RODSERVATIONS
A RIDER DOZEN NOTES:
1 – The list of potential starting quarterbacks for the Saskatchewan Roughriders is getting long and actually quite distinguished. It seems our SportsCage listeners can’t get enough of this discussion as we spent a solid 90 minutes on the topic on Wednesday.
To recap, here are some of the names we discussed: Kevin Glenn, James Franklin, Travis Lulay, Ricky Ray, Henry Burris, Mitchell Gale, Jeremiah Massoli, Jeff Mathews, Brandon Bridge, Jake Waters and/or G.J. Kinne.
Do any of those float your boat? Perhaps it’ll be none of them.
2 – A prominent CFL Insider texted me late Wednesday saying it’s highly unlikely Travis Lulay would “okay” a trade to Saskatchewan – or anywhere for that matter. Apparently Lulay’s quite comfortable in Vancouver and with his situation behind Jon Jennings.
3 – Speaking of Jonathan Jennings, he will forever be the poster boy for young quarterbacks “coming out of nowhere” to takeover the starting job with a CFL team. It’s fairly rare for a guy to have so much success so early, but Jennings has proven it can happen.
4 – On the flipside, guys like Tino Sunseri, Seth Doege, Brett Smith, even Keith Price, can’t say they didn’t get a fair chance to shine with the Roughriders. Perhaps they got thrown into the fire too early and it hurt their careers mightily but all players want is a chance. Those guys all got that here in spades, but didn’t do much with it.
5 – Interesting Tweet by Eskimos colour commentator Dave Campbell that back-up quarterback James Franklin could be available for the right price. That was rather astounding for me, as I can’t imagine Campbell would just throw that out there without checking with GM Ed Hervey first.
Perhaps Hervey realizes it’s in his best interests to trade Franklin to the Riders – and be able to name his price – rather than lose him in free agency after the 2017 season.
But I try not to assume what others are thinking.
6 – The notion persists in the CFL that the Riders’ Chris Jones’ has an unidentified Plan B and it very likely is James Franklin. It’s likely become Plan A now that Darian Durant is no longer in the 306.
7 – Many, many fans are writing me wondering why Darian Durant hasn’t signed with the Alouettes yet and if that means he could hit free agency in mid-February. People really need to relax and stand down.
He hasn’t even been an Alouette for a week.
8 – Interesting tidbit in a Drew Edwards column at 3DownNation.com about why Corey Chamblin won’t be considered for the Ticats’ vacant Defensive Coordinator position. Apparently it has a lot to do with Chamblin “leaving Kent hanging” for the postgame handshake after the 2013 Grey Cup. Oddly, I don’t remember the incident.
9 – It’s utterly laughable that anyone would suggest the Roughriders are the sole source feeding me information about the Canadian Football League. They don’t think I talk to people from all nine CFL teams on a regular basis? C’mon, pull your head out of the sand.
10 – Congratulations to the Voice of the Saskatoon Blades Les Lazaruk who called his 1700th WHL game last night. Way to go Lester! That’s a lot of hockey.
11 – Get ready for a seismic shift on the junior hockey landscape in the next year. The citizens of Nanaimo, BC are going to a referendum in March to vote on building a new 5,500-seat arena designed to house a WHL team. Officials with the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers are starting to get nervous and know they’ll be squeezed out of town if the Dub arrives. The question now is: which WHL team will be on the move?
You can take your pick of which team is suffering from lousy attendance this year but IT’S NOT A PROBLEM! That’s what we’re told.
12 – The Swift Current Broncos issued a news release this week that this Saturday’s home game against the Regina Pats will be broadcast live on Shaw/Access. It’s a very big deal to the Frontier City to have the TV crew in town and have a game shown live from the Credit Union I-Plex!
The scene reminds me of the big deal NFL teams make about the Monday Night Football crew when they hit their city. Unfortunately I won’t be in the broadcast booth as I’ll be out of the country but Darren Dupont and Jared Dumba will more-than-capably have the call.
Incidentally, Tri-City Americans broadcaster Craig West got into it with Broncos fans on the weekend after they were beating incessantly on his broadcast booth.
That’s soooooo 2007.
13 – Around 1,000 tickets remain for Saturday’s Saskatchewan Rush home-opener against the Rochester Nighthawks at which time the club’s 2016 championship banner will be raised. It’ll be the home debut of #1 overall pick Ryan Keenan (son of Rush Coach & GM Derek Keenan), and overall just a special night.
Derek Keenan will be on the SportsCage today to preview the match.
I’m not sure why some in this province are slow to get aboard the Rush bandwagon. Jealousy perhaps? At 15,000 per game, the Rush aren’t hurting for support.
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BIRTHDAYS: Happy birthday on Thursday to current Rider FB/LS Levi Steinhauer and former Rider DB Nick Graham!
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THAT’S IT FOR TODAY! SEE YOU ON THE RADIO AT 4
RP
@rodpedersen
