FOOTBALL FRIDAY RECAP: BENEFIELD, SCIANITTI & ANWAR STEWART JOIN!

The CFL remains front-and-centre in the news and that was the big topic on Episode #254 of The Rod Pedersen Show! Here are the highlights:

• Rod and Dupes opened with The Rollout covering these Quick Six show topics: 1) CFL players and the CFLPA criticize Randy Ambrosie on Twitter, 2) Opening night in CFL Sim 2020 saw Edmonton down BC 26-17, 3) Pete Carroll says he regrets not signing Colin Kaepernick, 4) John Harbaugh says it’s “humanly impossible” to comply with Health & Safety regulations as NFL training camps near, 5) Warren Moon appears on The Herd With Colin Cowherd and The Dan Patrick Show, and 6) More Canada West cancellation fallout (some coaches are hopping mad).
• On the CFL Return To Play debate, Rod said he hasn’t chosen a side because it’s still a contentious issue and he sees it from all sides. Hall of Fame Rider broadcaster John “Frenzy” Lynch joined the bunker and said the players deserve a decision on the 2020 season from Commissioner Ambrosie. The guys also debated Thursday’s CFL Sim results and while Lynch was somewhat befuddled by it all, viewers asked where they can watch Friday night’s doubleheader with Toronto at Ottawa and Montreal at Calgary. You can watch at www.twitch.tv under the account Nhacker49. Lions WR Bryan Burnham Tweeted “Ouch” once he saw the score.
• The daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question was: Who do you support in the CFL Return To Play situation – CFL, Players or Both? The overwhelming majority voted for “Both”.
• Always-opinionated All Star linebacker and former CFL On CBC commentator Daved Benefield joined the show from Vancouver. He discussed the plight of the CFL at the moment and then gravitated to his favourite topic; CFL marketing. Mr. Furious feels the CFL should follow the NBA marketing model of allowing the players to be themselves and celebrate their social media accounts. For instance, fans may not be Stampeders fans but they could very well be Bo Levi Mitchell fans. He also talked about the U-Sports cancellations (he’s a former assistant coach with UBC) and said “it’s a crime” that Canadians can watch a plethora of NCAA football games but not the Huskies at Thunderbirds on national TV. There was an audio issue off the hop with the interview and Benefield quipped, “You’da had it working if it was Pinball!”
• In Hour 2 the gang was joined by CFL On TSN’s Matthew Scianitti who previewed Friday night’s debut of CFL 2020 featuring their panelists. Matt touched on the current plight of CFL players including the US/Canada border closure, how he became a CFL fan (his Dad was an Argos season ticket holder in the early 1990s) and answered viewer questions.
• Alouettes great Anwar Stewart joined the show from Kentucky where the’s the D-line coach for the Wildcats. He got into several CFL stories, gave Chris Jones credit for having the biggest impact on his career, and told his side of the 2009 13th Man Grey Cup. He said the Riders’ special teams gaffe at the end of that game is a reminder every time he’s in a Field Goal Defend situation with the Wildcats. He and Rod then went deep into personnel groups and Anwar said he’s a fan of keeping it simple since college players have enough on their minds as it is. Anwar also said the 2010 Grey Cup is the favourite of his four championships.
• You can vote now on our Twitter poll for the Rockstar of the Day for RoxDar Supply Chain Solutions. At press time, Daved Benefield was leading. Thursday’s vote was won by Chris Pronger.
• Friday’s show is available for viewing now on our Facebook page, you can listen to the podcast by clicking on the PODCAST tab or you can listen anytime to our 24-hour live audio stream at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive presented by SUDS Full Service Car Wash.
• See you at 10 am MT on Monday on Facebook Live and RodPedersen.com/ListenLive!