10 MIDWEEK THINGS FOR REALTY ONE

1 – BYE WEEK BLUES: Rider fans are missing their beloved Jolly Green Giants. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are officially the hottest team in the CFL, currently riding a 4-game win streak and sitting in a 3-way tie for 2nd-place in the CFL West at 5-3. They are just a game back of the 6-2 Winnipeg Blue Bombers for top spot. Hands up for everyone who saw this coming? I’ll admit, I did not. If you’re a regular reader of this column, you’ll know I’ve been a staunch supporter of the O’Day/Dickenson tandem but I didn’t foresee them being this good, this fast.

2 – PLAN THE PARADE?: Not just yet. The Green & White are winless against West Division teams who have a winning record (0-1) and the tough games haven’t even begun yet.  However football is as much about confidence and cohesion as it is about X’s and O’s. The Riders appear to be a confident, tight-knit bunch. They will need that for the second half of the 2019 season. The talent is there.

3 – FAJARDOGS: From Jesus Sprinkles to Corndogs, Rider analyst Marshall Hamilton is correct when he says Cody Fajardo is “a marketer’s dream”. However the 27-year old pivot is also due to become a free agent after this season. It would seem it behooves Rider GM Jeremy O’Day to get Fajardo locked into a contract extension pronto but the Catch 22 is, for how much and for how long? Although Fajardo has reportedly caused NFL and XFL scouts to sit up and take notice, he still hasn’t won anything substantial, nor have we seen how he performs in cold weather or clutch situations.

4 – MORE ON CODY: If I was his agent – and I don’t know who that is – I’d be telling the Brea, CA product to be patient and not be thinking about contract matters at this time. Fajardo is sitting in an enviable spot (a lot of teams seem to want him), and all he has to do is keep proving himself on a weekly basis. He’s passed every test so far. Regarding those who have an issue with Fajardo’s repeated references to God or Jesus, we say “get a life”. He can say whatever he wants. His life seems to be going very well.

5 – WEEK 9: It was a strange one. The Bombers won, but their fans were ticked off and are checking out on QB Matt Nichols. Meanwhile the Stampeders lost and their fans just shrugged their shoulders. Those attitudes reflect the mood of each market. Calgary doesn’t sweat the small stuff while Winnipeg wants a Grey Cup more than anybody’s ever wanted anything and the pressure is boiling over. … Meanwhile, Ticats CB Frankie Williams literally choking Lions WR Duron Carter was distasteful to witness, and should’ve landed Williams a disqualification. That’s at least as egregious as a punch. Where were the officials on that? We expect to hear about it in the league’s weekly supplementary discipline announcement. In fact, the Lions got hosed on a lot of calls but unfortunately that happens when you’re in the position they find themselves in.

6 – LOVE A RAINY NIGHT: We have no issue with the CFL’s new weather protocol. And that’s regardless of who won Friday’s Saskatchewan/Montreal rainout game. The CFL is, in fact, ahead of the curve by instituting such a policy. The NFL weather protocol basically states, “Ask the Commissioner”. If anything, the new rule could be tweaked to allow for a 2-hour wait rather than just 60-minutes, but a rule is a rule and they followed it. Case closed.

7 – HALL OF FAME: TSN did a real nice job of interviews with the 2019 Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductees during Saturday’s Hall of Fame game in Hamilton. However it’s still a sore spot that we can’t access the induction speeches of Jon Cornish, Jim Hopson, Mervyn Fernandez and the like from Friday evening’s induction ceremony at Tim Hortons Field. TV executives tell me the induction wasn’t televised because no one would watch. I counter with, “How would we know until we try?” It’s a true chicken and the egg situation. Oh well, I seem to be the only one who cares. Hoppy will paraphrase his speech this week on The Rod Pedersen Show.

8 – STAMPS EXCELLENCE: Something struck me while watching the Stamps/Bombers game — look at the key decision-makers with Calgary >> John Hufnagel, Dave Dickenson, Ryan Dinwiddie and Marc Mueller. All quarterbacks. Huff is clearly onto something. (And none of them had anything to do with the Stamps’ special teams implosion that night). However why is no one making a big deal out of Stamps Defensive Coordinator Brent Monson wearing his hat backwards? That’s at least as inappropriate as the crooked cap of Lions coach Devone Claybrooks, if either is inappropriate at all.

9 – NFL ODDS: Who will be the first coach firing in the NFL this season? The top 3 in terms of odds are Jay Gruden (Redskins), Pat Shurmur (Giants) and Matt Patricia (Lions). Jason Garrett of my Dallas Cowboys is listed as 10th … Who will finish dead last? The oddsmakers say the bottom three, in order, are the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Is Garth Brooks running for Premier? Judging by Facebook, Brooks took selfies with each of the 80,000 people who attended the 2 shows at Mosaic Stadium over the weekend. … We missed it but our family reunion in Calgary came off just fine, thank you very much. … Former Regina Pats captain Colten Teubert is the head coach of the WSHL’s Bellingham Blazers. Why is my inbox being jammed full of news and info from the WSHL? They are becoming impossible to ignore. … Headed to Emma Lake, SK this weekend and I can’t wait! Perhaps I’ll see Mike Babcock on the lake. … The WMBL’s East Final comes down to Game 3 in the Best-of-3 Wednesday evening at Currie Field. Regina and Swift Current are tied up 1-1. First pitch is at 7:05 pm. … The CEBL’s Saskatchewan Rattlers are home to the Guelph Knighthawks Thursday at 7 pm at SaskTel Centre and The Rod Pedersen Show will be there. … Some have scoffed at Rattlers attendance in this inaugural season but are they not, on average, outdrawing the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades? Please discuss. … If Sam Eguavoen can make the Miami Dolphins, then Derrick Moncrief can make the NFL too. Enjoy him now.

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen