MONDAY SHOW RECAP: A CFL DAY!

We got to the bottom of a lot of CFL matters on Monday’s Episode #226 of The Rod Pedersen Show! Here are the highlights:

• Rod and Dupes got the show going with The Rollout for Flooring Superstore covering these Quick Six show topics: 1) A recap of our weekends, 2) Andy Dalton to the Cowboys, 3) The NFL plans to kickoff in September (What’s that mean for everyone?), 4) Why no disease experts can predict an end date for the pandemic, 5) The NHL’s All-Time Top 7 for all 7 Canadian teams, and 6) What’s up for Canada West Football in 2020?
• The #1 pick in last Thursday’s CFL Draft, LB Jordan Williams of the BC Lions, joined the show from his home in Louisville, Kentucky. He talked about how proud he is of going #1, the expectations and pressure that go along with that, and what his role will be with the Lions. The East Carolina product said “nothing is guaranteed” and that he plans to come in and compete for a starting LB role. He’s Googled all aspects of Vancouver, and said he was blown away by how big it is (population of 2.4 million). He’s heard nothing but great things, had a great chat with Lions head coach Rick Campbell, and can’t wait to get back on the field!
• TSN CFL Insider Dave Naylor joined the show from his Toronto home for a very informative chat. What was scheduled to be a 10-minute interview ended up going 25 minutes and Naylor explained why the CFL should receive Federal aid for COVID-19. He eloquently described the economic landscape of CFL business and asked if Ottawa doesn’t prop up the CFL, who will? Naylor explained that CFL owners “subsidize” their teams as it is, but that’s not a good strategy long-term if there’s no revenue coming in. Regarding his pointed Tweets at US President Donald Trump, Naylor said he doesn’t appreciate being lied to and feels we all deserve the truth at this sensitive time.
• Rod ranted that Naylor said the exact same thing that Rod did last week, but was more diplomatic. The fact remains that if the Federal government doesn’t save the CFL in the event of a 2020 season wipeout, the league could very well fold. From Day 1 Rod has been in favour of the CFL receiving government funding and outlined again the reasons why: 1) Economic spinoff of CFL teams, 2) The thousands of full- and part-time jobs it provides, and 3) Its place in Canadian history.
• CBC National’s Devin Heroux – a Saskatoon product – joined the show from his Toronto home and reported, after working his government and CFL contacts Monday morning, that the CFL is likely in line for some form of government funding. He felt the way the story was presented, he understands why Canadians are upset but he agrees that the CFL deserves financial aid. Devin also talked about his love for Canadian curling and predicted Saskatchewan’s Team Dunstone will be the next Team Gushue as a world curling super power.
• Roughriders 1st round pick Mattland Riley, a UofS Huskies lineman from Melfort, joined the show to discuss how his life’s changed since being drafted by Saskatchewan. He took viewers through what Thursday evening was like for him (“My internet was lagging so my family found out before I did!” Riley laughed). He talked about coming up through the minor football program in Melfort, Team Saskatchewan, and his role on the Huskies. Mattland also discussed his unusual name, and said his Mom combined the names “Matt” and “Maitland”.
• Rod and Dupes discussed an all-time Top 7 for the Winnipeg Jets franchise and they, along with viewers, came up with the grouping of Connor Hellebuyck, Dale Hawerchuk, Thomas Steen, Teemu Selanne, Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Randy Carlyle.
• News broke Monday morning that the NFL’s all-time winningest coach – Don Shula – passed away at the age of 90. That spawned the daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question of: Who’s the greatest head coach in NFL history – Bill Belichick, Vince Lombardi, Don Shula or other? At press time, Belichick was leading by a wide margin.
• Word also came down during the show that Canada West teams have been told to prepare for a 5-game season beginning in early October.
• You can vote now on our Twitter poll for Monday’s Rockstar of the Day for RoxDar Supply Chain Solutions. At press time, Dave Naylor was leading. Friday’s vote was won by John Frenzy.
• Monday’s show is available for viewing now on our Facebook page, you can listen to the podcast by clicking on the PODCAST tab at the top of this page, or you can listen anytime to our 24-hour live audio stream presented by SUDS Full Service Car Wash at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive.
• See you at 10 am MT on Tuesday on Facebook Live and RodPedersen.com/ListenLive!