CFL Coaching & GM Changes for 2025

[Hambone]

Winnipeg didn't have much choice re: Harris. He wasn't ready to pack it in as a player as a 35 year old tailback and they also had Oliviera, 10 years Harris' junior, and Johnny Augustine also heading for free agency. To pay Harris what he'd expect in all probability costs them Oliviera, and maybe Augustine too. Oliviera has gone on to prove he was absolutely ready at that point in time to be the feature back somewhere in the CFL. Unfortunately it was the right time for Winnipeg to move on from Harris the player. If he was insistent on playing as a starter it had to be elsewhere. After being durable for his career prior to Covid he was anything but after it playing only 7 regular season games in his final year in WPG and 8 in his first year in TOR.

Thanks for clarification on Fine. I thought your were talking Patterson who ultimately cost Fine his spot following 2024 training camp. Shea is only 3 months older. As for Harris yes much he's older but why would O'Day and Dickenson want to hand the reins of the team over to Fine after the 2022 season. Fine started 3 games in 2022 and got reps in 3 more prior to Harris being signed. They didn't win a game he played in. Numbers were 67 of 102 (65.7%) for 690 yds with 3 TDs and 3 INT. Entering 2023 the jobs of both O'Day and Dickenson were absolutely hanging in the balance. They might as well have kissed them good-bye before the season began had they opted to go into 2023 led by Fine and Dolegala. Harris would at least give them a chance to save their hides. As it was they were 3-2 in Harris' starts then finished 3-10 without him. Fine's one win was when eking out a 2 point win over Ottawa in Regina. O'Day managed to hang onto his job but Dickenson was sent packing as expected.

[Toppy Vann]

That's a good move for Andrew Harris and the Riders if the relationship Harris had in Toronto where he could enter the game on his own accord and take out AJ Ouellette for a breather still exists. Sometimes RBs that hate to go out for their own health and well-beiing end up missing games.

Harris has a lot to share and comes across as someone who is not just a natural runner but someone who's learned the game from that position.

He has admitted how it was at the end with the Bombers was a lot on him. He grew from that guy in his Argo years. That's how he's come across in interviews and he's been clear on that.

I want to keep these ex-CFLers in coaching ranks in the game here in Canada.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatch ... -1.7436452

[Hambone]

I think they're pretty much closed that loophole. He can either coach or play but not both. In Toronto he was a player only and handsomely compensated. He was still the CFL's 2nd highest paid RB in his final season. To jump back and forth he'd have to quit as a coach and sign a new player's contract. Then to install him back as a coach they'd have to waive him and hire him back as a coach. Wouldn't it be hilarious if they waived him to go back coaching and somebody claimed him?

[Toppy Vann]

Hambone: My PMs aren't working and you're regular international traveler.
My friend is heading to China and I have his bags to take here and they seem heavy.
Any ideas where I might take them to pre-weigh?

I think they're pretty much closed that loophole. He can either coach or play but not both. In Toronto he was a player only and handsomely compensated. He was still the CFL's 2nd highest paid RB in his final season. To jump back and forth he'd have to quit as a coach and sign a new player's contract. Then to install him back as a coach they'd have to waive him and hire him back as a coach. Wouldn't it be hilarious if they waived him to go back coaching and somebody claimed him?

I couldn't figure out who you were referencing here until I checked my wording that led you to conclude I thought he was back playing or suggesting he should or could play. I wasn't intending that lol.

I was using the relationship he had with AJ Ouellette to illustrate only that they got on so well Harris could enter the game and take him out for a play without the coach signalling him in like that.

I meant that as a RB coach with this guy he might be able to get him off the field when he's overworked and not have a pissed off RB to deal with.

Actually Ouellette seemed fine to not play some games but in Saskatchewan he's subjected himself to so serious beatings. He needs to stay in games to help his team. IIRC I think he missed 10 games last year.

[Hambone]

Hambone: My PMs aren't working and you're regular international traveler.
My friend is heading to China and I have his bags to take here and they seem heavy.
Any ideas where I might take them to pre-weigh.

Sorry Toppy I just noticed this now. All of my international travel in the past 15 years has been to Mexico which allows for traveling light. My biggest issue has been with going straight from a cold weather Grey Cup to Mazatlan. After 2023 in Hamilton I packed my winter stuff into box and mailed it back to a PG buddy. 2007 and 2003 were the last overseas trips to the UK and Australia respectively with plans for lots of travel while there. I'm always trying to travel as light as possible with one small suitcase and a carry-on. This year I bought a bigger hard-body suitcase because I was tired of trying to squeeze everything into my old suitcase, which wasn't much bigger than max size for carry-on. So, just to be sure, I weighed myself on my bathroom scales, then packed the suitcase, picked it up and weighed it and myself. Not totally accurate but close enough to know I was good. I didn't want to be that person I often see at check-in opening up their suitcase(s) and carry-on trying to juggle things around to stay within weight allowances.

[Toppy Vann]

Alouettes finalize their staff - one new coach.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Alouettes have their 2025 coaching staff in place.

The team announced on Tuesday the ten coaches that will join head coach Jason Maas in their pursuit of the 112th Grey Cup.

Nine coaches out of ten were part of the team that finished in first place in the CFL in 2024 under Maas, helping the bench boss be named Coach of the Year in 2024.

Chandler Jones, who served as the team’s defensive backs coach last season, did not return.

Bryan Wyllie is the lone newcomer on the coaching staff. He steps in as a defensive assistant. He was the linebackers coach with the Saint Mary’s Huskies (USPORTS) and coached the Yale Bulldogs in the NCAA. He also worked with the Edmonton Huskies (CJFL) and with the Vancouver Raiders (BCFC).

https://3downnation.com/2025/01/28/mont ... -for-2025/

Hambone: My PMs aren't working and you're regular international traveler.
My friend is heading to China and I have his bags to take here and they seem heavy.
Any ideas where I might take them to pre-weigh.

Sorry Toppy I just noticed this now. All of my international travel in the past 15 years has been to Mexico which allows for traveling light. My biggest issue has been with going straight from a cold weather Grey Cup to Mazatlan. After 2023 in Hamilton I packed my winter stuff into box and mailed it back to a PG buddy. 2007 and 2003 were the last overseas trips to the UK and Australia respectively with plans for lots of travel while there. I'm always trying to travel as light as possible with one small suitcase and a carry-on. This year I bought a bigger hard-body suitcase because I was tired of trying to squeeze everything into my old suitcase, which wasn't much bigger than max size for carry-on. So, just to be sure, I weighed myself on my bathroom scales, then packed the suitcase, picked it up and weighed it and myself. Not totally accurate but close enough to know I was good. I didn't want to be that person I often see at check-in opening up their suitcase(s) and carry-on trying to juggle things around to stay within weight allowances.

Despite going to the gym regularly, my friend off to China taking a ton of stuff to his family had bags I was sure blew over the weight limits were fine.

I had read the travel weigh items weren't accurate but in his case they were.

The bathroom scales trick is good as you say.