"This was not just posturing by CLF. Hopefully, NOT finds the resources expected by investors, and that one or more additional majors move forward"

Agreed. My point is that CLF is comparitively a small player to the other boys on the playground and, unless they financially get some backing/partners, they would have a hard time bidding against serious opposition if the so called bidding wars arise. I have no doubt that CLF is serious as this is not a time to throw money around. I do not discount them, I just look at the relative weight of the fighters in the ring (pun?) and see them as being perhaps faster.... but do they have the weight for a knockout punch. We'll see.