Winter Thoughts

[Moon1]

Another winter. As always, the end of the CFL season and the reality of the lack of daylight, cold, seasonal ads and no more Edmonton Eskimo football feel like some dense fog settling in. No relief from other sports. NFL football a superb game with incredible talent, but it isn't Canada – so not emotionally invested in it. NHL – yawn/wince; too many games, too many teams, too much sanctioned brawling, too many ads on the rinks, ice surfaces too small, season way too long.

Difference this winter, of course, no gnawing “what ifs” or angst about the football we’ve just experienced. Esks deservedly first place overall in league, knocked off the great Calgary team in West Final, and in the Grey Cup bettered the first place team in the East. Both were very worthy opponents. It doesn’t get much better than that. A classic season, the stuff of legend and eventual myth.

Thoughts turn to CFL next year. Can Edmonton rise to the next level? What is that, and how do we get there? Dare one even think it … dynasty.

[Sticker]

Re: Winter Thoughts

Another winter. As always, the end of the CFL season and the reality of the lack of daylight, cold, seasonal ads and no more Edmonton Eskimo football feel like some dense fog settling in. No relief from other sports. NFL football a superb game with incredible talent, but it isn't Canada – so not emotionally invested in it. NHL – yawn/wince; too many games, too many teams, too much sanctioned brawling, too many ads on the rinks, ice surfaces too small, season way too long.

Difference this winter, of course, no gnawing “what ifs” or angst about the football we’ve just experienced. Esks deservedly first place overall in league, knocked off the great Calgary team in West Final, and in the Grey Cup bettered the first place team in the East. Both were very worthy opponents. It doesn’t get much better than that. A classic season, the stuff of legend and eventual myth.

Thoughts turn to CFL next year. Can Edmonton rise to the next level? What is that, and how do we get there? Dare one even think it … dynasty.

First, nice post, I think that is how most of us feel.
Second, yes Edmonton can get to the next level. Just gotta keep the main force together. Even if we lose some coaches and players (we will); if the driving force is still there, we will be OK.

[EsksTMac]

Re: Winter Thoughts

If you want something to chew on.. Here are the Eskimos free agents:

- Mathieu Boulay
- Adarius Bowman
- Shamawd Chambers
- Otha Foster
- Aaron Grymes
- Ryan Hinds
- Andrew Jones
- Kendial Lawrence
- Willie Jefferson
- Mike Miller
- Elie Ngoyi
- Donny O
- Almondo Sewell
- JC Sherritt
- Brian Simmons
- Chad Simpson
- Kenny Stafford
- John White
- Sean Whyte
- Greg Wojt

------------------------

Awful. Someone get Grymes, Sewell, Bowman, Stafford, John White, Sherritt, Jefferson, Hinds and Foster in a room right now and not let them leave. Holy F**K!

EDIT -- and Lawrence. F**k me.

[walleyes]

Re: Winter Thoughts

Although I enjoy watching the NFL I certainly don't find it a superb game,, not to ours anyways. Good talent yes of course. But hey,, they still through interceptions, still drop passes still make stupid penalties,, but it's football keeps a guy going for a while anyways. Hockey,, couldn't be bothered really,, to much of it. No it's on to curling for us now,, yah that's right jackasses,,, curling lol..

[Rival]

Re: Winter Thoughts

Thats a scary list. Eds got his work cut out for him.

[Diesel]

Re: Winter Thoughts

I anticipate he has some names on deals already, and will be announcing them later this month

[boydo]

Re: Winter Thoughts

I anticipate he has some names on deals already, and will be announcing them later this month

And the ones that are not done already...are wanting to stay. At least that's the impression I've got from a lot of them.

[glenvb]

Re: Winter Thoughts

It's a scary list, but it's only average league-wide. This year, there are free agents everywhere.

[cmbuk]

Re: Winter Thoughts

And the ones that are not done already...are wanting to stay. At least that's the impression I've got from a lot of them.

