2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[rebusrankin]

5 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I’m pretty sure he just heard that and is writing it down. 

Good thing I had it trademarked.

[Mark H.]

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

Bombers should draft all of rourke, tachinsky, Desjardins, elgersma, Sénécal, hall and rooker. 
 That way we can corner the market on Canadian qb prospects and bend the league to our will. Or atleast make the national media and suitor say good things about us and our players. 

That would cause the return of Rod Black.

[BigBlue]

3 down nation

Aur

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed American offensive lineman Matt Kickel and American receiver Reggie Brown.

Kickel was named the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2024 as part of a decorated collegiate career at Aurora University, a Division III program located in Illinois. The three-time All-Conference selection played 34 games over four seasons with the Spartans after walking on at Arizona State in 2020. The six-foot-four, 315-pound native of Bolingbrook, Ill. spent time at guard and tackle.

Brown played collegiately at James Madison University where he caught 93 passes for 1,686 yards and 16 touchdowns. The six-foot-one, 195-pound native of Lakeland, Fla. had a brief stint with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2024.

[GCn20]

16 hours ago, Noeller said:

I'm 45 and just starting to get over similar trauma. Ha ha. 

As for the financials, I'm just filled with so much pride. I ******* love this organization so ******* much... I'm so proud to be a STH.... Jacked to get back to the barn this summer.

I'm not gonna call it trauma because my Dad was an awesome guy, it was the 70's and that's how it was done in my little redneck town I was raised. No regrets...I wouldn't repeat that now but in the big scheme of things it didn't mess me, or my childhood friends from similar upbringings, up too much...lol. 

14 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

That is awesome. We all know these financial ups & downs are cyclical. The question is how long can the team continue to make $$$ before the downturn inevitably comes.

Well, can't control the downturns a lot of the time. However, having these kind of numbers in a time that a lot of people are counting pennies due to inflation is very encouraging. Just keep winning, or at least be contending, and it looks like the Bombers should be just fine.

[JuranBoldenRules]

11 hours ago, Mark H. said:

That would cause the return of Rod Black.

Going to be hard to know who's who when every team's QB is "Air Canada."

[Booch]

Miller was the most important part and the key driver on turning what was a former embarrassing mess around...bar none...and doesnt get the credit he deserves on the culture and how we do business....from ball boy to Prez...

It all comes from his original blue print and whom and what he put in place to get it done. Easily was the most significant and franchise changing hire...probably ever

[Stickem]

2 hours ago, Booch said:

Miller was the most important part and the key driver on turning what was a former embarrassing mess around...bar none...and doesnt get the credit he deserves on the culture and how we do business....from ball boy to Prez...

It all comes from his original blue print and whom and what he put in place to get it done. Easily was the most significant and franchise changing hire...probably ever

Yeah.....I remember quite well when the hire was made a lot of the comments were negative....things like 'the guy is just a juice salesman looking for a place to sell his product'.....Wellll that juice salesman worked some great wonders for this franchise....He's proving to be one 'helluva' gm

[Mark H.]

3 hours ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

Going to be hard to know who's who when every team's QB is "Air Canada."

Roaring Rourke

Fiery Ford

[SpeedFlex27]

6 hours ago, Stickem said:

Yeah.....I remember quite well when the hire was made a lot of the comments were negative....things like 'the guy is just a juice salesman looking for a place to sell his product'.....Wellll that juice salesman worked some great wonders for this franchise....He's proving to be one 'helluva' gm

Miller is Team President. Walters is GM.

[SpeedFlex27]

Remember how bad things were with Team President Garth Buchko, GM Joe Mack & HC Tim Burke? I don't think in 2014 when Miller, Walters & Osh were hired replacing those Three Stooges did we think in our wildest dreams we'd be where we're at financially as an organization. I just hope that we can maintain things for a few years yet.

Remember the RedBlacks Expansion Draft? Ottawa GM Marcel Desjardins decided not to pick any Blue Bombers in the last round. He & his Asst GM guffawed at our roster & laughed & then mocked our team on TSN & passing on picking anyone. Both publicly shamed our team saaying on the broadcast that there wwasn't one player left on our 2013 roster that could help the RedBlacks. Desjardins really seemed to be enjoying himself at the expense of the Bombers. 

I was furious. It's okay for us (Bomber fanbase) to be upset with our team & we'll fight among us here but the hell I'll let fans from other teams make fun of us. Let alone an entitled & smirking  now former CFL GM. I'll never forget that as a fan. Even today, when we beat the RedBlacks, the victory gives me a bit more energy than usual. An extra jump in my step. Next to the Riders, the RedBlacks are the team I hate.

Edited Friday at 07:42 AM by SpeedFlex27

[HardCoreBlue]

23 hours ago, Mark H. said:

Roaring Rourke

Fiery Ford

FAFO Ford?

[Stickem]

19 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Miller is Team President. Walters is GM.

Correct......had a senior moment....apologies to Wade

[SpeedFlex27]

17 minutes ago, Stickem said:

Correct......had a senior moment....apologies to Wade

I have more than my share as well. 

[greenrider55]

Who was the bald coach of the Bombers way back in the day… kind of a funny fella

[Mark H.]

1 hour ago, greenrider55 said:

Who was the bald coach of the Bombers way back in the day… kind of a funny fella

That...is real specific...

[wbbfan]

40 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

That...is real specific...

Right? Could be Ritchie or just about any other hc in bomber history. Idr the last time I looked at a football coach and thought, “damn that guy has great hair!”

[Rich]

[wbbfan]

42 minutes ago, Rich said:

Ooof nothing funny bout that creep ass loser 

[SpeedFlex27]

6 hours ago, greenrider55 said:

Who was the bald coach of the Bombers way back in the day… kind of a funny fella

Bud Riley was probably one of the baldest head coaches we've ever had  But he wasn't funny. He was always kind of sour. The exact opposite of his son Mike who would also become Bomber Head Coach in 1987. Bud didn't trust very many people while Mike was a warm & friendly man who won people over easily.

Bud Riley had a running feud for years with Jack Matheson during his time as Bomber HC from 1974-77. Especially after Matheson wrote a story in the Winnipeg Tribune when Riley was a rookie HC saying veteran qb Don Jonas wasn't very happy with him. Jonas was also critical of GM Earl Lunsford poking his nose into the qb room then criticizing Jonas publicly for poor decisions throwing the ball. It ultimately led to the Jonas trade to Hamilton for Chuck Ealey. 

Edited Saturday at 06:50 AM by SpeedFlex27

[greenrider55]

5 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Right? Could be Ritchie or just about any other hc in bomber history. Idr the last time I looked at a football coach and thought, “damn that guy has great hair!”

It was Mike Kelly!

Cannot deny Matt LaFleur’s locks.

4 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Ooof nothing funny bout that creep ass loser 

Oof, I didn’t know this was a thing at all, I just remember he gave very odd interviews.

[Rich]

8 hours ago, greenrider55 said:

It was Mike Kelly!

Cannot deny Matt LaFleur’s locks.

Oof, I didn’t know this was a thing at all, I just remember he gave very odd interviews.

Read this article for a good summary on why he is not a good memory for most here.  

Was a disaster as a head coach.  
 

https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/sports/blue-bomber-players-say-coachs-departure-was-just-another-bizarre-twist-7014352

[Stickem]

14 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Ooof nothing funny bout that creep ass loser 

'Everything being handled internally'.....was this guys mantra...I lost a lot of respect for him after h started dumping on Knuckles....He seemed he was always in fear of being exposed....The mug shot says it all

Edited Saturday at 05:26 PM by Stickem

[Booch]

Easley lacked the hair too

[kelownabomberfan]

6 hours ago, Stickem said:

'Everything being handled internally'.....was this guys mantra...I lost a lot of respect for him after h started dumping on Knuckles....He seemed he was always in fear of being exposed....The mug shot says it all

But we will always have "non-issue, it was handled internally"...

[JuranBoldenRules]

Was thinking this morning...Keanu Yazbeck would be a great pick for us in the 2nd or 3rd round.  A guy who legitimately could spell Brady and be a difference maker.  Very similar style, a little more twitchy, a little less brute force but very similar.  Would be nice to have a critical mass of guys in the backfield to keep them all up for 18 games + playoffs.

I think we could easily walk away from this draft with a couple playmakers on O who are good ones from Day 1.  There's a crapload of receivers.  Guys who would be 1st-2nd rounders in most drafts will probably be around in the 4th round, and that's discounting the obvious NFL guys.