DAYTONA HOMES MONDAY MORNING GOALIE

5 MONDAY MORNING LEFTOVERS:

1 – RIDERS 24 ESKIMOS 17:  The nip in the air of minus-10 degrees Celsius Sunday morning somehow didn’t feel that bad.  A Roughriders’ win on a frigid night before over the Edmonton Eskimos somehow made the current chilly temperatures feel much more bearable.  The Riders snapped a five-game slide with that win over the Evil Empire and they can feel good about themselves heading into the 2014 Canadian Football League Playoffs.  And it’s true what they say – the fortunes of the Green & White greatly impact the mood of the Wheat Province.

If nothing else, the Saskatchewan Roughriders proved some of the naysayers wrong.  Anyone who said “The Riders won’t win another game” after the Darian Durant injury were proven wrong Saturday night.

The Riders finished the regular season at 10-8 which is a game better than my preseason prediction of 9-9.  I’m glad to be wrong on that one.

What’s most impressive about Saturday’s victory is it was finally a team win.  They had several back-ups on the field and they were left to preserve the much-needed victory.  The Eskimos roared back from a 24-7 deficit but couldn’t finish the deal.  And the Rider special teams came up with a much-needed takeaway in the final minute to seal it.  That’s the kind of game everyone can feel good about because they were all part of it.

2 – QUARTERBACKS STATUS:  So there will be plenty of secrecy this week as the Riders prepare to visit the Eskimos in Sunday’s CFL WSF.  The Riders will hold their regular practice week Wednesday to Friday and they will all be closed to the public.  Thursday’s Day 2 is closed to the media as well.  I’m guessing whomever reports Darian Durant’s involvement in the workouts will be suitably skinned alive.

Rider GM Brendan Taman confirmed on Saturday’s CKRM pregame show that Durant will have an on-field role in Sunday’s playoff game but declined to say what it is.  He either didn’t know or didn’t want to say.  Head coach Corey Chamblin says he’ll make his final decision on the starting quarterback after Day 2 but he’s not obligated to make it public.  Why would he?

As for the Eskimos, Chamblin said the hoopla surrounding starting pivot Mike Reilly is likely “a ruse”.  (RUSE: Pronounced /Rooz – An action intended to deceive someone.  A trick).  We’ve heard he’s suffering from everything from a broken toe, broken ankle or broken bone in his foot.  His status will be a closely-guarded secret all week as well.

My prediction is that the quarterback match-up in the Western Semifinal will be Durant vs Reilly.  Will it be Reilly’s first career playoff start?  I think so.  Durant has had countless playoff starts – as you know – and has led the Riders to three Grey Cups.  Advantage Saskatchewan there.

Kickoff in the 2014 CFL WSF on Sunday will be 3:30 pm Sask time on 620 CKRM radio and our network affiliates.  The advance forecast calls for sunshine and a high of minus-4 degrees Celsius.

3 – WIN OR GO HOME:  So we’re now down to the single elimination tournament in the CFL known as the playoffs.  Many people asked over the course of the past week if I preferred if the Roughriders went West or East in the postseason and the answer was simple: I’m just happy the Riders are back in the dance.  Winnipeg (again), Ottawa and Toronto are on the outside looking in and that’s a horrible feeling.  It’s just wonderful that the Riders have the opportunity to repeat as Grey Cup champions and that Durant’s injury did not derail the season (although I suppose it still could).

However no matter how it ends, some within the Rider braintrust are already thinking about the club’s quarterbacking situation for 2015.  Many Rider fans are suggesting Kerry Joseph be retained as a #2 behind Darian Durant and that a #3 should be developed behind him.  Others are suggesting K-J be kept on staff as the Quarterbacks Coach or Offensive Assistant.

None of that will happen.  Kerry wants to go into coaching, but he wants it to be in the USA.  He was approached by two CFL teams last spring about a coaching position but he declined in order to pursue a training camp coaching internship with the New Orleans Saints.

Kerry will possibly resurface in the CFL as a coach one day, but don’t it won’t be any time soon.

4 – YEAR-END AWARDS:  The CFL is missing the boat when it comes to some of their year-end awards.  For instance, the NHL has a GM of the Year Award (which I’ve long championed the CFL to emulate) plus the Masterton Trophy.  The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.  If a similar trophy was handed out in the CFL – the Terry Evanshen Trophy for instance – my vote would go to Rob Bagg who came back from potentially career-ending knee injuries to lead Saskatchewan in receiving in 2014.

As for the GM of the Year Award in 2014?  I think you’d have to go with Edmonton’s Ed Hervey.

I’ve begun to the think the Riders could hand out an “Unsung Hero Award” like the Regina Pats do and if they did, it could be handed to Brian Peters.  The sophomore linebacker became just the fifth player in CFL history to record 75+ defensive tackles and 20+ special teams tackles in a season.  Who were the other four?  Only CFL stars George White, Willie Pless, O.J. Brigance and Brendan Ayanbedejo.

Meanwhile the NHL is reportedly considering changing the name of its awards like the Ross, the Hart, the Selke, etc. because the young generation doesn’t know who those forefathers of hockey are.   HERE’S AN IDEA:   LEARN WHO THEY ARE!!!

Sometimes these things upset me so much they turn my stomach.

Almost as much as watching Marc Trestman’s Chicago Bears get spanked on Sunday Night Football in Green Bay.  Yeesh, that was ugly.

5 – NHL STUFF:  You see the models from Bodog.net above displaying the odds of the Canadian NHL teams.  Hey blame Bodog for the picture, not me!  Or thank them, if that’s how you feel.  But here are the odds of Canada’s NHL teams to collect the most regular season points:

Montreal Canadiens – 1/1
Vancouver Canucks – 2/1
Ottawa Senators – 5/1
Toronto Maple Leafs – 11/2
Edmonton Oilers – 7/1
Winnipeg Jets – 11/1
Calgary Flames 20/1

For those planning to go to Edmonton for Sunday’s Western Semifinal, you may want to take in the Edmonton Oilers-Arizona Coyotes NHL game that evening at Rexall Place.  Faceoff is 7:00 pm.  I’d love to stay for it but I expect the team charter will depart right after the game.

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Rider Radio analyst Carm Carteri’s assessment of Saturday’s win over Edmonton:

CC: “It was a wild one Roddy!  We really didn’t know what to expect Saturday night.  Some people thought it would just be a preseason game but boy it started out as a real playoff football match.  Both these teams were real physical early and you could see a lot of animosity out there on the field.  But the Riders prevailed and that’s the big thing you’ve gotta take into the playoffs; that this is a football team that hasn’t tasted a win in awhile.  This is a big win for that team to get into that locker room and feel good about what they did Saturday night.  They now know they have to go to Edmonton next week and do it all over again.”

HOW BIG WAS THE WIN MENTALLY?

CC: “It was a team effort and that’s why it’s such a big win for this football team.  Everybody in that locker room can feel like they really contributed to this win.  Nobody really stood out – it was a team effort and they really dominated until late in the game.  They had a fumble inside their 10-yard line that gave Edmonton a little bit of life where they scored a TD and that was the only blemish on the game.  Special teams, offensively, defensively, they really played well.  I thought that offensive line started to dominate early and you can only hope Chris Best can come back healthy with Brendon Labatte as well and get these guys meshing again.

“You’ll see this team running the ball and then you’ve got that variable of who’s going to be at quarterback next week?  Kerry Joseph did a great job, Tino came up with a great throw to Rob Bagg for a touchdown, but Darian Durant will be a key this next week in Regina and we’ll keep everybody informed on that one.”

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CONGRATS TO C.C. BUT I THOUGHT HE WAS ALREADY IN THE HALL?

TSN congratulates Chris Cuthbert, the network’s esteemed play-by-play announcer, on being honoured by the Football Reporters of Canada as one of this year’s inductees into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame’s Media Wing.

Cuthbert will be formally inducted at the Football Reporters of Canada’s annual gathering on the morning of Grey Cup Sunday (November 30). Later that day, Cuthbert will call TSN’s live coverage of the 102nd GREY CUP from BC Place in Vancouver – marking his 16th appearance in the booth for a Grey Cup broadcast.

Chris Cuthbert is being honoured by the Football Reporters of Canada as one of this year’s inductees into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame’s Media Wing. Cuthbert is calling his 16th Grey Cup on Sunday, Nov. 30 during TSN’s live coverage of the 102nd GREY CUP at 6 p.m. ET.

“As one of the best broadcasters in the business, Chris is quite simply a master of his craft,” said Stewart Johnston, President, TSN. “His impressive list of accomplishments is a reflection of the intense preparation and pure passion that he brings to every broadcast. He has done so much to elevate the game from a broadcast perspective. We join the rest of the football community in congratulating Chris on this very well-deserved honour.”

A sports broadcasting veteran of more than 30 years, Cuthbert joined TSN in June 2005 as a play-by-play announcer for the network’s CFL and hockey coverage. In 2006, Cuthbert and CFL ON TSN analyst Glen Suitor won a Gemini Award for Best Sports Play-By-Play or Analyst for their work on TSN’s CFL broadcasts. Cuthbert also won a Gemini Award in 1998 as Best Sports Broadcaster, and in 2004 was recognized by Sports Media Canada as Sportscaster of the Year.

Throughout his celebrated career, Cuthbert has been the voice of some of the biggest moments in sports, calling the action for numerous Grey Cups, Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Olympic Games, including the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, where he delivered the call of Sidney Crosby’s iconic overtime winner in the gold medal game, which has since become known simply as “the golden goal.” Cuthbert won a Gemini Award for Best Sports Play-By-Play Announcer for his call of the game, which remains the most-watched television broadcast in Canadian history with 16.7 million viewers.

Cuthbert joins fellow TSN broadcasters Matt Dunigan, Milt Stegall, and Brian Williams and the late TSN producer Paul McLean in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

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NFL WEEK 10 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Exactly how badly Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer’s left knee was damaged – and how long he’ll be replaced by backup Drew Stanton – might not be known until Monday or Tuesday.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was already in spin mode on Sunday, though.

“Everyone has confidence in Drew,” Arians said. “Nothing drops off.”

Tough to tell whether he was trying to persuade himself or his players or future opponents.

Whatever the case, it was not ideal for Arizona to have Palmer driven away on a cart during what would become a 31-14 victory over the St. Louis Rams.

The Cardinals improved to an NFL-best 8-1 – the first time they’ve had that record since 1948, when the franchise was based in Chicago – heading into next week’s showdown against Detroit, which is 7-2.

Arizona is unbeaten this season in games started by Palmer, who got a three-year contract extension just a couple of days ago but now has hurt the same knee in which he tore ligaments in a 2006 playoff game.

And even if Stanton did lead Arizona to a couple of victories as a starter this season when Palmer had a shoulder problem, there is little doubt which quarterback would be better to have on the field when December or January rolls around.

The good news for Arians and the Cardinals is that they can lean on their defence, if need be.

After Palmer left against St. Louis, Patrick Peterson had two interceptions – returning the second 30 yards for a touchdown – and another defensive back, Antonio Cromartie, picked up a fumble and carried the ball 14 yards for another defensive TD.

In case you missed it, here are the other top topics after the NFL season’s 10th Sunday:

A HALF-DOZEN IN A HALF: QBs are tying or breaking record after record this season, and the latest installment was Aaron Rodgers’ six touchdown passes in the first half of Green Bay’s 55-14 win against Chicago at night. Tough to decide which was harder to fathom: that Rodgers accumulated a half-dozen TD tosses in the span of two quarters or that he wasn’t the first to do it in an NFL game (Oakland’s Daryle Lamonica, 1969). The flip side, of course, is that coach Marc Trestman’s Bears are a disaster, getting outscored 87-7 in the first halves of their past three games combined.

PEYTON WON’T GO: Apparently, Peyton Manning was not quite ready to leave Denver’s 41-17 victory at Oakland until he was good and ready to leave. A video clip from the CBS broadcast of the game made the rounds on Twitter, showing Manning’s backup, Brock Osweiler, preparing to enter the lopsided game – until he turned to see Manning leaving the sideline to go back in. Eventually, though, Manning decided enough was enough after his ninth career game with at least five touchdown passes, and Osweiler mopped up by throwing five passes.

PUSH OR FLOP?: The Saints lost to the 49ers 27-24 in overtime – ending a 20-game home winning streak for New Orleans coach Sean Payton, who missed a year because of the bounty case – after an apparent touchdown toss from Drew Brees to Jimmy Graham on the last play of regulation was wiped out by a call of offensive pass interference on the tight end. Graham made contact with defensive back Perrish Cox, who might have added a bit of, um, embellishment to his fall to the turf. “Definitely not a push-off. I’m running down the field and I’m telling myself not to push off. ‘Whatever you do, don’t push off. Just go up and get it,”’ Graham said. “It’s interesting, you know, how guys grab me everywhere on the field and I put literally two fingers on somebody and you make that kind of call.”

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THAT’S ALL! SEE YOU IN THE CAGE MONDAY AT 4 PM
RP
@sportscage