Will that change without Jones here though?

[Jtuck09]

Re: Winter Thoughts

If you want something to chew on.. Here are the Eskimos free agents:

- Mathieu Boulay
- Adarius Bowman
- Shamawd Chambers
- Otha Foster
- Aaron Grymes
- Ryan Hinds
- Andrew Jones
- Kendial Lawrence
- Willie Jefferson
- Mike Miller
- Elie Ngoyi
- Donny O
- Almondo Sewell
- JC Sherritt
- Brian Simmons
- Chad Simpson
- Kenny Stafford
- John White
- Sean Whyte
- Greg Wojt

------------------------

Awful. Someone get Grymes, Sewell, Bowman, Stafford, John White, Sherritt, Jefferson, Hinds and Foster in a room right now and not let them leave. Holy F**K!

EDIT -- and Lawrence. F**k me.

I can confirm one guys is signed. Elie Ngoyi posted on Instagram that he signed an extension. Showed him signing the new contract and everything.
That may mean we let Donny O go. With Ngoyi and Alexandre here, Donny may not be needed as much.

That is quite the list though. Lots of guys who I'd like to see back but I have a feeling 50% of those guys stay. Just a hunch.

[ben_the_eskimo]

Re: Winter Thoughts

Will that change without Jones here though?

I dunno, looking at that list, I don't really expect to see any offensive guys following him over, Bowman has the biggest connection to Jones out of that lot but he's been an Eskimo too long to want to jump ship on Reilly and Hervey now. As for the D side, I had the chance to speak with JC yesterday and I am very confident that he will be here next year. Sewell has made Edmonton his home and is on record saying he wants to stay here, and Grymes was here prior to Jones so he's not really a 'Jones' guy per se. Jefferson might be in the NFL next year.... I dunno, I think Ed will be able to retain a lot of the players.

The question I have is will a new HC be able to keep this forward momentum going at a time when Edmontonians seem to finally be warming up to the Esks again?

[Looner]

Re: Winter Thoughts

I dunno, looking at that list, I don't really expect to see any offensive guys following him over, Bowman has the biggest connection to Jones out of that lot but he's been an Eskimo too long to want to jump ship on Reilly and Hervey now. As for the D side, I had the chance to speak with JC yesterday and I am very confident that he will be here next year. Sewell has made Edmonton his home and is on record saying he wants to stay here, and Grymes was here prior to Jones so he's not really a 'Jones' guy per se. Jefferson might be in the NFL next year.... I dunno, I think Ed will be able to retain a lot of the players.

The question I have is will a new HC be able to keep this forward momentum going at a time when Edmontonians seem to finally be warming up to the Esks again?

This

[Esks1949]

Re: Winter Thoughts

It's a scary list, but it's only average league-wide. This year, there are free agents everywhere.

The new CFL.

- - - Updated - - -

I dunno, looking at that list, I don't really expect to see any offensive guys following him over, Bowman has the biggest connection to Jones out of that lot but he's been an Eskimo too long to want to jump ship on Reilly and Hervey now. As for the D side, I had the chance to speak with JC yesterday and I am very confident that he will be here next year. Sewell has made Edmonton his home and is on record saying he wants to stay here, and Grymes was here prior to Jones so he's not really a 'Jones' guy per se. Jefferson might be in the NFL next year.... I dunno, I think Ed will be able to retain a lot of the players.

The question I have is will a new HC be able to keep this forward momentum going at a time when Edmontonians seem to finally be warming up to the Esks again?

This makes me very happy and Steele is signed too. Centre of D-line is secure.

[writfiler]

Re: Winter Thoughts

Would be nice to see a good portion of the FA signings be for at least 2 years so that EH doesn't have to go thru this exercise at the end of next season....

[Esks1975]

Re: Winter Thoughts

Is there such incentive for players to sign for more than two years when contracts aren't guaranteed? When you have mostly short contracts every year is going to be like this.