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Sticks and stones can break bones, but words … well, words can sometimes be just as painful. But they also have the power to be uplifting. And quite often, they can change their meaning after time passes compared to when they were initially uttered. With that in mind, here is a look back at 20 off-season quotes from across the Canadian Football League, which may turn out to be purely prophetic, or just plain pathetic:

1. “When we talk about winning games and winning championships, we envision building a dynasty. It’s not about hoping we’re going to get it done. I don’t live in hope. I live in getting it done.”

– B.C. Lions GM Ed Hervey

Photo by Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press file

2. “I felt like coming to B.C. was going to give me the best chance to win as many championships as I could for the remainder of my career.”

– B.C. Lions quarterback Mike Reilly

Photo by Larry Wong / Postmedia

3. “The thing about Trevor is he understands putting people around him. He deserved more (money) and could have asked for more, but Trevor has the football acumen and understands the value of all of the moving parts. He took a little less to help us do what we did today (in free agency.)”

– Edmonton Eskimos GM Brock Sunderland