TrueBlue4ever

I would argue Charles Roberts and Barry Sanders were better “little man” backs. 26 is surprisingly a weak number. Other than Herron, no real “big” names, and of all the players who exclusively wore this number, only one lasted more than three seasons with the club.

And in a shocking turn of events, the white offender was arrested alive.

I agree. I wonder if he misspoke. It actually reduces the number of Canadians league-wide by one per team since the American counts as a National on the roster. I wonder if the league tweaks this to allow for an American to be a starter under the “Nationalized American” rule, but keeps the roster numbers as 21 Nationals and the Nationalizes American DOES NOT count among that 21.

Guess we should put these here as well.

Here are some of the details of the league offer per 3Down. Italics are the deal parameters, underlined comments in brackets are mine: Here are the details: • $18.9 million in total guaranteed increases to the salary cap league-wide. (This equates to a one-time salary cap increase of $420,000 in year one and no other increase, or no increase until year 7 then a $2.1 million cap increase, or an $75,000 increase every year, or some other computation) • $5.94 million in guaranteed compensation paid for community outreach and promotional appearances league-wide. • An opportunity for twenty-five percent of all revenue growth over an agreed upon the threshold, to be added to the salary cap starting in 2023. • Clubs would be permitted to re-sign their veterans to partially guaranteed contracts, a first for the CFL. • A club would be allowed to choose one American player (non-quarterback), who has been in the league for at least four years or has played with the same team for at least three years, who would be considered a Nationalized American. • This one Nationalized American would count as a National on the roster. He would join 20 or 21 Canadians who also count as Nationals on the roster. • Each roster would have a minimum of seven National starters. This would include at least six Canadian players. The seventh starter could be either the Nationalized American or an additional Canadian. • The roster would also include three quarterbacks of any nationality, 19 Americans and up to two Global players. • A starting Canadian quarterback would count as a National (Canadian). • These roster changes would kick in as of 2023. • The minimum salary would increase to $70,000 in 2023 and $75,000 in 2027. • An updated Code of Conduct that applies to all members of the CFL Community, including fans, instead of just players. (Way to go, Speedflex. You pissed off the big dog and now Ambrosie is coming for us all!) 🤣 • A seat for your union on the Board of CFL Ventures, the commercial arm of the league, will allow us to work together on marketing our league and building our business.

CBA negotiations always have a PR component. Why do you think the CFLPA has been leaking things up to this point?

In fact he had 3 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons and fell just shy of a fourth with the Bombers. All-time, only Charles Roberts, Leo Lewis, and Willard Reaves have more career rushing yards as a Bomber than him (Andrew Harris is 6th on the list for those wondering).

Great choices Speed. 27 is a popular number, with notable running backs Johnny Augustine and Robert Mimbs, DB Kelly “Mr. Sharpie” Malveaux, and no less than 6 Blue Bomber Hall of Fame members. The 3 above plus 1930’s-era guard Bill Nairn, 1970’s-era RB Jim Washington, and today’s choice for me who stands above all of them. Revolutionized the game and had a stadium erected because of him. Pretty good legacy.

Loved the nickname “Dr. Death”. Also James “Quick” Parker, Brian “Howdy Doody” Kelly and Billy “White Shoes” Johnson were other 70’s stars.

Bravo, all correct. So “The Hammer” was the nickname of Trevor Kennerd. And “Lambo” is a bit of a chart, but when Sean Millington got brought in by Jeff Reinbold, he was a physical specimen and many commented on his chiseled physique. He commented that diet was a big deal, saying “you want to put premium fuel in the Lamborghini”. When it turned out the muscles were all for show and he was surprisingly weak on contact, especially as the weather got colder, some media wag mentioned that Reinbold brought in a Lamborghini when a Jeep would have been better - rugged, reliable, and able to withstand Manitoba weather, and also more more affordable. Millington actually had a nice resurrection in BC and helped them win the 2000 Grey Cup.

I’ll let people try and guess and post later today with any ones that can’t be figured out. “Fun and Games Friday” 😁 Hint: all those nicknames are from 1980 and beyond.

Just a few others from my time: The Birmingham Rifle The Sheriff of Linden Woods Bluto Wild SWAC Turtle Man Flight 87 The Hammer The Glass Quarterback The Mayor of Swaggerville Chuck Diesel Lambo (or Lamborghini) Money Matty Ice Mini Milt The Hit Man

Did he look wirey?

6 has since been re-activated. With Walby being the first person ever on the Ring of Honour, and Stegall quite possibly the most talented Bomber ever, those other two numbers may stay unworn for a long time.

Per Ed Tait when he did a deep dive into all the numbers worn by players: https://www.bluebombers.com/blue-by-the-numbers/ The Bombers haven’t formally retired numbers, but the following are officially no longer available to players: 11 – Worn by hall of famer Ken Ploen, the face of this franchise during his playing days from 1957-67 and later into his retirement. Ploen also wore 89, as did many players of that era who played both sides of the ball. 28 – Jeff Nicklin was a decorated Bomber from 1934-40 before becoming a decorated soldier in World War II, passing away on the battlefield in 1945. The winner of the Most Outstanding Player Award in the West Division is annually presented with the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy. 75 – As a tribute to Tommy Lumsden, who played end, defensive end, tackle and guard for the Bombers from 1951-54 but passed away at the age of 25 in a Winnipeg hospital while suffering a gall bladder attack near Beausejour. The Tommy Lumsden Trophy is presented annually to the Bombers’ top Canadian player.

The reason no one will wear today’s number again. The second of three retired numbers in honour of this legend.

Ok, maybe I should not have said “big” but it is about a 30% overpay IMO. He is almost the same as Brandon Tanev, who many thought was not worth the 3.5 million the Pens paid for the same production. Maybe that $750,000 is the difference between keeping or losing Copp, and Lowry is no better than a 3rd line checker right now. $5 million would be absolutely ridiculous. I can’t think of anyone who would think that’s a good contract. Yes, in Columbus he was benched for coasting on shifts and demanded a trade in-season.

I am all for the Montreal Canadiens approach where the players vote at the start of the year for their captain. As for Lowry, he’d be OK but he was a big overpay last year given his barely 20 point season. Given his average points per year, his contract should be around $2.5 million per year, not $3.25 million. And although Dubois stepped up, let’s not forget just yet that he sulked his way out of Columbus only two seasons ago. Scheifele may have checked out but he still put up points this past year, whereas Dubois flat out quit on his coach and his team. And if the rumours of an off-ice incident that split the locker room are true, then the culture problem goes beyond Wheeler and Scheifele and extends to the whole room if that kind of thing tore them apart.

Borden Walter “Bud” Korchak was known as “The Golden Toe” and “The Ukrainian Gazelle”.

He also had a career 18.2 yard average per reception (to put that in perspective, of the other Bomber RB greats Roberts was 9.2, Harris 9.1, Reaves 10.6, and greatest receiver ever Stegall 17.7) and on kick returns had a 29.1 yard average (3rd best all-time in the CFL), topping 32 yards per return in 3 separate seasons.

Jack Jacobs was with the Bombers for 5 seasons and is on the ring. So that is the precedent for minimum service with the club for now. Bighill is in year 4 this season (5 if you count 2020 where he did not play but was under contract) Willie J going into year 3 (4 including COVID year). Although Bighill is only one of 2 Bombers to win DMOP twice with the team and only one of 6 CFLers ever to win it 3 times overall, I think he is a ways away and not a guaranteed honouree given who is still not up there.Bryant yes and likely the first of this current group, Willie J needs a few more years, Harris is possible but not before Roberts, and maybe not before Willard Reaves, who may himself not get up there. Reaves also was here 5 years.

But where will they find someone to play the drummer?