Free Agent Signings

[SammyGreene]

Wonder if Wally entertains the idea of pursuing Nick Moore, especially if the Bombers are throwing big bucks at Dressler and potentially Harris too. He liked him enough 2 years ago to offer him $160,000 to stay in BC but he signed in Winnipeg for $20,000 more. Don't know if he is going to see that kind of offer this time around.

Does BC need another dynamic receiver? Would Moore and Manny in the slots be similar impact to Geroy and Bruce back in 2011? The ratio will play a part in it too, especially if Harris bolts.

[Hambone]

Wonder if Wally entertains the idea of pursuing Nick Moore, especially if the Bombers are throwing big bucks at Dressler and potentially Harris too. He liked him enough 2 years ago to offer him $160,000 to stay in BC but he signed in Winnipeg for $20,000 more. Don't know if he is going to see that kind of offer this time around.

Does BC need another dynamic receiver? Would Moore and Manny in the slots be similar impact to Geroy and Bruce back in 2011? The ratio will play a part in it too, especially if Harris bolts.

The problem with Nick is he lives up to his name; he's always nicked up with something. His numbers both years in Winnipeg prorate to approximately 1100 yards but he's only played 24 of the 36 Bomber games and failed to finish a few more.

[maxlion]

Wonder if Wally entertains the idea of pursuing Nick Moore, especially if the Bombers are throwing big bucks at Dressler and potentially Harris too. He liked him enough 2 years ago to offer him $160,000 to stay in BC but he signed in Winnipeg for $20,000 more. Don't know if he is going to see that kind of offer this time around.

Does BC need another dynamic receiver? Would Moore and Manny in the slots be similar impact to Geroy and Bruce back in 2011? The ratio will play a part in it too, especially if Harris bolts.

I felt we were pretty strong at receiver given that we were usually starting 2 nationals (Collie and Gore). Hawkins showed that he is a playmaker, and Burnham looks a lot like Moore and probably a lot cheaper. With Jeffers-Harris in the wings and the possibility of Boldewijn and Morrah returning, plus any recruits they bring in, I don't see the room or need for Moore.

[squishy35]

Wonder if Wally entertains the idea of pursuing Nick Moore, especially if the Bombers are throwing big bucks at Dressler and potentially Harris too. He liked him enough 2 years ago to offer him $160,000 to stay in BC but he signed in Winnipeg for $20,000 more. Don't know if he is going to see that kind of offer this time around.

Does BC need another dynamic receiver? Would Moore and Manny in the slots be similar impact to Geroy and Bruce back in 2011? The ratio will play a part in it too, especially if Harris bolts.

I felt we were pretty strong at receiver given that we were usually starting 2 nationals (Collie and Gore). Hawkins showed that he is a playmaker, and Burnham looks a lot like Moore and probably a lot cheaper. With Jeffers-Harris in the wings and the possibility of Boldewijn and Morrah returning, plus any recruits they bring in, I don't see the room or need for Moore.

Our D-Line would vastly improve if John Chick were signed..... but that likely won't happen.....likely he will sign with Hamilton.... :(

[JohnnyMusso]

They need to have Canadian linemen. Going with 3 imports is crazy and our OL was just ok last year. No more than 2. So they need to either sign an Can. OL or two or draft some. If they lose Harris and go with import RB, then they need to drop an import and OL seems to be the logical choice.

[JohnnyMusso]

I'm hearing the same as @PentonKirk that @Wpg_BlueBombers are close to a deal with WR Weston Dressler.

If it happens, Bombers just got a whole lot better. This is a good move.

[JohnnyMusso]

Another Departure from Ti-Cats:

sounds like Terrell Sinkfield of @Ticats is headed to NFL. Details to follow @cfl

[CardiacKid]

Wonder if Wally entertains the idea of pursuing Nick Moore, especially if the Bombers are throwing big bucks at Dressler and potentially Harris too. He liked him enough 2 years ago to offer him $160,000 to stay in BC but he signed in Winnipeg for $20,000 more. Don't know if he is going to see that kind of offer this time around.

Does BC need another dynamic receiver? Would Moore and Manny in the slots be similar impact to Geroy and Bruce back in 2011? The ratio will play a part in it too, especially if Harris bolts.

I felt we were pretty strong at receiver given that we were usually starting 2 nationals (Collie and Gore). Hawkins showed that he is a playmaker, and Burnham looks a lot like Moore and probably a lot cheaper. With Jeffers-Harris in the wings and the possibility of Boldewijn and Morrah returning, plus any recruits they bring in, I don't see the room or need for Moore.

Our D-Line would vastly improve if John Chick were signed..... but that likely won't happen.....likely he will sign with Hamilton.... :(

If Willie Jefferson doesn't stick down south, he is the guy I think the Lions should be doubling-down on getting for bolstering the D-Line. Chick is 33, he and Khreem Smith are almost ready to start travelling BC Ferries with the week-day senior's discount.

[JohnHenry]

I have a feeling Chick will end up back in Sask this season, but he'd be a huge upgrade over anybody else the Lions have. I'd say sign him for a year or two if they have the shekels.

[Qman]

Ewen article in the province today
Usual wally with media stuff:
- Wally has known since last season what he is going to do with the ratio (of course things can change), harris is as good as gone
- Based on all the community appearances by Lulay lately, they must be close on some sort of deal -or- unless a great offer from Winnipeg or Montreal magically appears ... they have some sort of arrangement worked out post Feb 9th



Here is the article

Welcome to our latest class in Trying To Guess What Wally Buono Is Really Saying.

