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

[SpeedFlex27]

2 hours ago, Mark H. said:

Every gym teacher I know, also coaches. 

That's why they become gym teachers. they study sports movement & performance called Kinesiology.

[Fatty Liver]

16 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

That's why they become gym teachers. they study sports movement & performance called Kinesiology.

Be honest, most of em can't even spell that word.

[SpeedFlex27]

10 hours ago, Fatty Liver said:

Be honest, most of em can't even spell that word.

Don't take this the wrong way, Tracker. I'm just clarifying a few points that have always bothered me about this, "He can't play so he coaches stuff".

Some of the best coaches that exist coach high school & community sports. My AD at Centennial High School in Calgary when I worked as as an Educational Assistant there was on Canada's Olympic Volleyball Team in 1976. Also playd for a couple of years on Canada's National Volleyball team. He went to the U of Wpg & was Garth Pischke's teammate there & when they represented Canada.

The HC of the senior football team at Centennial was a star linebacker at Acadia. Tore his knee up his senior year which ended his career. He turned the football program around at our high school from a team that couldn't win a game. They had maybe 30 kids at practice on a good day playing in Division 3 ball & there wa sapathy a plenty whn it came to football. 

He transformed his sad sack senior team into one that rose to Div 1 with 65 players wanting to play within 3 years of him taking over. He had an infectious personality & was always positive even when they struggled on the field. His players loved him. Especially on defense as he was also the DC. He also convinced the entire team to get into the weight room for off season workouts where the previous coach had failed. We had a couple of excellent basketball coaches coaching the boys & girls teams who certainly raised the profile of the sport in our school. As well as soccer & rugby, too.

In community football here in Calgary, I've had the pleasure to be on the staff of coaches who were great players in their day. One in particular is a City of Calgary Police Officer who is retiring at the end of June but is still coaching into his late 60's. He won 2 Vanier Cups back to back in 1984 & 85, I believe with the U of C Dinos. From everything I heard about him, he was a tiger on the field & loved to crash & bang. He's been coaching football since the late 1990's.

One of Tyler's teammates back in high school is now the HC of the University of Regina. Another friend of his who was a qb for another HS team in Calgary is now the OC at the University of Saskatchewan. A former bantam teammate is also DC at the U of C. There others I just can't remember.

My response to the, "If you can't play then coach" BS is the people who say that are people who can't play OR coach. They'd have a hard time even managing a pee wee team. None of these guys should be made to feel like they're somehow faiures because they coach. It's just a natural progression for all of them. 

Edited Wednesday at 10:45 AM by SpeedFlex27

[Mark H.]

Thanks @SpeedFlex27. It's better coming from you.

[Fatty Liver]

NFL Canada awards youth football programs $75,000 through inaugural Forward Pass contribution

https://3downnation.com/2025/02/25/nfl-canada-awards-youth-football-programs-75000-through-inaugural-program/

Notta lotta money, can't see why the CFL can't do things like this.  $75k split 3 ways, one of the teams that received a $25k donation was the North Winnipeg Nomads Football Club.

[bluto]

Here is CFL.ca 's Way-Too-Early Power Rankings:

https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/24/the-way-too-early-amsoil-power-rankings-are-here/

 

And here is CFL.ca 's critique of its own Way-Too-Early Power Rankings:

https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/25/everything-wrong-with-the-way-too-early-amsoil-power-rankings/

 

 

[rebusrankin]

I'll add on to @SpeedFlex27 post. Many gym teachers are former USPORTS athletes, former jr hockey players etc. 

[bryan35]

10 hours ago, Fatty Liver said:

NFL Canada awards youth football programs $75,000 through inaugural Forward Pass contribution

https://3downnation.com/2025/02/25/nfl-canada-awards-youth-football-programs-75000-through-inaugural-program/

Notta lotta money, can't see why the CFL can't do things like this.  $75k split 3 ways, one of the teams that received a $25k donation was the North Winnipeg Nomads Football Club.

I believe the Bombers help out minor football. Some of the money is the proceeds of the 50/50 sales.

 

https://www.bluebombers.com/2023/08/22/blue-bombers-announce-donation-of-525-new-football-helmets/

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 05:17 PM by bryan35

[Bigblue204]

2 minutes ago, bryan35 said:

I believe the Bombers help out minor football. Some of the money is the proceeds of the 50/50 sales.

They absolutely do. My boy is currently taking part in a free blue bomber camp that started in November and runs to the end of march. Players also go out to practices throughout the year. Bombers have replaced old equipment for organizations etc etc etc. So they definitely do their part. Saying that. It's the Bombers doing it. Not the CFL....which is what I think Fatty livers point was.

[HardCoreBlue]

2 hours ago, bluto said:

Here is CFL.ca 's Way-Too-Early Power Rankings:

https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/24/the-way-too-early-amsoil-power-rankings-are-here/

 

And here is CFL.ca 's critique of its own Way-Too-Early Power Rankings:

https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/25/everything-wrong-with-the-way-too-early-amsoil-power-rankings/

 

 

These Power Rankings just in: Argos suck.

[Booch]

27 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

These Power Rankings just in: Argos suck.

the fact whoever penned that drivel made not of Cobb as being an intruiging guy brought in and had to make note of it...tells you all you need to know on how they perceive talent and impact

[17to85]

29 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

These Power Rankings just in: Argos suck.

As it is, as it was, as it ever shall be. 

Amen.

[SpeedFlex27]

8 hours ago, Bigblue204 said:

They absolutely do. My boy is currently taking part in a free blue bomber camp that started in November and runs to the end of march. Players also go out to practices throughout the year. Bombers have replaced old equipment for organizations etc etc etc. So they definitely do their part. Saying that. It's the Bombers doing it. Not the CFL....which is what I think Fatty livers point was.

Four or 5 years ago, a community football team lost all of it's equipment worth over a hundred thousand dollars when it was stolen. For spring league (15-18 yrs of age), bantam 13-14), Pee Wee (11 &12) & atoms (8-10). Helmets, shoulder pads, soft pads, bags, etc... Thieves broke into the shack where the equipment was stored outside of a community club & cleaned everything out. The organization had to take most of the blame as they didn't have anything insured (which I find unbelievable). I never heard one story about the Stamps stepping up & donating equipment & money to help the team get back on its feet. The club folded which affected over 120 kids as they had to play elsewhere. No doubt some kids quit. That's the way Murray Edwards runs the Stamps.

Meanwhile, former Stamps owners Ted Hellard & John Forzani helped fund Shouldice Park in NW Calgary when they owned the team. They helped pay for three artificial turf fields with stands & locker room facilities. Their financial contribution helped get the $10-15 million facility over the top as fund raising for that facility took years.

Edited Thursday at 01:30 AM by SpeedFlex27

[CodyT]

Anyone see Outlettes transformation?

Look guys. I'm not proud of this but in my early 20s I ran a few cycles.

I'm not even knocking the guy. Clearly that is at the very least a test/anavar run. 

Do they drug test in the winters?

[wbbfan]

5 minutes ago, CodyT said:

Anyone see Outlettes transformation?

Look guys. I'm not proud of this but in my early 20s I ran a few cycles.

I'm not even knocking the guy. Clearly that is at the very least a test/anavar run. 

Do they drug test in the winters?

For anyone who hasn't seen.

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/01/riders-rb-a-j-ouellette-reveals-25-pound-weight-loss-newly-shredded-physique/

 

I looked long and hard at it twice in my life and decided it wasn't for me. The risks were just not cutting it. I've trained and worked with a considerable number of guys who juiced. Everything from Micro doses /trt to mega doses, etc. 

With that preface, is it possible for AJO to make that cut without gear? Sure. If he's never done an extensive body reconstitution, has done minimal weights in his past, and has been a lazy eater, it could happen. Realistically, he's a 29-year-old running back. I can't imagine he hasn't been dragged through the weight room at least a few times a year for extended periods each year for the past 15 at least. Now he doesn't have the typical RB build. He's got chicken legs, especially for a 200+ lbs short RB. 

 I don't believe they test in the offseason; that would be way too hard and expensive. 

At that age, it wouldn't make sense to add a bunch of dense muscle mass as he's probably done the day he loses a step. But if he was going to reconstitute his physique, he should've focused on leg power, then leaning out. He looks like he's been trying to body build more than build for performance. 

If I were the riders/fan base, I'd be worried. This 29-year-old RB looks like he's hit a heavy cycle and cut for an amateur bodybuilding contest. When he's played 43 games over 5 seasons, 15 once under 10 3 times including more than 2/3s of last year. He's often been in a platoon and still had considerable durability issues. Guys who hit a hard cycle for the first time late in their career, reconstitute, then go into a football season are glass cannons. Riders better be ready with back up RBs. 

[HardCoreBlue]

12 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

For anyone who hasn't seen.

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/01/riders-rb-a-j-ouellette-reveals-25-pound-weight-loss-newly-shredded-physique/

 

I looked long and hard at it twice in my life and decided it wasn't for me. The risks were just not cutting it. I've trained and worked with a considerable number of guys who juiced. Everything from Micro doses /trt to mega doses, etc. 

With that preface, is it possible for AJO to make that cut without gear? Sure. If he's never done an extensive body reconstitution, has done minimal weights in his past, and has been a lazy eater, it could happen. Realistically, he's a 29-year-old running back. I can't imagine he hasn't been dragged through the weight room at least a few times a year for extended periods each year for the past 15 at least. Now he doesn't have the typical RB build. He's got chicken legs, especially for a 200+ lbs short RB. 

 I don't believe they test in the offseason; that would be way too hard and expensive. 

At that age, it wouldn't make sense to add a bunch of dense muscle mass as he's probably done the day he loses a step. But if he was going to reconstitute his physique, he should've focused on leg power, then leaning out. He looks like he's been trying to body build more than build for performance. 

If I were the riders/fan base, I'd be worried. This 29-year-old RB looks like he's hit a heavy cycle and cut for an amateur bodybuilding contest. When he's played 43 games over 5 seasons, 15 once under 10 3 times including more than 2/3s of last year. He's often been in a platoon and still had considerable durability issues. Guys who hit a hard cycle for the first time late in their career, reconstitute, then go into a football season are glass cannons. Riders better be ready with back up RBs. 

How long before his Achilles snaps like a twig, pre-season?

[wbbfan]

11 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

How long before his Achilles snaps like a twig, pre-season?

I bet he explodes into the league lead early on (with Suitor claiming him the early MOP favorite while exposing his exceptional hard work, which was in no way chemically enhanced), then blows out one of several ligaments missing at least 2/3s of the season, then goes home to do more gear while recovering. Comes into the following TC looking like a mini Trent Corney.

[Bigblue204]

If he doesn't add weight he's not going to have a good year. He's got ok burst, but he was at his best going through tackles not around them. At 200lbs....that just won't happen.

12 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I bet he explodes into the league lead early on (with Suitor claiming him the early MOP favorite while exposing his exceptional hard work, which was in no way chemically enhanced), then blows out one of several ligaments missing at least 2/3s of the season, then goes home to do more gear while recovering. Comes into the following TC looking like a mini Trent Corney.

100% Suitor has a story on his "new look" week 1. If he has any kind of success that game Suitor will be gushing over his body none stop for weeks.

Edited 7 hours ago by Bigblue204

[GCJenks]

On 2025-02-25 at 11:03 AM, 17to85 said:

Those that can do, those that can't teach.

 

Those that can't teach teach gym.

I am late to this discussion and much has been had already but I think that is an unfair assertion on PhysEd teachers. While I have never taught, I did take the required course load "back in the day". The Phys Ed (now Kinesiology) had some of the best training and highest course loads around. Here is something that might blow your mind, as a phys ed student, we had human cadavers in our Anatomy lab, the Bachelor of Nursing students that shared our building did not. All there anatomy training was on models. 

Many of my classmates at the time are now teaching phys ed but many other subjects or administration. @Mark H. and I have a mutual friend that is an award winning STEM middle school teacher that started her training as a phys ed teacher when I did mine.

The assertion that Phys Ed teachers are just dumb jocks is almost on the level as saying the Riders are a well run football team.

