Has the Bombers’ General Manager, Kyle Walters failed the Bombers and their fans? There is enough fault to go around this season, including the terrible play calling by Bombers’ offensive coordinator, Jason Hogan. I have come to call them Hogan’s Head Scratchers. But it is far easier to see Hogan’s mistakes, and forget about Walters blunders.

What is the most surprising about all of this is that Walters was initially surprised by the increase to the salary cap, secondly he did not purposely violate the salary cap in a year where Winnipeg hosts the Grey Cup, and thirdly…he was unsure about the roster at the beginning of the season – this can not be over stated!

Salary Cap Mishap
“I’ll tell ya, it was an interesting one. Like everybody, when you guys found out, when the PA released the statement about the cap, is when I did. It certainly was surprising and kind of caught most people off guard, I think,” (source) – referring to the increase in the salary cap. All in all, the increase to the cap was about 400,000 dollars. That is a nice chunk of change if you are not wanting to get priced out. But they did not spend it. So anyone that says, ‘Well the Bombers could not afford this guy and that guy, are dead wrong.

After free agency I speculated, “Maybe they were waiting to see how the season goes and will look to bring in some NFL castoffs if needed, and they are saving the money for that.” But we found out that was not the case at all. Late in the season, the Bombers made no substantial move to better their team.

Here are more of Walters words from February 13
“Organizationally, we’re operating as normal — as if nothing has changed and until further that’s our plan, to keep plugging along as we were.” Why? Why? Why, would you continue to operate as normal when the game just changed? That makes no sense. Whether or not the change caught you off guard, and whether or not changing course would have been hard at that point, that does not matter. That is the job of the General Manager, to bring in the players (regardless how difficult it is)…that is the job.

Asked if the club pivoted to spend more money after seeing that increase, Walters added:
“That was an interesting one because at the time with everybody in this window you’re looking at handshake agreements or verbal agreements and there was a lot of uncertainty with the salary cap and would agents and teams re-think things and start over? I think across the board the answer is no.” – It does not matter what other teams were going to do…that is completely irrelevant. So you are telling me, that agents and players would not rethink deals is they could get more money? Come on, I am not buying that.

“So, I think most teams were thinking the same thing. Of all the reported verbal agreements I think all of them have been followed through, if I’m correct. I can only speak for our team, but it certainly didn’t change any of the strategies and planning prior to that. Instead, it was a rather confusing and as I said earlier, we’re just going to plug along as it was prior to that.” – It didn’t change any of the strategies and planning? It should have!

Uncertain Roster
No, you cannot predict injuries; and the injury Schoen has had has not helped the Bombers. And if you could predict injuries, you would still take Schoen over Lawler as Lawler has missed more games in the past years. But why did it have to be an either/or situation? It did not have to be. However, here is Walters thoughts way back in March,
“When asked about this Kyle Walters said, “(Lawler’s price) was above what we thought and above what we could do.” Walters further went on to say that Kenny in an unbelievable football player, and he praised Lawler’s commitment to the community. However, he relented that as he looked around the receiver room he was not prepared to shell out that kind of money to keep Lawler in Winnipeg.” How did that work? The Bombers receivers were not good enough this year; plain and simple. Even if you had Demski in the lineup it was not a good enough roster.

On September 9, 2025 I wrote, “Maybe it looks good that Demski is in the top 10 in both categories…but that should actually be troubling as he is the only Bomber player in the top 10. Where are the big name receivers that the Bomber have? To find the next Bomber in receiving yards you have to go all the way to the 17th spot to find Wheatfall, and then to the 34th spot to find Oliveira!” Even with Demski in the lineup…the Bombers did not have receivers good enough to get the job done.

And at the end of the season, Demski was still the Bombers leading receiver, even after missing time (in 11th place in the CFL) with 1001 yards. To find the next Bomber you have to go down to 29th place to find Wheatfall, and the next Bomber, Oliveira, is in 36th place, and then after that Strens is in 39th place. Tell me, how are you going to win CFL games with that? I will not hold my breathe.

But, here was Walter’s logic for going with this group, “It was a different year, rather than just going after and signing our high-end starters back and paying them and filling the rest with rookies,” he said. “I think it will be a more competitive camp with guys that have played in the CFL. Only time will tell, but I do like our roster.” – Well, time did tell, and Walters was wrong.

These are the best quarterbacks we have?
Apparently. The Bombers had numerous quarterbacks in the building and decided that their best bet was to go with Collaros, Streveler, and Wilson. Bombers Release Patterson – And They Are Still In Need

At some point, releasing other quarterbacks is in the past. But what Walters could do is have a reliable backup quarterback that can come in if your starter is injured or not playing well. And Walters refused to do that, or was unable to find anyone better than Wilson…who did not play; even after Streveler’s struggles. You can also makes moves at the trade deadline to bolster your roster…Kyle Walters also failed to do that.

Two things can be true at the same time
Winnipeg had to do something different. With 5 straight Grey Cup appearance, but 3 straight loses…something had to change. If the Bombers stood pat and made the Grey Cup again in 2025, but lost again, there would also be some serious questions. So, for whatever little credit it deserves, the Bombers tried something different. The problem is that it did not work, and the Bombers were unable or unwilling to course correct during the season, at the trade deadline, and heading into the playoffs. Maybe, the Bombers thought some of their off season acquisitions were going to pan out better. The problem is that at some point Walters needs to realize that the evaluations were incorrect, and then make moves. I think Walters comes under far less criticism if he did that.

The Bombers did nothing of any consequence to get better mid-season; trade deadline; or for a playoff run. I will give far more of the benefit of the doubt than deserved and suggest that maybe even late season Kyle Walters thought he had a good enough squad to get it done. He would have been wrong, but let us work through this scenario. At some point, and certainly leading into the playoffs, Walters must know that they are not getting it done. And he does nothing. I simply do not understand that.

Final Thoughts
The Bombers seemed to get complacent. Maybe getting to 5 straight Grey Cups does that. But certainly losing 3 straight should negate that. Especially when the Grey Cup is in your home stadium this year. Suffice it to say that there will be changes in Bomberland in the offseason. That will include players, and it will certainly include some coaching staff. What those changes will be, and if they will be enough, as Kyle Walters said, “Time will tell.”

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