2024/2025 CFL (non-Bomber) Off-Season Thread

[wbbfan]

34 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

see my avatar

imo he comes off as a guy who is likeable as long as things are going his way (win or lose). Once it's not about him...or if it's about what he's not doing well the shine comes off.

Bryant isn’t that guy. That was sheed and hardrick. Haven’t seen or heard of any one filling those spots. 
 

 

[Bigblue204]

19 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Bryant isn’t that guy. That was sheed and hardrick. Haven’t seen or heard of any one filling those spots. 
 

 

When 66 says something. They listen. I believe sheed wanted to be that guy. 

[Fatty Liver]

45 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Bryant isn’t that guy. That was sheed and hardrick. Haven’t seen or heard of any one filling those spots. 
 

 

Zach said awhile back Neufeld is the player that does the most talking behind closed doors.  Apparently Stanley doesn't ever say much.

[Stickem]

1 hour ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

I agree that with all the changes how can we say FIFO is still alive & well? We have no clue. This off season sure reminds of the end of the Bud Grant era which is kinda scary in itself. Once the vets started retiring en masse & Grant himself left, the team was just a shell of what it was. In 1966 & 67, a lot of the core of those 4 Grey Cup championship teams were still here. But they were getting old & their play on the decline. Grant's championship teams had a FIFO attitude as well led by guys like Grant, Ken Ploen, Frank Rigney & Herb Gray. But the one thing present then & now is time. You can't beat time as it's relentless. It never stops. FIFO was all gone by the start of 1968 on a team filled with rookies & second year players who never won anything. 

You're right and I was also a fan who witnessed that inglorious end....What followed wasn't pretty ....Other clubs also got a helluva lot better, after picking up players like **** Thornton off of our roster ...so the inevitable happened....Could/would the same thing repeat itself for todays club.....I guess if you believe in 'history repeats itself' , that it's possible....I just hope to hell it doesn't occur in 25'...when it's a Cup game in our backyard....

[Noeller]

 

 

Edited December 10 by Noeller

[Fatty Liver]

43 minutes ago, Noeller said:

 

 

Interesting, O'Shea said he would welcome him back after recovery, wonder who changed their mind?

[wbbfan]

2 hours ago, Bigblue204 said:

When 66 says something. They listen. I believe sheed wanted to be that guy. 

Because he doesn’t say things often. And you need guys who keep the tone set daily. football is a grind not a once n a while thing. 
 Have you seen sheed talk to a room? He isn’t wanting to be any one. He and yoshi were the two biggest vocal leaders and tone setters. 
 Sheed talked to the whole room all the time. Yoshi talked to every player before every game.  
 You gotta have leaders like Bryant. And you also need the vocal guys. 
 

1 hour ago, Fatty Liver said:

Zach said awhile back Neufeld is the player that does the most talking behind closed doors.  Apparently Stanley doesn't ever say much.

Yeah that’s been the word out of bomber camp for a long time. 

[Mike]

11 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

Interesting, O'Shea said he would welcome him back after recovery, wonder who changed their mind?

Mason, not Anthony

[bigg jay]

15 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

Interesting, O'Shea said he would welcome him back after recovery, wonder who changed their mind?

Welcome him back to where? Hamilton?

[Mark H.]

14 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Because he doesn’t say things often. And you need guys who keep the tone set daily. football is a grind not a once n a while thing. 
 Have you seen sheed talk to a room? He isn’t wanting to be any one. He and yoshi were the two biggest vocal leaders and tone setters. 
 Sheed talked to the whole room all the time. Yoshi talked to every player before every game.  
 You gotta have leaders like Bryant. And you also need the vocal guys. 

If I had to choose, a Bryant type would be a real easy decision. 

[Tracker]

1 hour ago, Noeller said:

 

 

Well, poop.

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, Mark H. said:

If I had to choose, a Bryant type would be a real easy decision. 

That type of role isn’t chosen though. That’s exactly how it doesn’t work. 
 

 

[wpgallday1960]

1 hour ago, Tracker said:

Well, poop.

A little surprised Bennett is retiring that young.  Was kinda hoping he’d try out for the Bombers.  Maybe he has just lost the desire to play.

[SpeedFlex27]

9 hours ago, Stickem said:

You're right and I was also a fan who witnessed that inglorious end....What followed wasn't pretty ....Other clubs also got a helluva lot better, after picking up players like **** Thornton off of our roster ...so the inevitable happened....Could/would the same thing repeat itself for todays club.....I guess if you believe in 'history repeats itself' , that it's possible....I just hope to hell it doesn't occur in 25'...when it's a Cup game in our backyard....

We have a coach who won't move on from players well past their expiry date. I think O'Shea  believes that most of hi older guys have at least one more run in them left which is probably what Bud Grant thought as well in 1965 when the Bombers lost the 53rd Grey Cup. The drop off from 1966 to 68 was like jumping off a cliff. A good HC will look at his roster & get younger, faster & cheaper with players of equal or greater ability. 

[GCn20]

17 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Not all vets are leaders or culture setters. We’ve lost a ton of the biggest culture setters in the locker room. you don’t just remove the top of the list on your teams leadership and retain the same locker room culture. 
 When’s the last time a guy was interviewed post win and said some thing to the extent of, “we aim to go 1-0 each week, we will enjoy it tonight and get back to work tomorrow?” The 1-0 mantra is gone. The concept of the D having to win the games is gone, so is the we don’t give up majors in the 4th, and a bunch of other culture trends. 
 Locker room is very different, the experience and culture from the 21 and prior squads is barely hanging on roster wise. Haven’t seen any young guys step into those roles save maybe Brady who has been around a while. 

I get that, I think it’s more about how he fits with the locker room. I don’t think he does, even if the 21 and prior fifo culture is gone and replaced with what ever else. 
 

 

You don't realistically know anything about what the locker room culture is compared to 2019 or 21. None of us do. Nor do any of us know who the leaders are in that room. Your statement is 100% speculation. 

15 hours ago, Mike said:

Lol we literally have no idea man 

True...and neither does the side that says it's gone. I can only go by what the players are still saying about it. I haven't heard any player even remotely suggesting that the culture is different.

14 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Bryant isn’t that guy. That was sheed and hardrick. Haven’t seen or heard of any one filling those spots. 
 

 

You don't know that.

[GCn20]

11 hours ago, Mark H. said:

If I had to choose, a Bryant type would be a real easy decision. 

Bryant is a guy that leads by example. He may not say much apparently, but he doesn't have to. There is some kind of notion that in order to be a great leader one had to be vocal. FALSE narrative. Bryant is a locker room leader through and through. He lives FIFO, sets the example, and has the respect in the room without saying anything that other players will follow.

14 hours ago, Bigblue204 said:

When 66 says something. They listen. I believe sheed wanted to be that guy. 

66 doesn't have to say a damn word in order to lead. 

[Booch]

12 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Because he doesn’t say things often. And you need guys who keep the tone set daily. football is a grind not a once n a while thing. 
 Have you seen sheed talk to a room? He isn’t wanting to be any one. He and yoshi were the two biggest vocal leaders and tone setters. 
 Sheed talked to the whole room all the time. Yoshi talked to every player before every game.  
 You gotta have leaders like Bryant. And you also need the vocal guys. 
 

Yeah that’s been the word out of bomber camp for a long time. 

WJ...Neufeld are the vocal leaders....the round the guys up and get em locked in and psyched....I'd say Biggie too but not factoring him into 2025

Brady is becoming that, but he working to be more of what Stanley is...He's the true leader and does it by example...lets the other guys rally the troops but when he speaks...or see's a reason to......Everyone sits up and takes it in......Brady is becoming that and will be the successor

FIFO isnt a new thing, or created here...it was a mindset brought forth by some players who became Bombers and it flourished....Osh wasn't the scientist who created it, he was the benefactor to it and allowed it to evolve, but maybe a bit too much.

We will bring back the required vets to maintain our standard of the way we do things....and the way we do things also emanates from the assistant coaches and training staff......so we will be fine regardles...especially if we shift gears a bit and bring in the best guys we can find.....and actually play them and allow some to develop on the fly....we need to get our edge back and just standing pat..status quo won't get it back

44 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Bryant is a guy that leads by example. He may not say much apparently, but he doesn't have to. There is some kind of notion that in order to be a great leader one had to be vocal. FALSE narrative. Bryant is a locker room leader through and through. He lives FIFO, sets the example, and has the respect in the room without saying anything that other players will follow.

66 doesn't have to say a damn word in order to lead. 

Nope.....he's the O,G leader.....if he stands up to say something...and you dont pay attention....his lieutenants will make sure you hear about it

[JuranBoldenRules]

Ask Korey Banks about the FIFO origin story.

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, GCn20 said:

You don't realistically know anything about what the locker room culture is compared to 2019 or 21. None of us do. Nor do any of us know who the leaders are in that room. Your statement is 100% speculation. 

True...and neither does the side that says it's gone. I can only go by what the players are still saying about it. I haven't heard any player even remotely suggesting that the culture is different.

You don't know that.

It is known though. I mean we’ve seen half a dozen articles on the silent stoic type that is Bryant since 19. Have you seen him publicly even at the fan day stuff? 
 

 

https://3downnation.com/2024/12/09/bell-media-denies-report-about-tsn-being-for-sale/
 

boy I wonder what a tsn sale could mean for the cfl? 
 Would we see a long over due change in production/direction? Would they slash the budget? I feel like the cfl has to be really good margin wise for tsn. The draw is pretty strong, think average viewership was like 500k a game last year. Considering they don’t have much else that time of year that’s real good. 
 

I might not mind if they cut the pregame show and panel. Just had the sideline and color/pbp do a mini panel and mini post/pre game. 

[Stickem]

6 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

 A good HC will look at his roster & get younger, faster & cheaper with players of equal or greater ability. 

Key.........very key if you're that guy and looking at the clubs future

[bluto]

2 hours ago, Booch said:

FIFO isnt a new thing, or created here...it was a mindset brought forth by some players who became Bombers and it flourished....Osh wasn't the scientist who created it, he was the benefactor to it and allowed it to evolve, but maybe a bit too much.

O'Shea was part of the Argos D when Stubler put the FIFO sign up.

[17to85]

It's also not some new piece of brilliance, it's been around in a lot of forms for ever... it became a real popular idea for Andrew Harris so it got a lot of attention. 

[Fatty Liver]

15 hours ago, wbbfan said:

 Have you seen sheed talk to a room? He isn’t wanting to be any one. He and yoshi were the two biggest vocal leaders and tone setters. 
 Sheed talked to the whole room all the time. Yoshi talked to every player before every game.  
 You gotta have leaders like Bryant. And you also need the vocal guys. 

Sheed goes way over the top, not sure pro players appreciate his raw emotion, probably needs to find a church to preach in.

 

[HardCoreBlue]

14 hours ago, wpgallday1960 said:

A little surprised Bennett is retiring that young.  Was kinda hoping he’d try out for the Bombers.  Maybe he has just lost the desire to play.

Could be.

Could also be other career employment opportunities with longer term permanency than football offers.

Could be not wanting to put further wear and tear on the body.

Could be 'other'.

Could also be a combination of some/all of the above.

[GCn20]

2 hours ago, wbbfan said:

It is known though. I mean we’ve seen half a dozen articles on the silent stoic type that is Bryant since 19. Have you seen him publicly even at the fan day stuff? 
 

 

https://3downnation.com/2024/12/09/bell-media-denies-report-about-tsn-being-for-sale/
 

boy I wonder what a tsn sale could mean for the cfl? 
 Would we see a long over due change in production/direction? Would they slash the budget? I feel like the cfl has to be really good margin wise for tsn. The draw is pretty strong, think average viewership was like 500k a game last year. Considering they don’t have much else that time of year that’s real good. 
 

I might not mind if they cut the pregame show and panel. Just had the sideline and color/pbp do a mini panel and mini post/pre game. 

What does publically have to do with anything related to his leadership in the dressing room?

3 hours ago, Booch said:

WJ...Neufeld are the vocal leaders....the round the guys up and get em locked in and psyched....I'd say Biggie too but not factoring him into 2025

Brady is becoming that, but he working to be more of what Stanley is...He's the true leader and does it by example...lets the other guys rally the troops but when he speaks...or see's a reason to......Everyone sits up and takes it in......Brady is becoming that and will be the successor

FIFO isnt a new thing, or created here...it was a mindset brought forth by some players who became Bombers and it flourished....Osh wasn't the scientist who created it, he was the benefactor to it and allowed it to evolve, but maybe a bit too much.

We will bring back the required vets to maintain our standard of the way we do things....and the way we do things also emanates from the assistant coaches and training staff......so we will be fine regardles...especially if we shift gears a bit and bring in the best guys we can find.....and actually play them and allow some to develop on the fly....we need to get our edge back and just standing pat..status quo won't get it back

Nope.....he's the O,G leader.....if he stands up to say something...and you dont pay attention....his lieutenants will make sure you hear about it

I agree. FIFO is well entrenched and isn't slipping one iota. Young guys will need to step up, and they will as they become the veterans. It isn't a problem. We have problems...don't get me wrong...but FIFO declining isn't one of them.