FRIDAY COMMENTARY – NO APOLOGIES

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98, Rock 98.5 FM & LTD Radio)

There’s a weird feeling to the start of this 2023 CFL campaign.

But it’s a good one!

The Roughriders are off to a 3-1 start for a third straight season following Thursday night’s literal last-minute 12-11 victory over the Edmonton Elks.

Watching the game on CBS Sports Network in downtown Charlotte, NC was a new experience, but an all-around fantastic one!

Rider kicker Brett Lauther won the game on an 80-yard kickoff single point with 1:03 remaining.

The Edmonton returner – rookie C.J. Sims – inexplicably conceded the single point with the game tied 11-11.

The blunder of all blunders.

This all came after Rider QB Trevor Harris tied the game, engineering a game-tying touchdown drive, punctuated by a Mitch Picton touchdown and successful 2-point convert.

Then Sims took over.

Elks coach Chris Jones said after the game that the rookie no knows the mistake he made, and will be better for it.

But the Elks? They dropped to 0-5 and have now apparently found every possible way imaginable to lose a game.

And firing Jones? Unlikely. While it may have crossed the mind of Elks President Victor Cui, all the insiders say Edmonton can’t afford to fire Chris due to the coaches salary cap.

What a league.

And as for the Riders, I’m really glad I’m in North Carolina and not having to hear the predictable buzz on coffee row of “The Riders were lucky to win this one.”

This is from their own fans!!

Sitting here in the football-mad U.S. South at the USA Football nationals, you realize that it’s truly difficult to win a football game. You don’t need to apologize for anything.

Even if it was handed to you.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube)