Scruffy’s This N That
1 – PLAYOFF TIME: It’s the best time of the year in the CFL as the playoffs start today. However many in Rider Nation believe the playoff road for the green-and-white will be short. Hey if the past two games are any indication, all the pedestrian Saskatchewan offence has to do is score 15 points since 16 has gotten them into the win column the last two games. What’s that? Montreal and Edmonton didn’t have Davis Alexander and Cody Fajardo under center in those two games? What’s that? Nathan Rourke will be QB1 for the Lions and all he did in 2026 was throw for 4600 yards in 15 games? Yeah, the challenge will be much stiffer for the Riders defence in this one. As for the offence, if they are going to find a way to get out of the doldrums they have been in in the second half of the season, the time is obviously now.
I’ve got B.C winning this one, but I don’t have them winning this one going away. Last year, Harris and the Riders made the big play at the end to win the Western Final over the Lions. This year, I see Rourke doing that. I am shocked that at the writing of this column, the Lions are six-point favourites. I would take the Riders to cover that.
As for the Eastern semi-final, I just get the feeling this has the potential to be an ugly one. I see Toronto having their way with a no-Collaros Bombers team who I think has to take a serious look as to where they are going into 2027 as the glory days are over.
2 – CFL GAME NOTES: Here are some things to know as we hit semi-final Saturday.
- Since Montreal returned to the CFL in 1996, there has been 116 playoff games. The home team is 76-40 in those games
- Dating back to 1936, the Riders are 46-54-2 in playoff games. I do not know how you have playoff ties. If Mr. Vanstone is reading, he can weigh in.
- Winnipeg is the 14th team to crossover in the playoffs. All 14 teams to do so have gone from West to East
- The Lions have had 9 division semi-final games since 2013. They are 4-0 at home and 0-5 on the road.
3 – STATUS QUO: It can’t be too much fun being a sports fan in Calgary these days. All you have to look forward to is the opening of a brand-new arena that – much to their delight – will supposedly be better than Rogers Place just up the road which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Those who cheer for the Stampeders, and that isn’t many these days, are wondering what this off-season will bring. It’s not good when the Grey Cup host doesn’t even get into the playoffs after thoughts of being in the position their provincial rivals are in after ending 2025 with an 11-win season. They found out this week that nothing will change as Dave Dickenson will continue as GM and Head Coach. I don’t have a problem with Dickenson staying as head coach, but maybe Calgary needs to look at finding a new GM or vice-versa. When one guy is the HC/GM, the numbers aren’t great. Look at Ryan Dinwiddie in Ottawa, look at Chris Jones in his 2nd Edmonton stint and look no further than Calgary who has not won a playoff game since Dickenson assumed both roles.
Dave wasn’t a problem on the sidelines in 2025 when they won 11, but he was this year? It was an offence that led the league in points thanks to Vernon Adams and Jalen Philpot. It was a team that lost seven of nine by one score including an opening week loss to Winnipeg which tells you every game on the schedule is important, so I don’t think a rebuild is necessary. Dickenson told reporters at a season-ending availability that is what one of those years where it didn’t quite align. I don’t disagree.
4 – ONE MILLLLLLLION DOLLARS: Say that in your best Dr. Evil impression! The CFL has its first million-dollar quarterback in the salary cap era as Chad Kelly signed a five-year contract that will pay him over a million a year. If you are Nathan Rourke and Davis Alexander, you are just waiting for your contracts to come up because you will join Kelly in making a seven-figure salary. Those three are going to be the ones who lead the CFL out of the 2020’s into the 2030’s. With guys like Bo Levi Mitchell, Zach Collaros, Trevor Harris and Cody Fajardo in their mid to late 30’s or 40’s as is the case with Harris, new blood at the game’s most important position is needed. Some have a plan but do others. Teams are going to have to decide if players like
Jack Coan/Brayden Schager, Dru Brown/Taylor Elgersma, Harrison Frost and Brycen Barnes are the next thing or do they need to look elsewhere. If they don’t, how much do you pay them. The guys I have mentioned at this time aren’t even close to making the money that the established starters in the league are getting.
This money is a sign that the new TV contract established by Commissioner Stewart Johnston is already paying off. I believe I read that teams will be getting an extra 33 million per season to 83 million because of the deal. That should help in attracting some college quarterbacks that are on negotiation lists who may not be able to crack an NFL roster and can come to Canada to play at a much better salary than what current guys are getting. Take a look at those neg lists and then take a look at some QB’s playing in the NCAA like Oklahoma’s John Mateer, Utah’s Devon Dampier, Central Florida’s Alonza Barrett who is injured after tearing it up for James Madison next year and Boise State’s Maddux Madsen are all guys that could if the dollars are right come to Canada to continue their career instead of being on an NFL practice roster. Perhaps this will be what makes Kurtis Rourke decide it is time to join his brother in Canada. It doesn’t matter what league you are watching, you know an average or above average QB is needed if you have championship aspirations.
5 – NFL WEEK 8: Who had the Minnesota Vikings as the last unbeaten team in the NFL going into this weekend’s play? If you had a ticket on that, you probably got a nice return. The Vikings look to stay unbeaten in Detroit in one of the marquee games this Sunday. Here is some info to take you into Sunday’s games.
- The Vikings look to go to 7-0 for the fifth time(1973, 1975, 1998 and 2000) in franchise history.
- Since entering the NFL in 2024, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has 29 regular-season wins, third-most among starting quarterbacks, trailing only Sam Darnold (31 wins) and Josh Allen (30).
- Cardinals tight end Trey McBride has a league-high 59 receptions (season-high 10 last week) and seven receptions in all seven games, the longest streak to start a season by a TE in NFL history.
- The Rams have converted 80% of their third-and-short situations (third-and-3 or shorter), the best rate in the NFL.
6 – BACK OFF: In his opening address to New Jersey media, Connor Hellebuyck talked about how nice it will be to have some anonymity — anonymity that he didn’t have in Winnipeg. He didn’t come right out and say it, but I don’t think he liked the fact that he and his family were so recognizable in the Manitoba capital which was part of his rationale for wanting to leave. I understand that!
There are some, not all, that simply won’t respect private time for the athletes they cheer on. These guys have lives too and there are times they don’t really want to interact with fans for obvious reasons. They want to walk down the streets where hardly anyone recognizes them. I still vividly remember seeing three Riders walking into a Regina Brewhouse location to watch Monday Night Football several years ago. All three saw me and we exchanged greetings before they went to sit down. They couldn’t enjoy the game because fans kept getting in their face wanting pics and to interact with a Rider. The three left at halftime because of that because they wanted to enjoy a night out and couldn’t because of people who would not respect their boundaries. That’s just one of several examples I have seen, and I have heard of many others.
This just in. Unless there is an event being put on by the football team, leave these guys alone! They are just as entitled as you to go out and have a meal, watch a movie or do something with their families. Most want to be a part of the community and sometimes you won’t let them regardless of the record. Hey, if you want to stop a player or coach and say a quick word on the season and not be demeaning that’s fine but that’s it. You don’t need to engage in a conversation, and you don’t need to pull the phone out for a selfie. Let them be. Remember when Connor McDavid got mobbed when he and his wife came out of an Edmonton liquor store as they went out to get supplies for a team gathering. Connor was good about it, but he doesn’t need that. I am guessing he isn’t heading to Chapters or any other store at West Ed for fear of being recognized. Imagine him pulling up to a Tim’s or Starbucks for a coffee before going to the morning skate. YIKES!
Make no doubt about it that this was not the only reason Hellebuyck wanted out of Winnipeg, but you know his perception went south when he won the gold medal and that he and his family heard about it.
7 – THANKS, BUT NO THANKS: Teams and leagues like unveiling new jerseys in the hopes that fans will flock to the team store or Fanatics to shell out $200 or more for one. The NHL is introducing some “Hometown Remix” jerseys and if what was shown this week is actually the look that some teams will skate onto the ice with this year, no thanks! 20 of the 32 were displayed and honestly, I don’t like any of them. There are some that are OK, but many are pure trash in my opinion. If you’ve seen them, thoughts?
8 – THANKS, BUT NO THANKS PART 2: The former president of the Miami Marlins told a podcast this week that he thinks we don’t need baseball on radio anymore. Look, I will be the first to tell you that radio isn’t what it used to be especially in the 306 where one company believes shows out of Alberta are the answer instead of going local or staying in province, but this might be one of the worst takes I have ever heard.
Baseball is perhaps the best sport to listen to on the radio. What baseball, and sports in general, doesn’t need is David Samson.
9 – HE SAID WHAT?: Nikita Kucherov dropped a bomb on the NHL universe late Friday when he said he wasn’t going to re-sign with the Lightning and is asking for a trade. This is the last year of an eight-year, $73-million-dollar contract that he is playing on so barring something changing, the Lightning will likely move him somewhere. Guessing Dylan Larkin wasn’t impressed upon hearing this as his trade request now moves to the backburner. Have Leafs fans started getting Kucherov jerseys made up knowing he will be playing with McDavid? (insert eyeroll). Seeing what type of trade Tampa can get for the reigning MVP on an expiring contract will be interesting to watch. Damn I’d laugh he went to Winnipeg!
10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS:
- I thought the Trent Frederic-Jack McBain fight was the fight of the year in the NHL, but Tanner Jeannot and Nic Deslauriers took the title from them this week. We are just hitting November too.
- People that have conversations via speaker phone with whoever at the grocery store are people we need to call out on a consistent basis.
- Like last year and this year’s logo for the Grey Cup, the one we are seeing for the 2027 game at Mosaic Stadium is extremely underwhelming. The league has lost its creativity with this file.
- Is it just me or does Landon Ferraro sound a lot like his Dad. That’s not a bad thing either seeing Ray is one of the best at what he does.
That’s all I got. Have a great week and Happy Hallowe’en!
