Free agency in the Canadian Football League is all about making the big splash, or so it seems.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/19/10-sneaky-good-free-agency-signings
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/19/10-sneaky-good-free-agency-signings
The Logan signing by the Bombers is about the only progressive move they really cared to make. I suppose the age-old adage “familiarity breeds contempt…” may be tinting my windows, but I don’t see a lot spirit or inspiration in the Bomber executive or management team. A very strange development to say the least, as 2025 Grey Cup game hosts (sigh…).
4 Likes
[quote=“CougarGT, post:2, topic:96887”]
…The Logan signing by the Bombers is about the only progressive move they really cared to make. I suppose the age-old adage “familiarity breeds contempt…” may be tinting my windows, but I don’t see a lot spirit or inspiration in the Bomber executive or management team. A very strange development to say the least, as 2025 Grey Cup game hosts (sigh…).
The last dance has occured for Bombers
I have lost track of where and what has happened to Kelly. I know that he ended the season injured - did the Argos finally dump him?
No dumping reported yet . Lamps is still there .
1 Like
I dont agree with loading up for a home Grey Cup. It didnt work for Hamilton or BC recently. You only get a team of contract players. Winnipeg will be ok this season. They still have players like Collaros and Jefferson that know how to win.
1 Like
Hamilton, Winnipeg, BC exceeded 2023 salary cap; 2024 draft order unaffected - CFL.ca.
I don’t put Hamilton in that category. They only went over by just under 3k.
BC was spending a lot of money in 2023 normally and it spilled over to 2024. They’ll probably violate the cap in 2025 based on that trend.
It feels a bit like the Bombers are on the verge of a really big step backwards. Much of their success in the West these past two seasons has been due, in large part, to the absolute horrible state of the rest of the West. The Alberta teams and Saskatchewan RRs were just barely serviceable the past two-plus years. Last year, BC destroyed its team chemistry by forcing Rourke into the starting roll over a–team perspective–popular Adams. BC was never the same afterward. Assuming the former special teams coach-turned HC can do a better job in the latter position than he did in the former, Edmonton, with all the new talent, should be improved…greatly improved. Adams should help Calgary be somewhat serviceable and the Riders have proven to be better last year versus the previous few seasons. I would argue that Rourke should look a bit more like his pre-NFL self and, BC, with the defensive upgrades, an overall improved team. Meanwhile, in Winnipeg, Zach has proven more fragile and less functional than pre-2022 norms and losing Lawler and Ford among other young talent with few meaningful additions, is not going to make the team better than the past few years that ended in Grey Cup losses. The Bombs sorta-kinda proved me wrong (that Grey Cup was ugly) last year and had an exciting season but, in an improved West, I cannot see this group clawing its way out of an o-fer start and into contention as it did last year. Finally, if Zach goes down for an extended period, Streveler does not have the accuracy to prove much more value than a Tommy Stevens. The Bombers defied gravity a bit last year but I cannot see that happening again. Others might disagree and the Bomber’s track record could prove them right.
2 Likes
Love the “defied gravity” quote.
I’m not ready to write the Bombers off, AA, but I do think that the Riders & Elks have stronger teams at this point. There is still camp to come, the draft etc…
My gut feeling is that the Riders & Elks will battle it out for top spot. There are a lot of changes on the Elks but they basically brought over whole position groups who have played together. So they should get up & running quicker than you would normally expect from such a large turnover. And, to a man, almost all of them are in that sweet spot of 24-30 yrs old - in their prime or entering it.
For the Riders, they were the #1 rated D on the cfl.ca stats sheet & look like they solidified some weak spots - like QB & OL. They have a veteran squad, Mace has been through it for a season, & they look to be ready to take the next step.
For your Bombers, I don’t think they have fallen back that much, personnel wise, but other teams have caught up. IMO they will battle it out with BC for a playoff spot. Early days, so who knows.
Very good analysis IMO.
2 Likes
I’m right there with you, and wondering if I will be wrong again.
One thing I am tired of is hearing some people talk about the bombers as though this current 5 year stretch is some kind of long term history with the bombers. Pre 2018 they stunk for years. Als had a long solid stretch, Stamps did too, and so did the Riders most of 2007 - mid 2014. I am sure most bombers fans are grateful for the last 5 years, I know I would be, but they aren’t perennial top of the league performers OR top of the league in earnings. A few solid years makes the memory short.
As I have said, far too early to predict this year for any team.
I don’t think the last 5 years are any kind of long term stretch. It simply is what it is, the best sustained performance by any team in the salary cap era, which some might call a dynasty. Compare other teams in the salary cap era all you want, none have come close to 5 straight trips to the GC game.
And I do think Bomber fans are grateful for the team they have and in the medium term the Bombers didn’t always stink (although sometimes they did) although they didn’t win a Cup for 29 years, they were in a few and surely bad breaks like Kevin Glenn’s arm prevented them from winning a Cup or two during that stretch. I had season tickets for 25 of those 29 years so have endured more losing than most fans on this forum. Bomber fans should be forgiven or at least understood for being proud of thier current iteration. I get it that anyone hates seeing a dynasty continually winning, but I wouldn’t begrudge anyone cheering for or having pride in their team, especailly after a 29 year losing streak
Leaving the short term and the medium term aside, in the long term the Bombers have been very successful, having been to the most Grey Cup games and having won the third most, which would be second most if not for Toronto’s numerous unearned wins pursuant to their free geographical pass, the last one occurring in 2022.
