10 WEEKEND THINGS

1 – BREAK UP THE ESKS: If the first two weeks are any indication, CFL fans are in for a wild summer. On an almost game-in, game-out basis, we’ve been treated to back and forth slugfests including Friday night’s 39-23 Edmonton victory over BC. The Esks are 2-0 and look very strong. Hall of Famer Tom Shepherd tabbed Edmonton as the winners of free agency this winter and it appears he’s right.

2 – NATION’S CAPITAL: Shepherd also surmised the RedBlacks were the biggest losers in free agency but the 2-0 RedBlacks have served up a big crowburger to all their critics. Sure their fans must’ve had tears streaming down their cheeks watching the Harris-to-Ellingson hook-ups Friday night (how could that happen so seamlessly?) but GM Marcel Desjardins has again proven he’s sharp as a tack. One day, when the CFL finally creates a GM of the Year Award, they’ll need to engrave Marcel’s name on it retroactively.

3 – LIONS: At 0-2, BC is getting heaps of criticism. Most notably, for giving free agent QB Mike Reilly $700,000 per season but not providing him an adequate offensive line. However this is an entirely new locker room with a first-year CFL coaching staff. They will come together, but, judging by early records, the BC/Saskatchewan games could determine who makes the playoffs or not. The Lions just seem to have too much talent to lose for long.

4 – BOMBERS: It’s a shame 3 teams (the Bombers, Alouettes and Stampeders) are on a bye so early in the schedule but they probably welcomed the break after a gruelling training camp. It’s only a shame because the Blue Bombers might be the funnest team to watch right now. They are the best team in the CFL and there’s only one thing that will stop them this year: Themselves.

5 – RIDERS: At 0-2, the sky is not falling for Canada’s Team but it’s dipping that way. Thursday’s 44-41 loss at Ottawa was a tough pill to swallow for many reasons, but the biggest one for me is that I predicted them to win. That’s the confidence I’ve placed in QB Cody Fajardo who looked like a Hall of Famer at TD Place. But what, pray tell, happened to the defense? With QB play like that, this team is talented enough to be a contender in the West but they’ve got so much to work on. The hole can’t get much deeper.

6 – JONES: We still talk about Don Mathews around here (1991-93) so we will assuredly be talking about Chris Jones for decades to come. One Jones disciple – an ex-player – mentioned to me after Thursday’s game that the “fear of Jones” is gone and that accounts for the lacklustre performance on defense in Ottawa. Who knows? And could Jones have done any better job of convincing Mike Reilly, Bo Levi Mitchell or Trevor Harris to sign in Saskatchewan this off-season than his replacements did? So many questions, so few answers.

7 – FLIGHT DECK: The Alouettes continue to be must-see TV. They almost pulled off an upset in Edmonton in Week 1 under rookie head coach Khari Jones, and appear to be much better than people have given them credit for. They’ve got a lot of talent but it didn’t help that QB Antonio Pipkin went on the injured list for 4-6 weeks. Now Air Canada, QB Brandon Bridge, is in town to rekindle his career. Will this be the stint where Brandon reaches his potential?

8 – AMBROSIE VS CFLPA: For some reason the wonderful CFL has always been a tremendous product on the field but suffered from a credibility issue off of it. The spat between Commissioner Randy Ambrosie and Players Association Exec. Director Brian Ramsay this week over the Simoni Lawrence suspension only underscores that. The salvo fired by the Commissioner Wednesday night at the P-A initiating this war seemed very “un-Ambrosie-like” to me, and I’d love to know who advised him to say that.  He has since recanted his statement which makes me think those weren’t his words in the first place.

9 – TAILGATING: The Canadian Armed Forces Regina Rifles Tailgate Party runs 3:00-5:00 pm on Canada Day prior to the Riders-Argos. It’s on the grass south of the Armoury and features Food Trucks, Live Music, Face Painting & Family Games. All proceeds go to both the junior ranks and senior ranks Officers Mess. See you there!

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Thanks for all the messages, flowers, cards and support this past week with the passing of our wonderful Mom Judi Pedersen. I still can’t believe it happened but the support from everyone has made it easier for our family to get through. … Marleau and two 1st round picks to Carolina for a 6th? Is that a typo?? … We’ve done 15 episodes of The Rod Pedersen Show on Facebook Live and RodPedersen.com and it’s gone over way better than we’d hoped! The support from the sports figures has been overwhelming including Jim Hopson, Gene Makowsky, Wes Cates, Chris Getzlaf, Dave Tippett, Theo Fleury, Milt Stegall, Jay Onrait, Geroy Simon, Travis Lulay, Ben Hebert, Gary Lawless, Jim Lang, Pete Loubardias and a long, long list of others! I love that we are a show for the entire CFL, western NHL teams, the Dub, Junior A and much more. Thank you to all. … Chicago Blackhawks fans are criticizing the selection of Saskatoon forward Kirby Dach at #3. I ask you, have you actually ever seen him play? … Sincerest apologies to the Toronto Raptors for counting them out when they were down 0-2 to Milwaukee in Round 3. This whole run has been sensational. Here’s hoping they get Richard Peddie a ring, since he was the driving force behind landing that franchise for Toronto. … Speaking of, since Drake gets an NBA championship ring, can he be used as a Global Ambassador for the Toronto Argonauts as well as the Raptors? I’ll be looking for him today when the Argos host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen

(Photo: @EdmontonEsks)