mbrg

Discussing the problem of how to get our talented players on the field because we have to take equally or more talented players off the field...what's the opposite of drowning our sorrows? We should go do that.

For there to even be a conversation about switching kickers the first thing that has to happen is Felix the cat has to show up to camp and have a shoot-out-the-lights performance. Then the idea is as least worth putting on the table. Prior to that?

Shut the site down for the day - no more posts are necessary.

Considering it seems we were never likely to sign the other MLB's you are referring to, there is no risk. I could see the Bombers signing one of those guys if they presented a value opportunity, but it sounds like Woods is pricing himself at the high end of the market, so he is out. As for Reed and the rest, these guys are more likely to become value opportunities the longer they sit at home without a contract. That's when the discussion shifts from "I'd like to cash in" to "I'd better make sure I have a job".

Saskatchewan desperately needs him.

Unfortunately for Henoc, #10 is currently taken by...oh wait, never mind.

If I'm the Bombers I'm starting with an offer of a conditional 2nd rounder that turns into a 1st if we can sign him to an extension before the end of the season. I don't know if that gets a deal done but that'd be where the conversation would probably start. Y'know, after how's the weather and do you guys have indoor plumbing yet?

When those injuries start to pile up mid-September having one more starting calibre NI is a CFL godsend. You can't buy a passport for Reed or Woods with the savings.

Jim Popp on the phone - Henoc, honey, baby, it won't be like that again, I swear. I'm a changed man. That was the old me. The blue white and red me. Now I'm blue white and blue. It's totally different. I swear, you'll be the only FA with a $60,000 late season roster bonus I ever overpay again. You're the only one for me Henoc!

What do you hope a first rounder will turn into? A CFL starting 7 NI. Is Henoc a CFL starting 7 NI? Yes, yes he is. I'd trade our 2019 first rounder for him. That pick will be 9th overall anyway...

Last year they signed LeFevour in FA, this year they were able to get Durant a month before FA. Same process, just a different day on the calendar. I have to say, this offseason has been far more interesting than usual. For the Bombers and for the league.

I go 3 months without thinking once about Carmichael, and then that's the 2nd time today I see his name. Reported salary was 90k in 2017, down from 120 in 2015 &16. 80k in 2018 is a sensible number for him. Santa Claus probably has a base that is around the minimum. but if his agent had any sense he would have negotiated some bonuses for games started. Rookies unfortunately are stuck negotiating from a position of weakness and GMs can say take it or leave it.

I absolutely agree that the Bombers weren't going to be spending up to the cap in free agency. They had some flexibility and will still have some now. More that Westerman's refusal to sign prior to free agency made putting more of Westerman's icing on Demski's cake a logical choice.

2018 Bowman will be more expensive than 2017 Denmark, 2018 Demski will be more expensive than 2017 JFG, 2018 LaFrance will be more expensive than 2017 Normand, 2018 Fenner will be more expensive than 2017 Heath. 2018 Durant will be more expensive than 2017 Davis. I can also find some examples that go the other way - Jovan Santa Claus will cost less than Hurl, Ekakatie will cost less than Thomas , but on the whole it looks like the Bombers are spending more at non-DE positions in 2018 than they did in 2017. Neufeld will cost more than Bond. 200k is a pretty big piece of cake. The math suggests a few slices of that cake have probably gone to others. There's still some cake. I don't see how there can still be 200k of cake.

There will be some, but the Bombers will have used some of that to bring in Demski. They have to look after themselves, not wait on Westerman, and one starting NI might be disappearing, so another one has to be found. Until the players are handed a cheque, cap money hasn't been spent. If Walters really wanted to play fast and loose, he could gamble that a rookie on a cheap contract will step up and steal a job from a vet on an expensive contract during camp, but that's not a smart way to approach it and doesn't seem to be his style. So to answer your question, 347 dollars remain.

Just came from the Bomber Store - Westerman jerseys are not on clearance, I repeat, not on clearance!

Aw, and I was just about to give you a piece of my mind. There are 7 pieces left, so it's really quite a special gift.

Still 50-50 he's back as far as I'm concerned. Although he came into the CFL as a free agent this is his first real crack at seeing what his value is after playing in this league. A couple of all-star nods, runner up for a Schenley award - his value won't ever be higher than it is now. Testing the market regardless what Winnipeg offered is a reasonable choice. But 200k is a big ask and 2017 was a down year for him. Will any other GM offer him more than what we are? Even though he is absolutely a legit starting 7 NI, there won't be many. There might only be one, and his name rhymes with Mavis Peed*. A tire fire without a QB and a massive rebuild ahead for a paycheque or stay a team that's a legit contender? 50-50. He hasn't signed elsewhere yet. *Oh Mavis, when will you stop wetting yourself?

Also need a front 7 guy from Laval...any front 7 guy from Laval will do.

So the Lions thought they'd re-sign Fenner for $70,000? I think Riderfans is trying to franchise nationally.

Cup of queso for me, please. I want to slow my heart rate in advance of FA. Westerman will be open to returning to the Bombers, he just wants a pay raise. At 160k for the last 2 years, Walters won't want to go where Westerman thinks his paycheque belongs. If no GM is interested in going north of 170k for Westerman, he could easily be back in blue and gold this season. I get the impression he likes it here quite a bit.

I'm also really pissed off about what we future-did with our draft picks.

I too would like to take this opportunity to pre-complain about all the things that haven't happened in free agency yet. What the hell Walters!?

Not sure why anyone would argue against having NI depth.

I would have liked to see Miles get some defensive reps last year. Based on what he did in Toronto, he should be good enough to be our back-up MLB if we lose our import starter (assumption) during the game but I'd prefer to see him prove it. If he did get some time on the field, I missed it. I am more concerned with backing up that spot and where we move the ratio to as a result of going American there than whether or not we can find guys who play teams.