And while the Bombers. like any other team, haven’t always had smooth financial sailing, they have historically been at or near the top of the league financially and now are country miles ahead. For many years their only challenger has been Saskatchewan despite them winning a Cup approximately only every 25 years or so and now it’s not even close. Saskatchewan is also second in attendance, which also isn’t even close. I think what I am most proud of as a Bomber fan is that our fans continued to support the team to the tune of some 25,000 fans a game during those 29 years. Today only Saskatchewan averages over 25,000 (I’m not counting BC’s inflated average total because of their free concert game) with Hamilton up next at some 22,000.
https://3downnation.com/2024/10/28/cfl-regular-season-attendance-grows-1-percent-from-2023-to-2024/
[quote=“ABC, post:10, topic:96887”]
… year stretch is some kind of long term history with the bombers. Pre 2018 they stunk for years. Als had a long solid stretch, Stamps did too, and so did the Riders most of 2007 - mid 2014. I am sure most bombers fans are grateful for the last 5 years, I know I would be, but they aren’t perennial top of the league performers OR top of the league in earnings. A few solid years makes the memory short.
You nailed it. The idea that you can’t have continued success in the FA period is nonsense.
IMMEDIATELY prior to Winnipeg’s current run of 4 straight 1st place finishes in the West, the Stampeders finished 1st 4 straight times from 2016-2018. in fact they finished 1st 5 times in 6 seasons from 2013-2018, the string only broken by being in a tiebreaker of 14 wins with Edmonton in 2015. Their record over those 6 seasons was 84-22-2. For comparison the 5 year Bomber run record is 62-24. IOW they lost MORE games than the Stamps in 22 less games played. And both teams won 2 GC’s.
The Stamps, I should add, were criticized as chokers because they didn’t win more. But they didn’t lose a record 3 straight GC’s either. AND even more impressive, the Stamps between 2013-2018 had the most wins in the LEAGUE all 6 years, sharing a tie with Edmonton in the 2015 season. The Bombers have only led the league in wins twice over their run.
IMMEDIATELY prior to the Stamp run, the Als run of 10 1st place finishes in 14 years came to a close. And of course there was the Rider Decade of Excellence which spawned a book.
You can’t rewrite history. Bomber fans who keep trying to perpetuate the myth are doing a disservice to the Bomber fans who regularly contribute thoughtful comments. I can only speak for myself but it annoys me to no end that it is disrespectful to minimize the achievements of other CFL teams in order to benefit your own club. Absolutely, Bomber fans should celebrate & be proud of what the club has done the past few years. But it’s not something that has never been done before.
1 Like
You can’t rewrite history. Bomber fans who disagree with me are doing a disservice to Bomber fans who readily agree with me.
Fixed it for you.
Then why are you on a mission to do so?
I agree with some of what youve said, most particularly that you are proud.
1 Like
This is the SECOND time you have “fixed” my comments. You have NO right to edit my comments to make it acceptable to you… What I said, I said.
Don’t do it again!!! You have a lot of nerve to take it upon yourself to edit comments of other posters on this site to make it palatable to you. Get it fixed back - now!
Take it easy. I don’t often do this but have in the past. Many others on the site do this as well. It’s just a way to provide a response and save some typing and deliver a message in a particular way. Your original post remains untouched. The only time I would touch someone’s original post is for moderating reasons, usually pursuant to a flag, not because of a disagreement on an issue.
You’re missing the point, Jon. It’s not for you to decide how to re-word my responses. As a moderator you should be held to a higher standard. I don’t need you to “deliver my message in a particular way”, Jon. It’s extremely condescending to just go & “edit” my message because you think you can “deliver it in a way more acceptable to you”.
“Bomber fans who are trying to perpetuate the myth” is completely different than “Bomber fans who disagree with me”. I have no problems with a lot of the latter." “Bomber fans who…contribute thoughtful comments” is completely different than “Bomber fans who agree with me”.
I see that you deleted your original post & that’s fine. I’m not out to make trouble for you. I will say it one more time - under no circumstances are you to act as my editor. I’m not a child & don’t like to be treated as one. If, as you say, others do it that’s not my concern.
Hogan-Saindon lost his starting job in Ottawa mid-way through the season and appeared to be in the organization’s doghouse for some reason. (No one ever figured out quite why.) Ottawa was high on him when they drafted him, so maybe a change of scenery does him good…
1 Like
Kilam is the wildcard in all this. The Elks have the talent (though not fully sold on Ford as a consistent CFL Pivot) to compete with just about anybody but from Special Teams to Head Coach is a big jump for anyone, let alone a guy fired from the former. If Kilam proves capable, there could legitimately be four teams vying for the West. Regarding my beloved Bombers: They lost some real talent, capable front office guys, and their OC. That is a lot of blood letting. Zach will be the key but he was kind of up and down last year and the downs, in my opinion, were a result of an aging arm. Why the organization seems to go out of its way to avoid finding a capable backup is baffling to me. Of the four West contenders, the Bombers feel like the outsiders looking in. In fairness, I had the same thoughts last year and was proven the fool…almost. The deficiencies showed out in the Grey Cup. Still, a fun season last year for them. Having said ALL that, the East could be pretty good this year, too. If Bo can outrun old man time for one more year, the Cats could be a nice surprise in the East.
2 Likes
A very good take. AAlex. Can’t disagree with any of it. 
1 Like