,000 nine times. And he was brilliant at avoiding sacks in Hamilton, where 4 times in 7 seasons the team gave up less than one sack a game, including a ridiculous 7 in 18 games in 1999 (credit the o-line and his quick release for that). And he was a winner, having a funny streak of getting to every other Grey Cup (and winning every second time he got there) for his first few years (1990 win, 92 loss, 94 win, 96 loss, 98 broke the streak as he got to the Cup but lost, and then winning in 99 in his last appearance - his only win as a starter). Bottom line, he was very good but it took more than a few years (and three more teams) after he left Winnipeg to hit his elite level. So it wasn’t an obvious gaffe when we let him go (although I personally was a bit disappointed). If I remember correctly, it was a contract dispute with Cal Murphy that led to his departure. He wanted starter type money and a starting role which we were not going to give him (and neither did BC for 3 seasons after he signed there) and it got a bit personal, with Cal quoted as referring to him as “that little red-headed piss ant”. One last story about him I remember. One of the Bombers star defensive linemen or linebackers of the late 90’s and 2000’s (I cannot remember who) mentioned when he was with Hamilton, that McManus would telegraph if it was going to be a running play or a passing play every single time based on his foot position pre-snap under centre, and he was unaware he was tipping off teams to it. Despite this, his sack totals against were astronomically low, in large part due to a standard three step drop and release. And now you know……the rest of the story.

Just leaving this here for everyone to enjoy. Beyond the 28 consecutive games with 3 goals against or less (2nd longest streak ever in the expansion era) they have given up 2 or less in regulation in 16 straight.

Ladies and gentlemen, the #1 team in the NHL, your Winnipeg Jets. So many little things that impress me about this team. The work on the boards, the cycle, the rolling of 4 lines, the simple breakouts and smart passes that relieve pressure on their zone. And Broissoit seems to have learned from Hellebuyck with his economical style, minimal movement and flopping, just solid positioning and letting the puck hit him. And different heroes every night. This is a team just feeling it right now.