Please take your seats.

Buono, the B.C. Lions general manager and head coach, gave us time to rapid fire some questions at him earlier this week. It was prior to the team naming their latest batch of assistant coaches on Thursday.

Buono had this to say about where his bid to re-sign running back Andrew Harris is: “Right now, I’m nowhere. At this point, as I’ve said before, until we get all our coaches in place, I’m not sure how we’re going to build our team and our ratio. … I’m at a point today where I have my own thoughts, but I’d like sit down with our coaching staff when it’s completed and get their thoughts. We should have plenty of time to get something resolved.”

Interesting.

Here’s what he said about where his bid to re-sign quarterback Travis Lulay is: “That process is continuing. In fairness to myself and his agent, I was on vacation and he was on an extended honeymoon. At this point, we’re trying to move forward.”

Interesting. Again.

We could easily be reading too much into both comments. CFL free agency opens Feb. 9. Buono could easily be tossing things out to get into the heads of Harris and Lulay and the people in their respective camps, as well as other players and opposing teams.

This isn’t Wally’s first rodeo.

That said, is it feasible to think that the Lions, with Buono firmly at the controls, will let Harris sign elsewhere, add an American running back and re-sign Lulay as both an insurance policy for Jonathon Jennings and a coach-in-training?

There’s logic there.

First the quarterback.

As grandiose as Jennings’ season was, he was the third stringer for a good chunk of time and didn’t start his first game until September. He’s also just 23 years old.

Do you realize that Jennings only threw for 51 more yards last season than Lulay? That doesn’t mesh with the popular narrative.

Lulay is 32. As much as his body has failed him, he showed flashes of his old form at times last season. By all accounts, he was a positive mentor to Jennings. By all accounts, he has the makings of being a coach.

Buono balked at the notion that a future position somewhere in the organization would be included in any negotiation right now, saying, “that’s unfair to the player.” He did say that there are certain players every year who “might have an opportunity after football,” in the organization.

Could another club offer Lulay a starting job and starting money if he gets to the open market? It could happen.

Harris, 28, will get multiple offers if he gets to free agency. You’d think that if Buono really wanted him that badly that B.C. would have locked him up already, like they did with receiver Manny Arceneaux.

The betting money seems to be that B.C. finds another starting Canadian offensive lineman to meet ratio requirements and hands the running game off to a U.S. tailback.

COACHES ADDED

The B.C. Lions added Marcello Simmons, Chris Tormey and Adam Blasetti to their coaching staff on Thursday.

Simmons, who played briefly for the Lions in 2000, is the special-teams co-ordinator, while Tormey will handle the linebackers and Blasetti guides the running backs.

Simmons has coached with various clubs, including spending the past two years a defensive-backs and special-teams assistant with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Tormey, a former NCAA head coach at Idaho and Nevada, was in charge of linebackers last season with the Montreal Alouettes and Blasetti had been with SFU Clan, working with their offensive line.

Robin Ross will now remain as the club’s defensive-line coach. It had been announced earlier that he would move to linebackers

[JohnnyMusso]

John Chick to sign with Tiger Cats. Likely announced any day now.

[maxlion]

- Based on all the community appearances by Lulay lately, they must be close on some sort of deal -or- unless a great offer from Winnipeg or Montreal magically appears ... they have some sort of arrangement worked out post Feb 9th

Would not surprise me at all if a deal has already been worked out and they are waiting until free agency day to announce it as they did with Elimimian and Bighill last year. I'd also say that Lulay is dreaming if he thinks any team would sign him as a starter at this time in his career. But he is very valuable in a backup, mentoring role and for marketing in BC.

[chwk_lionsfan]

With the signing of Dressler, does Winnipeg actually have enough space to sign Harris?

[David]

Really not bothered at all that the Lions didn't sign the diminutive receiver. The Bombers are paying $170K a year for 2 years. He'll be 31 when the season starts, not over the hill to be sure, but at that age when production typically slides. Injuries may start to take their toll now as he really takes a pounding.

He'll probably get his thousand yards this season, or come close, but that's a pretty hefty contract IMO.


DH

[Hambone]

Really not bothered at all that the Lions didn't sign the diminutive receiver. The Bombers are paying $170K a year for 2 years. He'll be 31 when the season starts, not over the hill to be sure, but at that age when production typically slides. Injuries may start to take their toll now as he really takes a pounding.

He'll probably get his thousand yards this season, or come close, but that's a pretty hefty contract IMO.


DH

The Riders were supposedly paying Dressler $240K on his old deal. Dressler is a nice receiver but for the sort of money they were paying him there should be a 1500+ yard season or two on his resume. Dressler has consistently been in the 1050 to 1150 range with his best season ever topping out at 1206. Simon on the other hand had 9 straight 4 digit seasons where the worst of the 9 was 1190, only 16 yards behind Dressler's best ever year. The supposed $170K isn't unreasonable for a player of Dressler's consistency not to mention he can bring a bit more to the table if the Bombers choose to use him as a returner. Probably not a wise idea at this stage of his career but it's not a bad option for O'Shea to have in his backpocket should his other returners be ineffective or get hurt. If Dressler can pull off another of his typical seasons approaching 1100 yards the Bombers will get good value from the deal but it's also very much possible he could be an asset of diminishing returns.