Insider Talk: B.C.’s struggles, Ottawa’s re-signings, 2022 free agency

Photo courtesy: B.C. Lions/Paul Yates

Insider Talk is a weekly feature on 3DownNation that features anonymous quotes from people around the CFL — players, coaches, personnel people, executives, and agents — regarding the latest news around the league. It’s a combination of insight, analysis, rumours, and friendly gossip.

This week’s Insider Talk is full of discussion regarding B.C.’s struggles, Ottawa’s recent contract extensions, Edmonton’s quarterbacking situation, Sergio Castillo’s contract with Winnipeg, and free agency coming up in 2022.

Enjoy this week’s quotes and come back next Wednesday for another edition of Insider Talk.

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Maybe DeVone Claybrooks wasn’t the problem in B.C. after all. He made some bad hires on his coaching staff, sure, but it’s not like Rick Campbell has turned that team around. They beat Ottawa twice and lost to Edmonton.

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DeVonte Dedmon, Richie Leone, and Lewis Ward all got substantial signing bonuses from Ottawa. We’re talking like $20,000. That tells me (interim general manager Jeremy) Snyder and (interim assistant general manager Jean-Marc) Edmé aren’t just a couple of lame ducks over there.

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Taylor Cornelius is a better quarterback than Nick Arbuckle. He has better mechanics, he’s bigger, and he runs just as well. Sure, Arbuckle has won more starts but he’s also played on better teams. Cornelius played well against Saskatchewan considering they were without so many guys.

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There are already rumours going around that some current or former CFL coaches are going to go to the USFL. If they go, they’re going to try to poach players.

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I bet the league is going to slash the operations cap again this off-season. They’ll try to lower the salary cap for players, but at least they have a union. We have s***. The league is going to have fewer coaches and scouts than ever, which will hurt the on-field product.

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The Bombers re-did (placekicker) Sergio (Castillo)’s deal after the trade and are paying him $7,000 per game. That would make him the highest-paid kicker in the league over a full season, so he better not miss more mid-range kicks.

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Ottawa should make an external hire at GM because they need an influx of talent. Why would free agents sign there now unless the team overpays them? Look at how Toronto rebuilt their roster with a bunch of former Stamps and Riders. Ottawa could sign a bunch of talent away from a team like Winnipeg or Hamilton if they hire the right guy and really kickstart that rebuild.

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Free agency is going to be very interesting considering there won’t be a CBA in place. Players are all expecting to make more after taking less this year but I can’t see the salary cap (in 2022) being more than $5 million. There won’t be much new money to go around if any.

John Hodge
John Hodge is a Canadian football reporter based in Winnipeg.