CFL 2011/12 Offseason thread

[OzSome]

What is up with all these big dollar signing? Over $200K for an OLine and now $190K for a receiver? It used to be that only QB are the big ticket making more than $100K compare to his teammates with $80K at the highest.
I am glad Fantuz will now be playing in the East. He's been a Stamps killer for the past few years. I know who is going to be my team in East this coming season. Hamilton with Burris as QB and Cortez as a Head Coach.

[PeteLFan]

I can see paying lineman good money, but 200k for a guard is DUMB. The tackle position is most important, left tackle and left guard. You build from the left side in.

Not sure how a receiver commands 200k and he isn't the best in the game.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

Not sure how a receiver commands 200k and he isn't the best in the game.

If he isn't then I'm not sure who is. Maybe Simon but he's on the verge of retirement. Watkins retired. Mabe Richardson but anyone playing with Calvillo has a huge advantage.

Last time Fantuz played he led the league in receiving yards.

[Notorious Honey Badger]

What makes Fantuz so valuable is he's a top flight receiver who doesn't count against the ratio

[PeteLFan]

Nik Lewis is better.

[OzSome]

According to Global Sports the other night, Andy Fantuz received $100K in signing bonus and $90K per season. Still, that is a huge bonus!

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

Nik Lewis is better.

Hahaha.

[Drake]

Sad news from Regina. CFL Hall of Famer Cal Murphy has passed away. Few made a bigger mark on the #CFL than Cal. RIP

https://twitter.com/#!/CCtsn/status/171104596591247360

The football world lost someone who was a very special human being. RIP.

[moon]

It will be interesting to see if the bogus PI calls when Fantusz drops an easy pass continue now that he is in Hamilton. My guess that was more of a Rider thing but if he does carry those calls over to Hamilton with him then he will be a top receiver (still behind Richardson, Simon, Stamps and Lewis), but if he doesn't get the bogus calls then he is a much less effective guy as his numerous drops will really kill drives.

[Chump]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Hahaha.

I'm not sure how that is laughable. Lewis has put up 8 straight 1000 yard seasons while Fantuz has managed that only once and Nik is only a year older. Not too mention that Lewis is the best blocking reciever in the league.

Fantuz is a good receiver but I'd rank him behind Richardson, Simon, Bruce, Lewis and Stamps.

[Notorious Honey Badger]

Rest in peace Mr Murphy. You were a true Blue Bomber.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/spo...139613263.html

[IMG]http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/648*441/CALMURPHY_85727991_403095.jpg[/IMG]

WINNIPEG — Cal Murphy, one of the most influential figures in the history of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Canadian Football League, has died at the age of 79.
TSN is reporting the former head coach and general manager of the Bombers, a member of the club’s hall of fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, died on Saturday.
Born in Winnipeg in 1932, Murphy’s family moved to Vancouver where he starred at Vancouver College and the University of British Columbia and later turned to coaching football – a profession that would dominate his adult life. Murphy began his long association with the CFL in 1974 under the legendary Eagle Keys with the B.C. Lions, and six games into 1975 was named head coach. Fired after the 1976 season, Murphy then joined the Montreal Alouettes as an assistant under Marv Levy in 1977 before moving on to the Edmonton Eskimos, where he was part of that franchise’s dynasty of 1978-82.

[Stay Golden]

pretty dissapointed Dales would sign with Edmonton. I could see him getting boo'd when the Esks come to town.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Chump

I'm not sure how that is laughable. Lewis has put up 8 straight 1000 yard seasons while Fantuz has managed that only once and Nik is only a year older. Not too mention that Lewis is the best blocking reciever in the league.

Fantuz is a good receiver but I'd rank him behind Richardson, Simon, Bruce, Lewis and Stamps.

It's not so much that I was laughing at the suggestion that Lewis is better than Fantuz. But Lewis as the best receiver in the CFL is laughable to me though. The haha is from the fact hat I just knew pete was going to for sure pick a Stamps player. I shouldn't be shocked though. Its one of those things like The sun rising or moon having hilarious rider conspiracies.

