10 THINGS I THINK I THINK

1 – IT’S TIME: One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity. With Tuesday’s news that Rider QB Zach Collaros is gone to the 6-game Injured List with a concussion, that means 4-year veteran Brandon Bridge will start on Saturday when Saskatchewan hosts Montreal (7 pm, TSN, CKRM Network). Bridge isn’t a kid anymore. He’s apprenticed long enough and now it’s time to play like the star he can be. I believe he can.


2 – WHAT IF: Where are the people who said the Riders should trade Bridge coming out of training camp? Imagine if the Riders had made that gaffe … Meanwhile where are all the Brandon Bridge fans who wanted Air Canada to start ahead of Collaros in the first place? … And imagine if a Canadian QB counted towards the Canadian ratio! What a luxury the Riders would have on Saturday. It’s ludicrous that it doesn’t.

3 – ACK, ACK A ZACH: Collaros naysayers are having a field day. Those who said he couldn’t stay healthy are filling up Facebook and Twitter. However the fact is when everything has gone right and Collaros has been protected well, he’s been “as advertised”. But he’s been hit enough for an entire season already and now he’s on the shelf. The only way to prove the critics wrong is by doing it on the field and right now he can’t. What a shame.

4 – HOG HEAVEN: Those who had fears about the Riders’ offensive line going into the season turned out to be correct. Chris Jones even admitted that his QBs were hit one-out-of-every-3-plays last week in Ottawa which is insane. But it’s highly unlikely they’re looking back at any personnel moves (a la cutting Travis Bond) and saying they whiffed. This regime looks ahead, not behind. Beginning Saturday night, I expect much improved play there.

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5 – DURON: Caught CFL Wired on TSN for Week 2 last night and boy is that a fantastic show! The sideline camera caught the intense battle between Duron Carter and Diontae Spencer all night long in Ottawa and it was popcorn-worthy stuff. Chris Jones said he thought Duron played “pretty good” against the RedBlacks and watching that battle was a thrill-a-minute. At one point Duron boasted into the camera, “Best player in the league!” Twice. Is it bragging if it’s true? Just asking.

6 – RIDERS AND REDBLACKS: These two teams have had a simmering rivalry ever since Ottawa re-entered the league in 2014 when Jim Hopson blocked Ottawa from using the name Rough Riders. It’s boiled to the point where, right now, the two teams hate each other. Again, watch CFL Wired on TSN this week to really feel it. I LOVE THIS STUFF! We’re not curing cancer here people. This is entertainment.

Oh, and it appeared to me Diontae Spencer sat on the bench during the Canadian national anthem in Week 2. Can someone please confirm?

7 – JAM THE JOINT: It would be a tad embarrassing if Mosaic Stadium isn’t soldout for Saturday’s Humboldt Strong game. Can we show the nation – and more importantly the City of Humboldt – that we as a province stand together in support of them and the Broncos? It’s a summer Saturday night under the lights in the CFL’s nicest stadium. What’s better than that?

8 – BRONCOS OR BRONCOS?: Dean Brockman will be introduced as Coach & GM of the Swift Current Broncos today and that’s a homerun for that team. However Dean hinted on Facebook last night that the Humboldt Broncos approached him about their coaching opportunity only after he had already committed to Swift Current. Dean called the situation “extremely disheartening” and many of us felt he was the only guy who could walk into that Humboldt job and have everybody’s blessing for reasons you should all know. There’s lots of interesting things going on behind-the-scenes in hockey during these dog days of summer.

9 – GO JONNY GO: You can still get tickets for tonight’s Wednesday Night Live comedy show at Casino Regina hosted by Seattle Seahawks punter Jon Ryan. The Regina product even hinted on the SportsCage this week that he’ll host tonight’s event, and take a stab at a stand-up routine himself! That will be worth the price of admission right there. Tickets are at the Casino Regina box office or from their website.

10 – BONUS NOTES: The Regina Pats didn’t have a player selected in this weekend’s NHL Draft and that’s a surprise and a shame. But I don’t think the team will be as bad this season as everyone predicts … Can we get Teagan LittleChief to sing Oh Canada on Saturday night at the football? The Riders are 1-0 with her, and could use her good luck … The summer blockbuster Jurassic World gets the thumbs-down from me. I fell asleep twice and let me divulge the plot: people get chased and eaten by dinosaurs! Can we come up with a new theme please?

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen