10 FRIDAY THINGS
1 – WINDS OF CHANGE: With the 107th Grey Cup behind us – and having been declared a smashing success – we are now full-on into the CFL off-season. Over half the teams have already made some sort of coaching moves (BC, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa & Montreal) while we’re waiting for the shoe to drop in a few more. As far as Saskatchewan goes, I’m told a shake-up is coming on the Craig Dickenson staff. It could be today, it could be within weeks, or it could come in the New Year. But changes are coming.
2 – LAPO HOT: Winnipeg offensive coordinator Paul Lapolice would well win the CFL Coordinator of the Year Award if there was such a thing, having piloted a rotating stable of QBs and running backs to a Grey Cup championship. He’s been linked to head coach vacancies in Edmonton, BC & Ottawa but the status of his own team is still in question. When will Mike O’Shea – whose contract is up – decide on a return to the Bombers, or jump to the Toronto Argonauts as has long been rumoured? Either way, Lapolice has the luxury of time and will likely have his pick of jobs.
3 – CHAMB GAME: Perhaps that’s why Argos head coach Corey Chamblin and his staff are still in limbo, awaiting a decision from GM-elect Pinball Clemons. Is it true Clemons is trying to woo his good buddy O’Shea back home to Toronto, where the pair are Argo icons? God only knows what will stimulate the Argonauts in the Toronto sports conscience, but that tandem wouldn’t hurt. Meanwhile members of the current Corey Chamblin staff head into Christmas not knowing if their stockings will be full of gifts, or lumps of coal. What a business.
4 – ROLL THE DYCE: Ottawa Sun football writer Tim Baines brought up an interesting name in relation to the vacant RedBlacks head coaching job: Bob Dyce. The current RedBlacks special teams coordinator has head coaching experience in the CFL and has spent time as a receivers coach and O.C. as well. It’s believed he wants to run his own show again. This is a very interesting situation to watch, since GM Marcel Desjardins has asked for permission to interview seemingly half of the league’s assistants.
5 – QB CAROUSEL: By my count there are 13 QBs set to become free agents in February and there are some potential franchise pivots on the list. We whittled the Top 4 down for Friday’s RP Show poll and they are: Nick Arbuckle, Matt Nichols, Jeremiah Masoli and Chris Streveler. At press time, Masoli was leading the vote as the most-coveted. Also on the FA list are Brandon Bridge, James Franklin, McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Jonathan Jennings.
6 – JONNY BE GOOD: Sources tell me the chances of Jon Ryan returning to the Roughriders are 50/50. The 38-year old earned all his pay this season, being named a Division All Star, leading the league in punting average, and doing countless things fans never notice. With the retirement of Calgary’s Rob Maver this week, J.R. would be the CFL’s highest-paid punter if he came back at the same wage in 2020. This will be interesting to watch.
7 – SCHOONERS: One year ago at Grey Cup in Edmonton, the Atlantic Schooners were welcomed as the CFL’s 10th team at a splashy party at a downtown convention centre where the booze flowed well into the wee hours. One year later … nothing. No stadium plans, no expansion team granted, no expansion draft laid out, and no hype or buzz. The stadium vote is next month and no one seems optimistic. How depressing.
8 – LESS IS MORE: The nation got a look into the stadium at Laval last weekend courtesy of CBC’s coverage of the Vanier Cup (Calgary beat Montreal 27-13) in a game called by Mark Lee and Justin Dunk. The stadium sure looked CFL-calibre and it’s clear why football people feel Quebec City would be a slam-dunk market for CFL expansion or relocation. Meanwhile the university stadium in Moncton is beautiful, new(ish), and is expandable to 22,000 seats. Touchdown Atlantic games held there in the past have been robustly supported. So please tell me why the CFL isn’t playing in these markets but instead expanding to Europe and Mexico where the football is sub-standard?
9 – FEEL THE RUSH: The Saskatchewan Rush open the 2019-2020 NLL season Friday night at the Colorado Mammoth at Denver’s Pepsi Centre. Rush forward Jeff Shattler told us on the RP Show that the Rush are going into Colorado to “teach them a lesson” after the Mammoth ended Sask’s season last year in Round 1. You can watch the game on Bleacher Report Live for free. Download the app, like I did. We are all extremely excited for the Rush’s home-opener on December 14 against the New England Black Wolves at SaskTel Centre!
10 – FEAR NO EVIL: The Rams Alumni Legends Series is inducting franchise greats Bob Poley and Roger Aldag into their Hall of Fame on April 18. Tickets are only $25 and the event features a hot stove with the inductees and yours truly. All proceeds go to the Rams Alumni and its charitable initiatives. Please contact any Rams Alumni for tickets and we’ll see you there!
Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen
If Halifax goes through, the CFL needs to look seriously at Quebec City. Laval be damned.
Do you know how big their stadium is? Doubt if gov’t would foot bill on new stadium, but you never know. Another side is that they have a nice modern NHL rink with no NHL team to play in it? Not sure what that says for a CFL team, but some questions to be answered for sure.
Why would the CFL even consider Quebec City as the Montreal franchise is still very shaky and having troubles putting fans in the stands ,I think Quebec City would be a huge mistake but that’s just my opinion.