Lions at Saskatchewan July 29, 2022

[almo89]

I'm stunned at how the Lions turned the game around. The first quarter looked like it was going to be a long night in Regina. Great comeback

[SammyGreene]

Collectively the best group of receivers we have had in a long time. Sure we have had some great ones in the last 20 years with Geroy, Clermont, Bruce, Manny and Burnham of course but top to bottom this group is loaded with speed, size and athleticism. Rhymes and Hatcher's contributions have gone to another level since the Burnham injury. Also doesn't hurt having a QB with the ability to make every throw on the field and an OC that wants to spread the ball around.

Good thing too is Hatcher recently extended and Rhymes, Whitehead and Cottoy are all on 2-year deals signed in the off-season.

[Rammer]

I’m happy to see everyone stuck around this game after the difficult start. It is always sweeter taking the game back from an arch rival like that.

Huge game that showcased our receiving corps and of course Rourke. Just look at the $300K receiver the Riders have in Williams, he dropped more passes himself than the Lions did the entire game.

TSN said that the West is three levels, Bombers and Stamps, the Lions and Riders, with the Elks trailing. Obviously the Bombers are the top team although more beatable than their record indicates, but a Stamps/Lions game is going to put the second team in with the Bombers.

This game was a growth in confidence and one that a young team can build off. Just don’t get over confident from it, as I’ve seen too many Lion teams in the past believe the press clippings from a game like this one.

Sweet sweet victory.

[Sir Purrcival]

Funny though. Of the group, the big money signing on the off season was Whitehead and he has probably been the most pedestrian of the lot. Good but not jaw dropping or even our deep threat for the most part.

[Lion Guy]

Solid. Very solid.

[firstandgoal]

Like everyone else the slow start was hard to watch as it just seemed like they weren’t ready to play. The fear of the Lions laying a turd in a big game seemed to be unfolding as it has so many times in the recent past. Kudos to the boys - they hung in there and showed their resolve. These types of wins are huge in building the culture of the team. Excellent win!

[Qman]

Collectively the best group of receivers we have had in a long time. Sure we have had some great ones in the last 20 years with Geroy, Clermont, Bruce, Manny and Burnham of course but top to bottom this group is loaded with speed, size and athleticism. Rhymes and Hatcher's contributions have gone to another level since the Burnham injury. Also doesn't hurt having a QB with the ability to make every throw on the field and an OC that wants to spread the ball around.

Good thing too is Hatcher recently extended and Rhymes, Whitehead and Cottoy are all on 2-year deals signed in the off-season.

This is best receiving core in bc lions history. They hardly ever drop the ball. Rourke is good, but receiving core is strength of this team.
Remember a few years a ago we had to start 3 nationals and couldn’t move the ball.

[DanoT]

Collectively the best group of receivers we have had in a long time. Sure we have had some great ones in the last 20 years with Geroy, Clermont, Bruce, Manny and Burnham of course but top to bottom this group is loaded with speed, size and athleticism. Rhymes and Hatcher's contributions have gone to another level since the Burnham injury. Also doesn't hurt having a QB with the ability to make every throw on the field and an OC that wants to spread the ball around.

Good thing too is Hatcher recently extended and Rhymes, Whitehead and Cottoy are all on 2-year deals signed in the off-season.

With Rourke being on a 1st contract minimum salary, the Lions clearly spent the savings on a top tier receiving corps. The concern will be when Rourke goes off his first contract and deserves a huge raise. How will the Lions be able to keep this group of receivers together, long term?

[CrazyCanuck89]

Collectively the best group of receivers we have had in a long time. Sure we have had some great ones in the last 20 years with Geroy, Clermont, Bruce, Manny and Burnham of course but top to bottom this group is loaded with speed, size and athleticism. Rhymes and Hatcher's contributions have gone to another level since the Burnham injury. Also doesn't hurt having a QB with the ability to make every throw on the field and an OC that wants to spread the ball around.

Good thing too is Hatcher recently extended and Rhymes, Whitehead and Cottoy are all on 2-year deals signed in the off-season.

This is best receiving core in bc lions history. They hardly ever drop the ball. Rourke is good, but receiving core is strength of this team.
Remember a few years a ago we had to start 3 nationals and couldn’t move the ball.

That had more to due with the Lions not having accurate QB a couple years ago. Saskatchewan and other teams have shown you can go with three Canadians in the recieving corps.

[Rammer]

Collectively the best group of receivers we have had in a long time. Sure we have had some great ones in the last 20 years with Geroy, Clermont, Bruce, Manny and Burnham of course but top to bottom this group is loaded with speed, size and athleticism. Rhymes and Hatcher's contributions have gone to another level since the Burnham injury. Also doesn't hurt having a QB with the ability to make every throw on the field and an OC that wants to spread the ball around.

Good thing too is Hatcher recently extended and Rhymes, Whitehead and Cottoy are all on 2-year deals signed in the off-season.

With Rourke being on a 1st contract minimum salary, the Lions clearly spent the savings on a top tier receiving corps. The concern will be when Rourke goes off his first contract and deserves a huge raise. How will the Lions be able to keep this group of receivers together, long term?

I would be more worried about which league Rourke will be in come his next contract.

[SammyGreene]

Rhymes is huge value at around $115,000. He extended back in December before becoming a FA. Wasn't in a great bargaining position given he missed most of the 2021 season and the league didn't play in 2020 of course. Great news for the Lions. Hatcher is probably around the $100,000 range.

Crazy to think the Lions offered Kenny Lawlor a reportedly $250,000 on a 1-year deal.
Bulk of Lions free agent money and Reilly's old contract was spent on the defensive line including Baron and Richardson whom both haven't played a snap yet.
Here is a breakdown from the 2022 free agent thread and where they rank league-wise in terms of salary.
Only Willie Jefferson gets paid more than Baron among d-lineman:

2) Woody Baron (A)
Hard money: $190,000

Maximum value: $195,000

4) Mathieu Betts (N)
Hard money: $160,000

Maximum value: $189,000

8) Sukh Chungh, (N)
Hard money: $160,000

Maximum value: $185,000

T-4) Bryan Burnham
Signing bonus: $50,000

Base salary: $103,000

Hard money: $165,000

10) Steven Richardson (A)
Hard money: $112,000

Maximum value: $160,000

19) Joel Figueroa,(A)
Hard money: $125,000

Maximum value: $155,000

7) David Menard, (N)
Hard money: $137,000

Maximum value: $152,500

4) T.J. Lee, (A)
Hard money: $130,000

Maximum value: $140,000

4) Loucheiz Purifoy (A)
Hard money: $110,000

Maximum value: $146,000

12) Delvin Breaux, (A)
Hard money: $105,000

Maximum value: $140,000

13) Lucky Whitehead, (A)
Signing bonus: $50,000

Base salary: $70,000

Hard money: $132,000

[DanoT]

Collectively the best group of receivers we have had in a long time. Sure we have had some great ones in the last 20 years with Geroy, Clermont, Bruce, Manny and Burnham of course but top to bottom this group is loaded with speed, size and athleticism. Rhymes and Hatcher's contributions have gone to another level since the Burnham injury. Also doesn't hurt having a QB with the ability to make every throw on the field and an OC that wants to spread the ball around.

Good thing too is Hatcher recently extended and Rhymes, Whitehead and Cottoy are all on 2-year deals signed in the off-season.

With Rourke being on a 1st contract minimum salary, the Lions clearly spent the savings on a top tier receiving corps. The concern will be when Rourke goes off his first contract and deserves a huge raise. How will the Lions be able to keep this group of receivers together, long term?

I would be more worried about which league Rourke will be in come his next contract.

For guys like Ray and Dickinson it came down to making a choice between NFL backup or CFL all-star. I think at this point in his career the NFL offers Rourke a clip board. There must be a reason NFL teams not only didn't draft Rourke, no one signed him as an undrafted free agent. NFL GMs and scouts don't readily admit mistakes, they just make other choices.

Rourke (and his family) have his football career seemingly well planned out starting with his early high school days, so I am thinking Rourke will follow the Warren Moon career path of establishing himself as both a dominant AND experienced CFL star vs the Casey Printers flash in the pan career style. Therefore, my prediction is that Rourke signs at least one more multi-year contract with the Lions before trying an NFL career and it will be when he is competing for a starting QB spot in the right situation as it relates to coach or GM, just like Moon did.

[Coast Mountain Lion]

Funny though. Of the group, the big money signing on the off season was Whitehead and he has probably been the most pedestrian of the lot. Good but not jaw dropping or even our deep threat for the most part.

Whitehead should be returning kicks. They have a wealth of receivers, especially when 16 returns, but the return game has been dead in the water.

[almo89]

I wish the CFL salary cap was higher and owners can afford to pay a starting QB like 1 million dollars. The most a QB has made in recent years is around 500k or so? If the teams were able to pay more, it would be a tougher decision. It's an easier decision to make when you get to make 1 million and be a starter or make league minimum in the NFL and might not ever get a snap.

[David]

The cherry on top of this wonderful sundae was the release of the TV numbers.

700,500 viewers tuned in on TSN to watch the Leos-Riders (God knows how many would have tuned in on CTV had it been available, but that's another story), making the game the largest average television audience of the 2022 CFL season.

Yes, we know all games involving the Riders will draw eyeballs and yes, Rourke is a national story. But I have to think that with numbers that large that people are tuning in here in this market to watch the Lions. It may not immediately translate to "butts in seats" but I think the interest is there.


DH