Fatty Liver

Joe West has been moved to the 6 game IR, so that's one less deep threat they have to worry about.

Any current Bomber players you would care to dis?

It's going to be hard to shut down BLM with the same DB's they played last week. Who's turn is it to give up a 75 yard TD this week? Adams and Johnson can't return soon enough.

Agreed, I'm Tracker's backer on this one. Willy's long-ball accuracy has been pathetic.

Johnny Adams could be ready for the next game. Now repeat that statement 6 times to bring yourself up to date.

Yep, that East-end tilt with the Transcona Unemployed Rail Workers and Football Team can't come soon enough. Willy gonna lay em low.

In a recent interview George Reed said that he thinks that the league has moved towards throwing the ball over running because it is easier to implement and operate. In olden days the turn-over of players was limited to 5 or 6 new players per season so it was easier to implement a running attack and stick with it for multiple years using the same basic personnel.

I don't follow, they got that one right. Upon challenge they over-turned the officials error.

I'm surprised James is still alive as well, in all my years following the Bombers I can't recall him ever being featured for any honours or attending any reunions. Hopefully he's still in good enough shape to attend the ceremony. On a somewhat off note isn't Graham James somehow related?

I'm reasonably happy with the job Walters has done, he's gone out and brought in some very good players and selected some good players in the draft. As for hiring O'Shea most were happy when that happened but who could foresee he would accumulate such a bad win-loss record?

I've been stalking Ripper for years waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

I see you have your sources well documented.

I thought this "eye in the sky" stuff was supposed to be monitoring the game in real time. For example it should not have been necessary for either coach to challenge the Watson reception or the Posey interception as upon quick review those were both obvious calls. If the control booth was watching and communicating with the refs. in real time, they could have altered the officials call before a challenge was necessary. It could have taken 15 secs. instead of delaying the game 3-4 min. for each call.

What's funny is the signing of Haidara made Bastien expendable.

Really. http://3downnation.com/2016/07/18/canadian-receiver-kris-bastien-signs-riders/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Riders have signed Cdn. receiver Kris Bastien.

Looks like Ryan Smith is injured. Darrin Bauming @DarrinBauming Ryan Smith (lower-body) is "probably out for a couple weeks," according to Mike O'Shea. 11:46 AM - 17 Jul 2016 Darrin Bauming @DarrinBauming Thomas Mayo, who started Week 2, will play in place of Ryan Smith. #Bombers

I can't remember the last time I was wrong about anything.....although I have suffered multiple concussions.

Can't see a disastrous season of 3 or 4 wins occurring, the schedule pretty much dictated that they were in for a tough start not withstanding a miracle turn-around. As we see QB's begin to fall throughout the league unexpected opportunities present themselves for wins. Ti-Cats, Riders and Als are all ripe for the picking now but unfortunately none of those teams are on the dance card in the next few weeks and by that time they face the Ti-Cats again they will have Collaros back. Bad luck abounds from a schedule perspective. If they continue to put in the effort and can improve the O production they should be a competitive team by mid-season, yes their over-all record will suck but they should become a good team if they can resolve their immediate QB woes. Sometimes it just happens that a team begins to look good in the second half of a season and they start the next with a bang at the next level up.

Good to see Cole getting another shot but hope they hold onto Hubbard. Also Haidara must have shown more than Bastien, next up Richards.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers Transactions WINNIPEG, MB., July 17, 2016 - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the following transactions. Released from roster: - International defensive lineman Derrell Johnson - National receiver Kris Bastien Released from practice roster: - National offensive lineman T-Dre Player Added to practice roster: - International defensive lineman Justin Cole

Contrary to what is said on the Riders forum that Jones had no interest in retaining Smith it looks like there were negotiations between them.

Rhéanne Marcoux @RheanneMarcoux If it weren’t for the numbers on the backs of their jerseys, you’d be hard-pressed to tell Ryan Smith and Weston Dressler apart out on the field. But it’s not just stature and position the pair share in common – the two former Saskatchewan Roughriders both come from North Dakota and both signed with the Bombers this off-season. And they also both happen to live under the same roof with Dressler’s fiancé, Tegan, here in Winnipeg and back in their days in Regina. “They take care of me,” began Smith. “His fiancé even offered to do my laundry the other day. I was like ‘ah, I should let you, but I don’t want to.’” Hearing this, Dressler rolls his eyes and adds a mocking laugh. “If you walk by the guy’s room you’d understand why,” Dressler explained. “I mean, it’s just a normal… teenager’s room. He’s a good cleaner when he wants to be.” The Dressler-Smith relationship, needless to say, goes beyond the typical teammates-become-roommates story. It’s unique, not just because of where they’ve come from and the positions they play, but because of their friendship. A friendship that became immediately apparent before the double-interview even began. If Smith is the teenager of the household, Dressler, the older of the two by six years, is clearly the father figure; an early-to-bed, early-to-rise father figure. “He goes to bed at about 8:30 every single night, like a grandpa,” said Smith. “And I’m not going to sit downstairs by myself, so I have to go to my room at 9 o’clock every single night because ‘my parents’ are going to bed.” That story brought a roar of laughter from Dressler, but there’s a beginning to this tale. When Smith’s roommate was released in Saskatchewan, he turned to Dressler for a place to stay. After consulting with his fiancé, Dressler – who had already rented a room to Rob Bagg – agreed to also take in Smith. What he soon came to realize was that he hadn’t just agreed to take in Ryan, a fresh-faced new teammate. ALONG WITH RYAN, IT TURNS OUT, COMES ‘BRYAN’. “He’s got an alter ego,” explained Dressler as Smith groaned, knowing full well what was coming next. “I call him ‘Bryan.’ When Ryan gets angry, he becomes a different person and everything will bother him. He’s like The Hulk. He gets just… well, the rage builds up and you can’t even talk to the guy. “You try and talk to him and he’s just like ‘ NO!” Dressler breaks into a ‘Bryan’ impersonation, grunting and stomping his feet. “So when Bryan comes out,” Dressler adds, “you just ignore him for a little while and eventually he’ll calm down and Ryan comes back.” The laughter continues. Smith, catching his breath, attempts to offer an explanation for the ‘Ryan-to-Bryan’ transformation. “Usually it’s about food,” said Smith. “IT HAPPENS BECAUSE I’M HUNGRY OR THIRSTY OR WANT TO SEE MY MOM… SOMETHING LIKE THAT.” Dressler is nodding and laughing, adding that the transformation is not a rare occurrence. “This happens at least once a week. Yeah, I like to just give him his space or-” “No, you egg it on!” interjects Smith with a laugh. “Well it’s fun to egg it on when it’s coming out! I definitely call him Bryan,” admits Dressler. “Like an older brother, just poking at me,” Smith shakes his head with a smile. But Dressler knows his limits, and knows how to tame this alter ego. “There’s definitely a breaking point though, where I have to step away and be like ‘ok, Ryan needs to come back.’” Inseparable on and off the field, it’s an easy assumption to think the two receivers have known each other their entire lives, or that Smith was perhaps Dressler’s real-life younger brother who had maybe followed him to play receiver at the University of North Dakota. In fact, official introductions didn’t come until the day Smith – a product of rival North Dakota State – first became a Roughrider in 2014. As Smith remembers, it went something like… “It was ‘sup Dress? I’m Ryan. Nice to meet you.’ And then,” added Smith in a mocking happily-ever-after tone, “we never looked back from there.” “Instant. Instant friendship,” added Dressler. “Both coming from North Dakota, we’ve got the rival schools thing going on so we had lots of things to discuss. Easy conversation.” Here’s the truth, though. The two didn’t first meet at Riders training camp two years ago. It actually happened years before, back when Smith was a junior at Wahpeton High School. “It’s kind of funny…” begins Smith with a smile and a sideways glance at Dressler. “When I went to Grand Forks my junior year of high school, I met him. He was at the Aleris Center. He probably doesn’t remember that, I was just a little shrimp.” Dressler takes a step back, eyes wide in surprise, and doubles over in laughter. “I don’t remember that!” he exclaims. “This is the first time I’ve heard this!” Smith smiles, playing up the long-forgotten moment to embarrass his super star friend. “I was star-struck, you know,” Smith added with a smirk. “He’s from North Dakota, you look up to him.” This friendship, first forged in Regina and rekindled in Winnipeg, almost came to an end as quickly as it began when Dressler was released from the Riders on January 16, 2016 and signed with the rival Bombers. Even then, Smith had a feeling things would work out for the best. “I was optimistic about everything because when I was in talks with Saskatchewan, it wasn’t going so well,” explained Smith, who was heading into free agency in February. “I ended up here, and I was pretty excited that Dress was here also. I wasn’t going to be the new guy out of place.” Even in a new province and wearing new colours, Dressler just couldn’t escape his young protégé. “I WAS LIKE ‘HERE HE COMES AGAIN…’” Dressler rolled his eyes as Smith laughed. “No, I was super excited,” said Dressler with a playful jab towards Smith. “Just happy that we’re able to continue playing together. We had a few conversations throughout, but it’s so interesting through that time because as players, you don’t know what’s going to happen. You don’t know until that free agency day what exactly is going to go down, and my situation was a little different, being a free agent shortly before that time. “It’s just fortunate for us that it worked out here for both of us.” So what’s next for the dynamic duo from North Dakota? After hours in the film room, a long practice, extra work out on the field afterwards, some time in the cold tub and a drive home – all still side-by-side – the pair will head home to make dinner together and maybe even watch a movie before Dressler’s 8:30 p.m. bedtime. “Well, he did say he was going to make a meal the other day…” Dressler looks over quizzically at Smith. “Yep. Chicken Alfredo. That’s my sig. Maybe I should make it tonight.”

Nope, Sask. will get number one again.

I hope they do.