10 WEEKEND THINGS
1 – RAIDERVILLE: The hot topic in the 306 remains the rumour of an NFL preseason game to be played at Mosaic Stadium in August between the Oakland Raiders and the Green Bay Packers. But it’s more than a rumour. My sources tell me that the deal isn’t signed yet, there are still some hurdles to clear, but we can still expect the game to be played. For anyone who hasn’t attended an NFL game before, this will be a glorious opportunity. Sure the big names of the Raiders and Packers won’t be in uniform, but who cares? Raiders coach Jon Gruden will be patrolling the sidelines and seeing “Chucky” in Regina is good enough for me! However as anyone in business knows, until the agreement is finalized there’s still the chance this may not happen.
2 – LULAY’S LEAK: I can’t imagine the Roughriders were too happy that Travis Lulay spilled the beans that he turned down an offer from Saskatchewan before deciding to retire last week. That was a cue that the Roughriders still aren’t settled on their QB position and the last time I checked, that’s still the most important position on the field.
3 – QB SCARCITY: I asked one veteran CFL coach this week why there’s an extreme shortage of quality QBs in the CFL right now. He said, “Because it’s an extremely difficult position to play.” The coach pointed to players like Lulay and Ricky Ray who bounced around the NFL, World League and AFL before even setting foot in Canada. Rushing QBs straight from NCAA to starting in the CFL has ruined scores of careers over the past few years. Every team and fanbase longs to develop the “next one” but no team has the luxury of time anymore in a Win Now business.
4 – T-JACK: Tristan Jackson signing a one-day contract to retire as a Roughrider on Thursday was a good news story. Because of his heroic efforts on the field, T-Jack was the first player to ever get me to look up the word “indefatigable”, and learn how to pronounce it. The definition is “Of a person or their efforts persisting tirelessly” and that describes Tristan to a T. There were games where it seemed he never came off the field. Because of his Grey Cup championship in 2013 and setting a CFL record on a 129-yard MFG return TD, it says here that T-Jack is Plaza of Honour-worthy.
5 – ALL HEART: Tristan Jackson at 5’6″ and Weston Dressler at 5’7″ could never play on a Chris Jones team. CJ was all about “measurables” and favoured long-limbed, gargatuan physical freaks to make up his roster. However in the end, that never produced a championship in Jones’ time here. But you can’t measure heart, and that’s what make Jackson and Dressler Hall of Famers. Tremendous Roughriders.
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6 – JOHNNY FOOTBALL: It’s mind-boggling that some football experts theorize that Johnny Manziel purposely broke the conditions of his deal with the CFL in order to get a shot in the AAF. There’s just simply no way. I understand that normal people – we call them “earthlings” in Recovery – can’t fathom why people like Manziel do the things that they do. But I understand them completely. For instance, who in their right mind would be okay with headlines all over the USA that blared, “MANZIEL KICKED OUT OF CANADA”? Trouble just follows some people, and Johnny Manziel is one.
7 – ANCHORS AWAY: We anxiously await the update coming from the Atlantic Schooners about the franchise’s next move. Ownership frontman Anthony Leblanc says we’ll get it by the end of the month. The word I’m getting is that the Schooners won’t be hiring anyone until their stadium deal is secured and that’s not expected until June at the earliest.
8 – COMBINING: One player to keep an eye on at the CFL’s National Combine later this month in Toronto is receiver Brayden Lenius-Dickey. The Regina product is the son of former Roughriders WR Troy Dickey and he’s a CFL star in the making. I watched him with Washington in the 2018 Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix and he was exceptional. Meanwhile the Western Regional Combine goes this week in Edmonton and it includes Regina Rams players Kyle Moortgat (WR), Ryan Schienbein (WR), Cord Delinte (DB), Cole Benkic (LB) and Layne Hull (LB). Thunder OL Chad Teskey will participate as well as Huskies QB Kyle Siemens.
9 – R.P. UPDATE: For those wondering what I’ve been up to, I’m working full-time in the Recovery Coaching business assisting athletes in both the pro and junior ranks with Mental Health and Substance Abuse issues. It’s not glamorous, but it’s intensely rewarding to see these guys reach their potential. It’s also anonymous. … That’s the strange part for me right now. I had my first radio show at age 16 (ironically 2019 marks 30 years in the media business) but this new career is entirely out of the limelight. I’m liking it. I’m very happy and my businesses Pedersen Media Inc. (Publishing), Pedersen Recovery Inc. and Famoso Pizzeria are all currently thriving. I’ll be on the air again before long in a significant way but at this time there is no rush. Thank you for your interest.
10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: With 9 hours of curling per day on TSN with the Brier and Scotties, how much of the TV revenue are the curlers actually getting? … Meanwhile I find the championship round of these events very confusing. … With the current legal problems of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, there’s no need to boycott Kraft products. It’s not the same family. Keep enjoying your Kraft Dinner. … With the Pats about to miss the playoffs in 2019, which WHL playoff team will be the rooting interest around here? The Moose Jaw Warriors are the obvious geographical choice but the P.A. Raiders may be the sentimental favourite. They’ve been through a lot this year. … The SJHL Survivor Series opened Friday with Flin Flon trouncing Weyburn 7-3 and Yorkton beating Notre Dame 4-2. The Bombers and Terriers take 1-0 leads in the Best-of-3’s. I’ll be doing colour commentary on the Hounds broadcast Sunday evening from the Dunc. … Thursday was National Cereal Day. My Top 3: Quaker Harvest Crunch, Vector and Frosted Flakes! … There’s still time to register for the Champion Your Own Success Conference in Winnipeg next Saturday. Athletes and their families are invited to join CFL Coach Paul LaPolice, Mental Strength Coach Shayne McGowan, Nutrition Coach Jacques Delorme and me (Mental Health & Substance Abuse Prevention) at the Clarion Hotel & Suites for this one-day event. It’s only $50!. For more info or to register click here.
Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen