OT: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2023 Season - Another terrible disappointment. NEXT: Tough Decisions on How to Rebuild.

[bustamente]

I'm guessing 450-475k for the two years.

There was talk that he was going to come back but I thought that the price would be way to steep, looks like a very fair contract if we get him in your range

 

[bustamente]

Hope your not just going on my guessing lol. For all I Know it could be 600k over two years haha. But I doubt it.

Well if we get him for what you guessed that would be great, even adding another 25k on top of that would be fine with me, if Schoen comes back and with Demski and Woli signed we got the makings of a scary receiving core.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Well if we get him for what you guessed that would be great, even adding another 25k on top of that would be fine with me, if Schoen comes back and with Demski and Woli signed we got the makings of a scary receiving core.

Agudosi, Grant and BOLO for some extra weapons as well. It's looking solid.

 

[The Blue Baron]

I'm guessing 450-475k for the two years.

Wow crazy LIKE here! Bailey likely gone but I rather have Lawler. I pray Schoen returns. If so we are pretty loaded there.

 

[Truenorthducky]

Wow crazy LIKE here! Bailey likely gone but I rather have Lawler. I pray Schoen returns. If so we are pretty loaded there.

Having Lawler and schoen on the same team is pretty crazy. I’m sure he’ll get a raise but he was on a rookie contract for the last year and this one of back.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

Montreal is being gutted.
QB Trevor Harris -> Rumour has it he's already signed in Sask (can't sign officially until Feb 14)
WR Geno Lewis -> Has made it clear he is not returning
WR Jake Weineke -> Already announced he's signing in Sask Feb 14
Other names that remain unsigned
HB/SLB Adarius Pickett, CB Mike Jones, WR Reggie White Jr, WR Hergy Mayala, RB Walter Fletcher, S/ST Kerfalla Exume, DL Thomas Costigan, LB Micah Awe

These are big big names for Montreal. They are losing pretty much their entire starting WR corps, much of their secondary and a bunch of depth. Cause ownership is a mess. I kinda feel bad for them but then I remember 20 years of Calvillo and Cahoon and screw them

There are real concerns the team could fold prior to the season. Whispers right now, but that could change to a full-blown roar. CFL teams will likely not bail them out again.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

Thrilled to have Lawler back. Good chance no one signs Schoen in the NFL so we would have a 1-2-3 punch of Lawler, Schoen, and Demski with Wolitarsky and agudosi as 4-5. It would be the best receiving core in the CFL.

 

[snowkiddin]

I'm guessing 450-475k for the two years.

The rich get richer.

The Bombers offence is going to be stupid next year, especially if Schoen returns. Seven more days to wait to find out what happens there.

Bombers on a revenge tour next year.

Next up, let’s get a good DT.

 

[bustamente]

There are real concerns the team could fold prior to the season. Whispers right now, but that could change to a full-blown roar. CFL teams will likely not bail them out again.

Short term the league will have to prop up the team until the ownership rights itself

 

[blueandgoldguy]

Short term the league will have to prop up the team until the ownership rights itself

I don't think they will. Not after all the financial devastation COVID wrought during the 2020 season. All teams lost a lot of money that year. A team like the Elks have not recovered either with terrible crowds and a significant decline in revenues from 4- 5 years ago.

 

[bustamente]

I don't think they will. Not after all the financial devastation COVID wrought during the 2020 season. All teams lost a lot of money that year. A team like the Elks have not recovered either with terrible crowds and a significant decline in revenues from 4- 5 years ago.

Losing the Als at this point would do more harm that good to the league that does well on tv but doesn't necessarily translate to people going to games. TSN would not be happy losing the Quebec market and they pay a lot of money for the rights so the league might have to find a way to prop up the team in the short term to keep them happy

 

[The Blue Baron]

The rich get richer.

The Bombers offence is going to be stupid next year, especially if Schoen returns. Seven more days to wait to find out what happens there.

Bombers on a revenge tour next year.

Next up, let’s get a good DT.

Agreed a real game changer push up the middle could really push this team over the edge with amazing talent in all areas!

 

[snowkiddin]

Agreed a real game changer push up the middle could really push this team over the edge with amazing talent in all areas!

Well … all areas except kicker

 

[blueandgoldguy]

Well … all areas except kicker

Yes, we need to bring in some legit competition there!

 

[Holden Caulfield]

There are real concerns the team could fold prior to the season. Whispers right now, but that could change to a full-blown roar. CFL teams will likely not bail them out again.

I consider this to be so unlikely as to be near impossible. Before folding they'd just dump it off on the crazy pants minority owner, who still owns 25% but was frustrated with the estate who holds 75%. If the estate tries to fold CFL will just forfeit their shares and give that crazy guy the team, which he clearly loves just he wanted 100% control. For better or worse, they'd play this year.

 

[bustamente]

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Woaha. There's Coutures and Ellingsons money gone just like that. Doubt Bombers make many more moves now. Maybe a depth guy or two.

 

[snowkiddin]

Woaha. There's Coutures and Ellingsons money gone just like that. Doubt Bombers make many more moves now. Maybe a depth guy or two.

Not sure how much money Maston and Taylor made but I wonder if their salary isn’t just shifted towards a veteran DL man.

Bailey is almost certainly out now; Agodusi will save us money and can be WR4.

 

[bustamente]

Woaha. There's Coutures and Ellingsons money gone just like that. Doubt Bombers make many more moves now. Maybe a depth guy or two.

I can live with the first year and yes the cap will go up in his second year, but 300k is a lot of cake. Oh well give me a few more Grey Cups and i'll get over it.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Not sure how much money Maston and Taylor made but I wonder if their salary isn’t just shifted towards a veteran DL man.

Bailey is almost certainly out now; Agodusi will save us money and can be WR4.

Winston Rose was highest paid DB in the league last year at 135k. Maston and Taylor roster replacements will essentially eat up any cap room from them (league min is ~75k, doubt either were over 100k last year). Bailey as well likely not much cap advantage even replacing him with a guy like Agudosi. Burnham was 160k, can't see Bailey being above 125k last year.

Couture -> Kolankowski = +~100k
Ellingson -> Lawler = -100k
Bailey -> Agudosi/Rookie = +~50k
Collaros -> Collaros = -50K
Etc

I obviously don't know all the numbers. But I have my doubts the Bombers have much play room left now. They won't be looking at top end guys, IMO. Would really like another pass rusher though, Bombers were most effective when they could play games with DL having guys like Roh, Kongbo, and Hansen to rotate through. I really think that was missing late last year.

 

[snowkiddin]

Winston Rose was highest paid DB in the league last year at 135k. Maston and Taylor roster replacements will essentially eat up any cap room from them (league min is ~75k, doubt either were over 100k last year). Bailey as well likely not much cap advantage even replacing him with a guy like Agudosi. Burnham was 160k, can't see Bailey being above 125k last year.

Couture -> Kolankowski = +~100k
Ellingson -> Lawler = -100k
Bailey -> Agudosi/Rookie = +~50k
Collaros -> Collaros = -50K
Etc

I obviously don't know all the numbers. But I have my doubts the Bombers have much play room left now. They won't be looking at top end guys, IMO. Would really like another pass rusher though, Bombers were most effective when they could play games with DL having guys like Roh, Kongo, and Hansen to rotate through. I really think that was missing late last year.

Especially when Jeffcoat was banged up. If he isn’t hurt in the Grey Cup, I doubt Chad Kelly runs for 30 yards or whatever it was on 2nd and long.

[Expletive] that loss still makes me so mad. We really gave that one away to a team that didn’t even deserve to win. I won’t be heading to the Grey Cup this year, unfortunately, but I’m hoping (obviously) that I enjoy watching them win again from the comfort of my own home.

 

[Huffer]

I love the receiving core, and especially love it if Schoen returns. When I heard we were possibly bringing Lawler back, my only question is how that affects filling out other key positions.

I trust Walters and Co because they have done an amazing job, but I was hoping they would also have some $ to improve the D line and LB's.

We've brought back a lot of the core of the last few years which costs a lot, so maybe they can uncover a gem in the U.S for the D line of LB that will come in relatively cheap.

 

[Jeffrey Pedler]

Maruo will be back, IMO. Maruo is a quality STer, all you really need out of Global. Still fairly young. Clearly loves the game as he went to Japan after Grey Cup and played for a bit with a Japanese team, winning the championship. Gotta admire that work ethic, even starting seeing the field on occasion at LB when it was obvious passing situations (I think they like his pass coverage as an LB).

Agree on Sayles, Adams, Taylor, Maston.

Briggs is fairly quality Canadian STer and backup LB, but might get a real good offer from a team with a starting Canadian LB, such as Calgary), with Gauthier and hopefully Maruo no huge loss.

I have this feeling Bailey won't be back. He was a solid last year, but the expectation was, IMO, that he'd step into a starring role as the #1. That never materialized as Ellingson then Schoen just took over targets. Even a guy like Agudosi stepped into the lineup and almost immediately starting seeing more targets than him. He's a solid #2, excellent #3 and adds alot in intangibles such as blocking, but I think he'll want more of a chance to breakout somewhere.

Then again I was recently very wrong on Grant (thought he'd wait until May again to re-sign) and Darby (thought he'd test FA again) so what do I know? Haha.

By my count let's say it goes how we think here I think they'll be a few dollars in FA and we target.
1. #1/2 WR
2. Starting DT
3. Starting DB (preferably versatile HB/CB type, if not certainly HB)
4. Depth WR
5. Depth DE, preferably Canadian

Rookies and journeymen will obviously also be brought in for pushing everyone. They'll probably target DL and LB/ST guys in draft as well. It's a very deep DL class.

I agree with you on the Dline class in the draft. You have two DTs from Mount Allison. Martin is a three technique, while the other is more of a one technique/nose tackle. Thomas came from the AUS, maybe dip back into the well. If Robinson didn't have NFL buzz, I would say take him.

 

[FlyerNutter]

Liegghio back in any fashion is a mistake.

Willingly pissing points away.

 

[TS Quint]

$300K?! Sounds like a two year contract to me.