FRIDAY SHOW RECAP: FOOTBALL FRIDAY WITH THE INSIDERS!

Friday was Episode #116 of The Rod Pedersen Show. Here are the highlights!

• On the eve of the CFL Conference Championship games, Rod and Producer Clark opened the show with the Rollout for Flooring Superstore. They got the previews rolling for the East Final featuring Edmonton at Hamilton followed by the West Final with Winnipeg at Saskatchewan. As far as the Riders/Bombers game goes, the theme continues that the Riders’ fortunes rest on the health of QB Cody Fajardo and that it’s looking like he’ll play despite not being 100%. The guys also said that tons of Bomber fans are invading Mosaic Stadium this weekend smelling blood in the water.
• CFL Insider Kirk Penton from The Athletic was the first video chat guest as he joined the show from his home in Kelowna. He picked the Ticats and Bombers to advance to the Grey Cup and discussed what a story it would be for Bomber QB Zach Collaros to face his former team from Hamilton in the Grey Cup. Kirk also talked about how he’d like to see more CFL coverage with The Athletic and he’s lobbying for it. “Whether they like to admit it or not, Canadians love the CFL,” Penton said.
• RP Show Director of Scouting Craig Smith and Riders/Bombers/Renegades alum Mike Abou-Mechrek joined the bunker to give their take on the weekend games. The crew universally took the Ticats to win in the East, but are split on the Western game. They also delved deeply into the defensive schemes which will be employed by Winnipeg’s Richie Hall and Saskatchewan’s Jason Shivers.
• News broke during the show that the NFL handed out a slew of suspensions and fines in the wake of the brawl on Thursday Night Football between the Browns and Steelers. Fans asked how Clevelend’s Myles Garrett could be suspended indefinitely for swinging a helmet at an opponent while Montreal’s Vernon Adams Jr. got only a 1-game suspension for doing the same thing? Abou said the two incidents are not similar.
• The Voice of the Ticats Marshall Ferguson joined the show and said The Hammer is Ticats crazy at the moment. Obviously he feels his team is primed to take the next step and advance to the 107th Grey Cup. He also offered his take on this weekend’s Mitchell Bowl and Uteck Bowl in U-Sports Football.
• Vegas Golden Knights Insider Gary Lawless joined the show from Nevada. Gary – the former CFL Insider for TSN out of Winnipeg – said the Bombers have a lot going for them heading into this game and obviously he’s rooting for The Blue. He sensed that Bomber head coach Mike O’Shea will have a hand in the defensive play calls against the Riders.
• CFL Alumni Executive Director Leo Ezerins joined the show from Hamilton sporting a Ticats team jacket. Rod asked who he’s cheering for on Sunday? 🙂 Leo also talked about the annual CFLAA Legends Luncheon to be held in Calgary next Friday. Rod said it’s the best event at Grey Cup annually. Leo also talked about the famed Angelo Mosca/Joe Kapp fight at the Legends Luncheon at the 2011 Grey Cup in Vancouver, and how their on-stage fight drew millions of views on social media at the time.
• The daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question was: Who will win the CFL Division Finals? The majority of respondents predicted that Saskatchewan and Hamilton will advance.
• In honour of show #116 the guys recognized sports figures who’ve worn number-16 in their career and the group includes Dale Derkatch, Brandon Bridge, Mitch Marner, Darcy Tucker, Mike Sillinger, Tom Burgess, Joe Montana, Brett Hull, Dan Hodgson, Brandon Sutter, Bobby Clarke and Bryan Burnham.
• Friday’s show is available for viewing now on our Facebook Page or you can listen to the podcast by clicking on the PODCAST tab at the top of this page.
• See you at 10 am CT on Monday as we’ll discuss the biggest weekend of football so far!