2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[Mike]

Let’s just be honest here - do the Bombers handle everything perfectly? No, definitely not. When the players all consistently talk about how well they’re treated and how well their families are treated and how much they want to stay, do I think a few (all past their prime, which is a huge point in all of this) players who say their feelings got hurt has more to do with their unwillingness to accept reality than it does with the Bombers holding their hand gently through the process?

Yes, yes I do 

[Goalie]

Here’s the difference with bighill and Thomas. Bighill has been injured 2 years in a row, Thomas has not been hurt in 7 seasons. Theres the difference.  Do I think Thomas should be back? No I don’t. But the one thing he is, is healthy. Bighill is not. I’m assuming also but wouldn’t shock me if Thomas took a pay cut and Bighill was unwilling to do that. Based on the quotes I’d sounds like Bighill is unwilling to accept reality. 2 years in a row he got hurt. 

Edited Saturday at 03:52 PM by Goalie

[Mike]

8 minutes ago, Goalie said:

Here’s the difference with bighill and Thomas. Bighill has been injured 2 years in a row, Thomas has not been hurt in 7 seasons. Theres the difference.  Do I think Thomas should be back? No I don’t. But the one thing he is, is healthy. Bighill is not. I’m assuming also but wouldn’t shock me if Thomas took a pay cut and Bighill was unwilling to do that. Based on the quotes I’d sounds like Bighill is unwilling to accept reality. 2 years in a row he got hurt. 

I don’t love JT as a front line contributor but I think people dismissing him as reliable depth are off the mark. It needs to be that role for him, though.

[Goalie]

2 minutes ago, Mike said:

I don’t love JT as a front line contributor but I think people dismissing him as reliable depth are off the mark. It needs to be that role for him, though.

Yes. He can’t be starting. Getting more reps than guys better than him. As a rotational piece he’s ok. 

[wbbfan]

10 hours ago, Booch said:

Agreed...which harkens back to my belief that our coaching...or lack there of at times has hurt us..and needs to be adressed...it's not as great as many like to believe it is when you have a hard headed stubborn guy overseeing it all who thinks he's always right

 Not sure he can evolve to be efficient with a new scheme...short outlets..dumps...screens ....he has probably the worst touch to do that of any starter in the league...so not sure he'd be a good fit in that kind of offence..

Yeah idk if he does either. But we are married to him, and we aren’t going to instantly have a team that can win a gc with him chucking bombs down field on 2nd and short or when ever else he wants. (Which is a lot) 

He isn’t gonna become Ricky ray, but he’s gotta quell the chucking in the worst situations into triple cover. 
 

10 hours ago, Mark H. said:

I agree. Some QBs are simply downfield guys...Mike Reilly was the same. And Reilly had the same protection issues that ZC has.

Thats true, but we’ve seen more miraculous late career changes Damon Allen being the biggest up here. 
 

10 hours ago, Booch said:

I pretty sure Biggie knew the gig was up at end of season...and it can be tough for a player to accept that playing days are done...some know...even during their last yr...some just have to much fire in them to quit...I'll give Biggie that, and he may get a bottom barrel deal somewhere but not to be "the guy"

That being said...I would have taken him over Jake as a ST guy and emergency backup/role guy and player coach role...as he would offer value there...Jake offers none whatsoever

this. No way he didn’t know what was coming with his and season interview. Probably didn’t want to believe it. 

[Fatty Liver]

45 minutes ago, TBURGESS said:

I think they should have called Biggie and let him know. That's the professional thing to do. I'm glad they made the right decision tho. 

That would be Darren Cameron's job not Kyle Walters, you know the Senior Director of Public & Player Relations who hates being the bearer of bad news.  To quote action hero the Tick, "the man is incapable".

[TBURGESS]

27 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

That would be Darren Cameron's job not Kyle Walters, you know the Senior Director of Public & Player Relations who hates being the bearer of bad news.  To quote action hero the Tick, "the man is incapable".

Whose job it is, isn't the issue. They, the Bombers, should have call Biggie to let him know for sure that he was no longer in their plans. 

[Rich]

I think there is an argument, that a player like Biggie should get a little better treatment on the way out.  
 

But in all honesty, isn’t this the job of and why these players have agents?   Why isn’t his agent on the phone to Walter’s to advocate for his client and push the issue.  Or does he self represent, in which case he needs to play that job. 

[Booch]

1 hour ago, Goalie said:

Here’s the difference with bighill and Thomas. Bighill has been injured 2 years in a row, Thomas has not been hurt in 7 seasons. Theres the difference.  Do I think Thomas should be back? No I don’t. But the one thing he is, is healthy. Bighill is not. I’m assuming also but wouldn’t shock me if Thomas took a pay cut and Bighill was unwilling to do that. Based on the quotes I’d sounds like Bighill is unwilling to accept reality. 2 years in a row he got hurt. 

pretty easy to stay injury free when you arent involved in much of the action...and cant run to pul any muscles and are just kind of....i dunno how to even phrase it....just "out there"

 

1 hour ago, Mike said:

I don’t love JT as a front line contributor but I think people dismissing him as reliable depth are off the mark. It needs to be that role for him, though.

we have 3 other canadian DT'S...all younger....all with upside....we dont need a 4rh who really offers nothing other than this excessive depth

[17to85]

I believe Jake himself has said "you can't pull fat"

[JuranBoldenRules]

2 hours ago, Mike said:

Let’s just be honest here - do the Bombers handle everything perfectly? No, definitely not. When the players all consistently talk about how well they’re treated and how well their families are treated and how much they want to stay, do I think a few (all past their prime, which is a huge point in all of this) players who say their feelings got hurt has more to do with their unwillingness to accept reality than it does with the Bombers holding their hand gently through the process?

Yes, yes I do 

Maybe he'd rather have Ed Hervey at a podium telling everyone why he sucks and isn't worth his game cheque.

There's no real way to handle these situations and I'm not sure why a professional would expect or want a team to close a door on them.

Maybe the Bombers have a couple free agent targets on D and if they don't sign them they'd circle back on Bighill.  They have no obligation to publicize their off-season strategy to make Bighill feel comfy.

[rebusrankin]

2 hours ago, Goalie said:

Yes. He can’t be starting. Getting more reps than guys better than him. As a rotational piece he’s ok. 

What does that look like, 15-20 reps? For that I'd argue you're better off using Schemekel, Sampson or a new draftee.

[Noeller]

For those screaming and crying about unfair practices ("...***** ***** *****...")

Here's the timeline from Our Man Tait:

"And just to be clear as to how this unfolded from a club perspective, head coach Mike O’Shea told Bighill in early December he would not be receiving a new contract offer from the club. Bighill represents himself and GM Kyle Walters said they spoke not long after the player’s meeting with O’Shea to confirm the news."

[wbbfan]

2 hours ago, TBURGESS said:

Whose job it is, isn't the issue. They, the Bombers, should have call Biggie to let him know for sure that he was no longer in their plans. 

Where we are now, it could've and should've been handled better and classier. I don't buy that he didn't know, but we should've lead with a formal public thank you to biggie for all he has done here. I suspect we will do that here soon, but it is too late for that now. 

It is our MO to draw these things out, and wait for players to go out bitter. I don't think guys who have failed to take the hint and realize they are cooked get a lot of process on their exit like this. I don't think we've done wrong, but we haven't done things the right way either. We have done this the mafia way though. 

5 minutes ago, Noeller said:

For those screaming and crying about unfair practices ("...***** ***** *****...")

Here's the timeline from Our Man Tait:

"And just to be clear as to how this unfolded from a club perspective, head coach Mike O’Shea told Bighill in early December he would not be receiving a new contract offer from the club. Bighill represents himself and GM Kyle Walters said they spoke not long after the player’s meeting with O’Shea to confirm the news."

Exactly what I'd expect. From the team to him, we don't need to do more than that. We should lead publicly though thanking him for what he did and give him the choice to retire a bomber before free agency starts. (that might be why he wasn't released early)

[Noeller]

He was released in December... That's plenty early to me. The only thing you could POSSIBLY say against the Bombers here is that they didn't do a big public hurrah in December... But maybe Bighill didn't want that? Who's to say... But they talked to him shortly after the season ended and told him he wouldn't be back. 

[Booch]

His exit interview...discussion on rehab and when he be ready...which won't be to start yr...he knew he was not in plans...and I sure other teams knew as well...

Much ado about nothing tho...that's how she goes

He served us well while he was prime and healthy..and was a big paer of the suceas...and was a positive influence in room and to the young guys...and we thank him for that. 

But the beat goes on and it happens to every player...next up

[17to85]

Yep Bighill was a HUGE part of this team getting over the hump... but now he's over the hill and everyone needs to move on. Father time is undefeated.

[Goalie]

3 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

What does that look like, 15-20 reps? For that I'd argue you're better off using Schemekel, Sampson or a new draftee.

I don’t disagree. But he’s gonna be on the team again so probably need to unfortunately accept it. We all know he’s gonna be starting. Lawson off a acl or whatever he had isn’t gonna be the guy he was, I just think we all need to just accept Jake is on the roster cuz unless he’s hurt (hasn’t been in 7 years) he will be rostered. 

[Booch]

I don't believe Lawson was an acl..and even so...young guys now come back from that no worse for wear...and a lot of times in better condition...he's had the whole season...and now off-season to rehab and train..i sure he will be his dominant self

And TC is for evaluating and assessing and picking your best players...if 3 other guys show better...and also are younger..  cheaper and have potential, in what sane world would u cut or PR one for a aged...declining player...answer me that

[WinnipegGordo]

Should the Bombers release Bighill from his contract now?

It would give them an opportunity to publicly thank Biggie and would be a nice jester to allow him to start talking to other teams.

 

[Booch]

He doesn't have one at end of 2024 season...so no need 

[WBBFanWest]

For those of you who are suggesting that Bombers could have handled things better, remember where your information is coming from.  Friesen loves to stir the pot and Bighill is disappointed.  So the reality may lie somewhere in the middle.

[Noeller]

Bighill was told in December that he's free to talk to other teams. 

[Goalie]

47 minutes ago, WBBFanWest said:

For those of you who are suggesting that Bombers could have handled things better, remember where your information is coming from.  Friesen loves to stir the pot and Bighill is disappointed.  So the reality may lie somewhere in the middle.

This can’t be understated. By the sounds of things Bighill was told basically in the exit interviews he wouldn’t be back. It’s February in a week. I don’t like fishing with Paul cuz I prefer picking a spot and he likes trolling. 

Edited yesterday at 12:26 AM by Goalie

[wbbfan]

48 minutes ago, Goalie said:

This can’t be understated. By the sounds of things Bighill was told basically in the exit interviews he wouldn’t be back. It’s February in a week. I don’t like fishing with Paul cuz I prefer picking a spot and he likes trolling. 

that’s all true. I don’t think we did any thing wrong by any means. You can always do better though, and I think you we’ve missed opportunities to make these kinds of moves better in the past. For the team, the player and the fans. 
 I don’t expect any thing to change, but this whole thing smacks of would’ve happened no matter what.