[17to85]

**** sakes this place has become a humourless bunch.

[GCJenks]

Sorry, it's Monday Morning...

[Fatty Liver]

2 hours ago, wbbfan said:

For anyone who hasn't seen.

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/01/riders-rb-a-j-ouellette-reveals-25-pound-weight-loss-newly-shredded-physique/

 

I looked long and hard at it twice in my life and decided it wasn't for me. The risks were just not cutting it. I've trained and worked with a considerable number of guys who juiced. Everything from Micro doses /trt to mega doses, etc. 

With that preface, is it possible for AJO to make that cut without gear? Sure. If he's never done an extensive body reconstitution, has done minimal weights in his past, and has been a lazy eater, it could happen. Realistically, he's a 29-year-old running back. I can't imagine he hasn't been dragged through the weight room at least a few times a year for extended periods each year for the past 15 at least. Now he doesn't have the typical RB build. He's got chicken legs, especially for a 200+ lbs short RB. 

 I don't believe they test in the offseason; that would be way too hard and expensive. 

At that age, it wouldn't make sense to add a bunch of dense muscle mass as he's probably done the day he loses a step. But if he was going to reconstitute his physique, he should've focused on leg power, then leaning out. He looks like he's been trying to body build more than build for performance. 

If I were the riders/fan base, I'd be worried. This 29-year-old RB looks like he's hit a heavy cycle and cut for an amateur bodybuilding contest. When he's played 43 games over 5 seasons, 15 once under 10 3 times including more than 2/3s of last year. He's often been in a platoon and still had considerable durability issues. Guys who hit a hard cycle for the first time late in their career, reconstitute, then go into a football season are glass cannons. Riders better be ready with back up RBs. 

To be fair Ouellette is a gym rat, when he was with the Argos he started the "5 AM Weight Lifting Club" and there are many videos of him on FB and IG lifting enormous weights, such as squatting 700 lbs.  Andrew Harris even chided him jokingly for focusing too much on strength and not enough on flexibility.

Edited 5 hours ago by Fatty Liver

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, Bigblue204 said:

If he doesn't add weight he's not going to have a good year. He's got ok burst, but he was at his best going through tackles not around them. At 200lbs....that just won't happen.

100% Suitor has a story on his "new look" week 1. If he has any kind of success that game Suitor will be gushing over his body none stop for weeks.

100%. Even if he struggles early suitor will be drooling over him lol

[wbbfan]

10 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

To be fair Ouellette is a gym rat, when he was with the Argos he started the "5 AM Weight Lifting Club" and there are many videos of him on FB and IG lifting enormous weights, such as squatting 700 lbs.  Andrew Harris even chided him jokingly for focusing too much on strength and not enough on flexibility.

I will say I am not a gym rat or a lunk. I never liked the weight room, and I am not the most knowledgeable in this area. Any of the far more experienced and knowledgable trainers and gym guys can feel free to judge my comments accordingly. I think weight lifting has great value in developing bodies and people who are reconstituting their physique. Otherwise, I am heavily in favor of sport-specific training and sport-related cross-training. I'd much prefer to do or coach augmented drills to increase the load of movements in applicable techniques. It's also for sure required to lift reasonably heavy to maintain a pro football level of  SnC at some positions.

I just looked that up, and that is one of the worst "bro/ego lifts" I've seen in a long, long time.  He sits down flat on a bench (it should be a touch and go or a slight pause, as it's a form reminder, not a single max rep exercise), then adjusts and struggles so hard to get his hips back under his frame. It hurts my back and my head to watch. He legitimately spends 3 to 4 seconds struggling to get his hips back under his frame. He goes from tensed to wincing. 

I respect his mental toughness to push him self that hard, and the tremendous character to set that standard and try to uphold it with his whole team. Both are top-tier qualities. Lifting like that, it's no wonder he's frequently hurt. And yeah, being a gym rat makes his massive reconstitution of his build in half an off-season, takes it from more than questionable to a no doubter. 

 

 

[HardCoreBlue]

1 hour ago, GCJenks said:

Sorry, it's Monday Morning...

If Monday had a face I think most of us would punch it.