I'd say the top 5 in no order are Richardson, Stamps, Fantuz, Simon and Lewis. But no way do I ever place Lewis at no 1. That's probably Simon or Richardson. Until Fantuz leads the league more than once it's just not a big enough body of evidence. I'd rate Fantuz number 3 but like I said earlier simon's in the twilight of his career and Richardson has Calvillo so it's hard to say who's best.

Btw Lewis has also played way more than Fantuz. He's only entering his fifth season as a starter? Not counting last year b/c he was in the nfl and then hurt.

That and Lewis is all about Lewis. I think he's proven that much over the years.

[Flickered Flame]

Ti-Cats also signed former Stamps OL man Tim O'Neill and former Esks DL man Greg Peach yesterday.

[Cheese]

If the TiCats gel they are the team to beat in the east...or they could end up like the Philly Eagles and crash while trying to figure everyone out.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Cheese

If the TiCats gel they are the team to beat in the east...or they could end up like the Philly Eagles and crash while trying to figure everyone out.

I think a lot of it will depend on how Burris responds. If he goes back to being one of the best in the game, it could be huge.

However, if last season is any indication he may be on the downside of his career and the TiCats will see diminishing returns with him.

Obviously there are a lot of other factors but the glaring hole in Hamilton the last few years has been QB. They've been sort of a bubble team and he may make them respectable.

That being said, I think the East is stronger than they've been in a while. I see the Bombers having another decent season, TO improving and Mtl being, well, Mtl.

The West is wide open except BC. They're obviously the favorites.

Calgary is a huge question mark. Is Tate the real deal? Can Rambo rebound? Can Cornish handle being the no 1 back? are all really big questions.

Edmonton I think is in a similar situation with even less proven QB.

Riders biggest question mark is whether Durant was a flash in the pan for a few years or if he just had an off year last year. And now that Cates is gone, I'm curious about their plans at RB. They need to avoid injuries in the receiving corps. Healthy Bagg, Getzlaf and Dressler could go a long way.

And that's not even evaluating the defenses of Edm/Ssk/Cgy. I know the Riders will miss Freeman a lot and they need some help in the secondary.

[Flickered Flame]

Als sign Aaron Hunt.

[cross16]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

It's not so much that I was laughing at the suggestion that Lewis is better than Fantuz. But Lewis as the best receiver in the CFL is laughable to me though. The haha is from the fact hat I just knew pete was going to for sure pick a Stamps player. I shouldn't be shocked though. Its one of those things like The sun rising or moon having hilarious rider conspiracies.

I'd say the top 5 in no order are Richardson, Stamps, Fantuz, Simon and Lewis. But no way do I ever place Lewis at no 1. That's probably Simon or Richardson. Until Fantuz leads the league more than once it's just not a big enough body of evidence. I'd rate Fantuz number 3 but like I said earlier simon's in the twilight of his career and Richardson has Calvillo so it's hard to say who's best.

Btw Lewis has also played way more than Fantuz. He's only entering his fifth season as a starter? Not counting last year b/c he was in the nfl and then hurt.

That and Lewis is all about Lewis. I think he's proven that much over the years.

Not really anymore. Over the last two seasons Lewis has really stepped up in the leadership department and is not the same player he was when he came into the league. He is one of the better leaders they have, and gets repeadatly praised by Huffnagel for being such.

I agree with you that Richardson/Simon have to be 1/2, but I think Lewis/Stamps have to be 3/4. Not necessarily in that order but in that pairing.

[Wood]

I'd take Lewis over almost any other reciever, 1000+ yards 8 straight seasons, every season of his career so far including his rookie of the year season. Also has at least one catch in every single game of his career (he might have missed one this season, I can't remember)

He's very consistent and the best blocking reciever in the league

[secol]

dales goes to eskimos