2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[TBURGESS]

Willy J was the best Bomber on the field in the GC. Pay the man.

[Booch]

37 minutes ago, TBURGESS said:

Willy J was the best Bomber on the field in the GC. Pay the man.

and give him adequate support to play with

1 hour ago, Booch said:

all I can say is cracks....and fractured.....Mr Osh ain't the be all end all....Players finally speaking up....and its been building a while....changes needed pronto

And just an FYI....as good or better coaches have been fired before too....nature of the beast

@Noeller glad you think its so funny...and if so....guess we can expect not to see any more of yur over the top emotional outbursts then...cause this is funny and not true....nice!!

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, TBURGESS said:

Willy J was the best Bomber on the field in the GC. Pay the man.

It’s the only game of the year that was the case. JJ was as good in the cups and play offs, and more regular season games. Can’t pay a guy to show up for one game a year. 

[bigg jay]

2 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

It’s the only game of the year that was the case. JJ was as good in the cups and play offs, and more regular season games. Can’t pay a guy to show up for one game a year. 

On the flip side, can we ask Zach to give back some money because there's one game he never seems to show up for.

[Arnold_Palmer]

5 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

It’s the only game of the year that was the case. JJ was as good in the cups and play offs, and more regular season games. Can’t pay a guy to show up for one game a year. 

I want Willie J back but if he thinks he deserves a raise after the season he had he’s mistaken. You’re absolutely correct. He was outstanding during the grey cup but took way too many plays off during the regular season. 

[Bigblue204]

With all due respect. There's no way anyone but the coaches know if WJ deserves a raise or not. Did he perform above expectations given his role? No one on here knows the answer to that. It's obvious he wasn't being used as a traditionally DE. So we can't use traditional stats to say whether or not he played above his expectations. 

[Noeller]

Some great quotes in Friesens latest piece from Jefferson and Bryant who both want to say. Virtually everyone says that winning the cup at home has always been the goal and they want to be here for it. Said it's a huge incentive. 

[Bigblue204]

Just now, Noeller said:

Some great quotes in Friesens latest piece from Jefferson and Bryant who both want to say. Virtually everyone says that winning the cup at home has always been the goal and they want to be here for it. Said it's a huge incentive. 

I 100% believe that's the end goal of this current run. Which is both great and worrisome lol. Worrisome because it's obvious some guys shouldn't be kept but also....who says goodbye in 2026...from players/coaches/management etc.

[wbbfan]

13 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

On the flip side, can we ask Zach to give back some money because there's one game he never seems to show up for.

Sounds good to me. He probably would if he could too. 
 

1 minute ago, Bigblue204 said:

With all due respect. There's no way anyone but the coaches know if WJ deserves a raise or not. Did he perform above expectations given his role? No one on here knows the answer to that. It's obvious he wasn't being used as a traditionally DE. So we can't use traditional stats to say whether or not he played above his expectations. 

We can, by the way he botched contain and was exploited on read options by every single team in the league repeatedly never once making the play. Not once. 
 You can say maybe they encouraged the playing the lanes when you can’t get to the qb. It’s fair to say that, and that we can’t fully gauge his performance. However, he has enough of a set of issues to say he does not warrant elite cfl dl money. 
 On top of that, zero back side hustle to get in on plays. 
 He’s still an effective player and will be in the league earning 6 figures next year. Deservedly so. But he’s too reliant on the other end/ a dominant nose to be paid like that. You can go back to the previous two years his performances were much worse with out JJ in the line up. 
 Wj doesn’t make it easier for the other end, he needs the other end to be a consistent pass rusher. And even then, he’s bad in option and the run game. Just not enough player for 200k. 
 

[Fatty Liver]

Willie will be at Kyle's door first in line to negotiate before the end of this week, Neuf will be right behind him.  Neither uses an agent, but they both know the earliest bird gets the worm and asking for too much ends careers quickly.  Willie is invested in his own brand, he's probably not going to throw that all away after establishing himself and his family so solidly in Winnipeg.

[wbbfan]

1 minute ago, Fatty Liver said:

Willie will be at Kyle's door first in line to negotiate before the end of this week, Neuf will be right behind him.  Neither uses an agent, but they both know the earliest bird gets the worm and asking for too much ends careers quickly.  Willie is invested in his own brand, he's probably not going to throw that all away after establishing himself and his family so solidly in Winnipeg.

I tend to agree. And I don’t think any one else will offer him the kind of money that might incentivize him to leave. 

[Booch]

WJ will be perfect...and fine with the right guys with him....and allowed to play 1/2 to 2/3rds snaps as a pass rush specialist

Our roster....and our PR needs serious deconstruction and reconstructed to be more versatile for us as to where.,,.who and how we deploy our Nationals and Imports....this is an area that has killed us of late

 

[JohnnyAbonny]

1 hour ago, Booch said:

and give him adequate support to play with

@Noeller glad you think its so funny...and if so....guess we can expect not to see any more of yur over the top emotional outbursts then...cause this is funny and not true....nice!!

Bolded part is the key 

[Booch]

in terms of 2025 roster too....I'd be more than fine moving on from Castillo...great guy and teammate....but getting a Canadian or a Global to do it free's up a key DA position for us where we could have it be so useful to us. Salary as well that could be saved could be the difference of keeping a key piece

[rebusrankin]

Walters needs to approach this off season differently. Lots of guys need to be let go as 2019 was a long time ago.

Jake Thomas is not a starting DT, he's barely a rotational DT at this point, Costs too much but MOS will trot him out there next year like he's 2005 Doug Brown.

Patrick Neufeld-Been a great player for us, noticeable decline this year, I think its time to let him go. It is dependent on price and Dobson though.

Kyrie Wilson-He's missed half the season each of the last two and only played 4 games in 2022. He's going to be 33 next year. Age, injury, price. Its a spot where you should be able to find a guy an entry level deal.

Adam Bighill-Future HOF, he's 36 so 37 next year. He's been dropping off, multiple injuries, costly.

Johnny Augustine-We have MCI on a rookie deal to take this role.

Chris Streveler-He's likely to be out until the Banjo Bowl. Honestly I like him but I don't think he can pass well enough to be a starting QB.

Brandon Alexander-Age, injuries, decline in play. Maybe as a vet guy in the room on a cheap deal.

Castillo-Would he take a paycut?

[HardCoreBlue]

8 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

Walters needs to approach this off season differently. Lots of guys need to be let go as 2019 was a long time ago.

Jake Thomas is not a starting DT, he's barely a rotational DT at this point, Costs too much but MOS will trot him out there next year like he's 2005 Doug Brown.

Patrick Neufeld-Been a great player for us, noticeable decline this year, I think its time to let him go. It is dependent on price and Dobson though.

Kyrie Wilson-He's missed half the season each of the last two and only played 4 games in 2022. He's going to be 33 next year. Age, injury, price. Its a spot where you should be able to find a guy an entry level deal.

Adam Bighill-Future HOF, he's 36 so 37 next year. He's been dropping off, multiple injuries, costly.

Johnny Augustine-We have MCI on a rookie deal to take this role.

Chris Streveler-He's likely to be out until the Banjo Bowl. Honestly I like him but I don't think he can pass well enough to be a starting QB.

Brandon Alexander-Age, injuries, decline in play. Maybe as a vet guy in the room on a cheap deal.

Castillo-Would he take a paycut?

Yea its great playing like we only have 11 defensive players on the field but know that's okay cuz he's a great leader in the locker room and he's earned the right to go out on his own terms said no one who is paying attention to the big picture.

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, Booch said:

WJ will be perfect...and fine with the right guys with him....and allowed to play 1/2 to 2/3rds snaps as a pass rush specialist

Our roster....and our PR needs serious deconstruction and reconstructed to be more versatile for us as to where.,,.who and how we deploy our Nationals and Imports....this is an area that has killed us of late

 

He would. If he is supported on the line and protected in snaps. But that isn’t worth 200k plus. A 200k plus a year guy needs to make the guys around him better. Not be propped up by other guys in order to succeed. 
 Wj back at a reasonable rate with better pieces would be ideal.  If it’s him or a younger dl who makes guys better around him for less, that’s an easy call imo. 
 

38 minutes ago, Booch said:

in terms of 2025 roster too....I'd be more than fine moving on from Castillo...great guy and teammate....but getting a Canadian or a Global to do it free's up a key DA position for us where we could have it be so useful to us. Salary as well that could be saved could be the difference of keeping a key piece

A di K really needs to be doing all the jobs to get Sergio money. A none imp/global or two to take over all 3 kicking duties would be sick. 

 

23 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

Walters needs to approach this off season differently. Lots of guys need to be let go as 2019 was a long time ago.

Jake Thomas is not a starting DT, he's barely a rotational DT at this point, Costs too much but MOS will trot him out there next year like he's 2005 Doug Brown.

Patrick Neufeld-Been a great player for us, noticeable decline this year, I think its time to let him go. It is dependent on price and Dobson though.

Kyrie Wilson-He's missed half the season each of the last two and only played 4 games in 2022. He's going to be 33 next year. Age, injury, price. Its a spot where you should be able to find a guy an entry level deal.

Adam Bighill-Future HOF, he's 36 so 37 next year. He's been dropping off, multiple injuries, costly.

Johnny Augustine-We have MCI on a rookie deal to take this role.

Chris Streveler-He's likely to be out until the Banjo Bowl. Honestly I like him but I don't think he can pass well enough to be a starting QB.

Brandon Alexander-Age, injuries, decline in play. Maybe as a vet guy in the room on a cheap deal.

Castillo-Would he take a paycut?

Agree across the board. 

[Booch]

age and use....I agree WJ be ideal in the 175-185k max....with a supporting cast.....

A wasted spot on a high priced kicker definitely needs to be doing all 3 jobs.....but man thaT DA spot could e better served to allow us to add that additional monster dline guy....a second starting calibre inside linebacker....or a legit burner wide receiver.

 

[wbbfan]

12 minutes ago, Booch said:

age and use....I agree WJ be ideal in the 175-185k max....with a supporting cast.....

A wasted spot on a high priced kicker definitely needs to be doing all 3 jobs.....but man thaT DA spot could e better served to allow us to add that additional monster dline guy....a second starting calibre inside linebacker....or a legit burner wide receiver.

 

Getting that DI spot back for D would be huge. 

[Booch]

1 minute ago, wbbfan said:

Getting that DI spot back for D would be huge. 

immensely huge

[SpeedFlex27]

Rumour on X that now that Hervey is gone that both McManus & Goveia will bolt to Hamilton with McManus as GM. Apparently, danny just bought a house in Hamilton & Goveia grew up in Burlington. So, we'll see.

[wbbfan]

25 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Rumour on X that now that Hervey is gone that both McManus & Goveia will bolt to Hamilton with McManus as GM. Apparently, danny just bought a house in Hamilton & Goveia grew up in Burlington. So, we'll see.

Danny and Ted both have ast gm titles, and director of pp/scouting titles. So unless we let both walk they’d have to offer titles higher than gm to one of them. 
 Maybe Mac has changed his tune but I kinda doubt it. Hes a snow bird who loves the freedom we give him. He hasn’t even interviewed for another job. 
 I’d be stunned if both left. 
I like Cyril penn and think he’s got a great future in football. He is likely ready to take one job. Replacing both would be very hard. 

[17to85]

33 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Rumour on X that now that Hervey is gone that both McManus & Goveia will bolt to Hamilton with McManus as GM. Apparently, danny just bought a house in Hamilton & Goveia grew up in Burlington. So, we'll see.

Credible rumors? Because those two have been leaving every offseason for the last 3, 4 years according to rumors.

[SpeedFlex27]

3 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Danny and Ted both have ast gm titles, and director of pp/scouting titles. So unless we let both walk they’d have to offer titles higher than gm to one of them. 
 Maybe Mac has changed his tune but I kinda doubt it. Hes a snow bird who loves the freedom we give him. He hasn’t even interviewed for another job. 
 I’d be stunned if both left. 
I like Cyril penn and think he’s got a great future in football. He is likely ready to take one job. Replacing both would be very hard. 

I know nothing about Cyril Penn. Can you give us some background & why you like him?

Just now, 17to85 said:

Credible rumors? Because those two have been leaving every offseason for the last 3, 4 years according to rumors.

Eventually they will, though. Nothing stays the same. Losing those 3 at thebsame time would not be good.

 

[bigg jay]

Just now, SpeedFlex27 said:

I know nothing about Cyril Penn. Can you give us some background & why you like him?

https://www.bluebombers.com/cyril-penn/