We’re more than a week removed and I’m still buzzing about Montreal’s thrilling win over Winnipeg in the 110th Grey Cup. It’s no exaggeration to call this year’s championship game an instant classic…because it was. After having watched a couple more times, I’m even more bullish on that claim.
Am I misreading something here? The Calvillo Als only won back to back GC’s once, did they not?
For all the Als followers who feel disrespected, the first “Power Rankings” is out from 3Downnation (for what it’s worth considering all the FA’s). The Als top the list. The Bombers drop to 4th. Keep in mind this is looking ahead to 2024. But you’re getting the respect right now.
I can’t watch it even ONE more time right now… it’s too soon… way too soon… 
Yes, that’s right. 2009 and 2010. Calvillo won in 2002 with Don Matthews. Then a whole string of losses (2003, 2005, 2006, 2008).
We were chuckling about that 3Downnation ranking earlier. Sure, yeah, we won the Grey Cup, so they’re forced to rank us at #1, finally. 
In any case, power rankings right now seem pointless. We have no idea what any team’s roster is going to look like in 2024. I’ll be curious to see the power rankings when teams head into training camp.
pwr ranking are pointless 365 days a year.
just meant as a conversation point I think.
Well, I wouldn’t say they’re pointless all the time. During the season, they can be an interesting way of assessing teams (as long as fans remember that they shouldn’t mirror wins and losses, because otherwise why even bother with power rankings in the first place?).
Agreed that rankings are totally pointless for next year until we know who the top 4 teams are retaining and who they are moving on from and which free agents sign where. Any of the top 4 teams could be ranked from 1-4 once that is known.
In the meantime the Als have to be #1 and the Bombers have to be #2. That’s the way they sit today. 3Down Nation took a big swing and a miss when it comes to these rankings as they are clearly wrong for today and impossible to even attempt for 2024 at this stage.
Even though the rankings are a fun fluff piece only at the best of times there should at least be an attempt at some logic behind them. Big fail here.
Yeah, I do not get ranking Toronto ahead of Winnipeg when on paper, today, we know that Kelly’s massive contract is going to kick in for 2024, which means Toronto will have substantially less cap to spend elsewhere on their roster. That alone has to factor in. Or at least it should?
I can see their reasoning if you take it at face value. BC & Toronto likely sign their priority FA’s, as do most teams. BC has only 22 to deal with, 2nd lowest to the Elks 18.
Winnipeg has some really tough decisions to make with 15 of their current starters @, or will be, 32 or older in 2024. Ten of these are starters. Collaros is already telling FA’s he wants them back. Bighill turns 36 next season & says he’s not finished. Does the Bomber’s brass have the will to turn the page or are we looking at a bunch coming back? They need to probably be looking at 6-8 new (read “younger”) starters. And @ 36 only the TiCats & Stamps have 1 more FA’s to sign.
3Downnation called it last year prior to FA - veterans are great to have until they’re not. I’m very curious to see what happens with the Bombers in FA. We’ll know a lot before February hits.
In other news, there may also be some coaching issues. Rumours have it that Milanovich (w/ Shivers as DC), Pierce (w/ Jordan Younger as DC) & Mace (w/ Mark Mueller as OC) are the candidates for the Riders’ HC. With the Broncos’ interest in Dinwiddie, Mace likely stays in TO as HC if he leaves. They’ve already signed up 4 coaches. Milanovich could be HC in Hamilton if Steinhauer steps aside but has the rep of going south if something comes up. So Pierce may be the guy though right now Milanovich is the favourite apparently. 
So I guess you’ll be ticking off the last option in the latest super duper power rankings poll that just came out:
Only sure thing is the Ticats doing whatever is necessary to strive for another 8 - 10 record.
Oh c’mon ETMRaw… you know how hard it is to ‘repeat’ in this league. 
I know, but I got a good feeling they will go for an 8-10 threepeat!
That good feeling might just be gas. On the other hand three 8-10 seasons in a row for Hamilton might start that ‘dynasty’ talk we Bomber fans have had to endure all season long.