Scruffy’s This N That

1 – C’ETAIT MOCHE: That was ugly (c’etait moche)! There is no other way to put it when it comes to the 48-31 Montreal Alouettes win at Saskatchewan on Saturday in a game where I thought the final score flattered the home team.  In the CFL, there are three teams that have good defences.  The Riders (when they have their starting corners), the Stampeders and Montreal.  What teams have handed the green-and-white their three losses? As good as the Saskatchewan offence has been this year, they just looked out of sort in the first half of the game and by the time they got things going, it was too late. 

As for the defence, that was without a doubt their worst effort of the season and it was more than the fact that Tevaughn Campbell and Marcus Sayles were missing. Yes, Kerfalla Exume and Benny Sapp had rough nights, but they weren’t alone. Those two had very little to do with the fact that Stevie Scott (who?) ran for 125 yards.  It was just one of those nights that all teams have from time-to-time.  The team now takes next week off as they have their third and final bye before looking to finish with a bang and go into the playoffs on a high.

You couldn’t even blame the weather. I joked with a friend of mine as that hard rain came down Saturday afternoon that the final might be 11-6 with turnovers galore.  That was not the case.  In fact, I was surprised to see how many made the trek to Mosaic.  Those who went are the fans that are with this team through thick and thin and they are going to go no matter the conditions.  I salute you for sitting in that and enduring that. It shows your commitment which is what the team and league needs.

2 – WHY?  I have banged the drum on this topic for many years, and it is time to bang it again as the NFL season opens.  One of the things I love about their broadcasts, no matter the network, is the officiating presence in the booth.  When a call needs to be deciphered and an opinion given, you get one from a former NFL official whether it be Gene Steratore on CBS, Terry McAulay on NBC or whoever. If they don’t like the call or the fact a penalty was even called, they let you know and they have no problem in saying it was a bad call like McAulay talking about a Josh Allen slide that was ruled short of a first down when it wasn’t in that Sunday classic between the Ravens and Bills. Why can’t this be done in the CFL?

It seems as if the league and TSN are resistant to do this for whatever reason. Are they afraid to say this call by that ref was garbage or was a great call? If so, why? The NFL certainly isn’t afraid to do it and either is college football.  As a fan, we watch the games with our teams, and we see calls that make you scream at the TV. Let’s get someone in the TSN studio that Rod Smith, Dustin Nielson or Marshall Ferguson can throw it to for that person to say this is why the call was made, or I don’t understand why the call was made. With all the controversy about the CJ Reavis hit that knocked Zach Collaros out of the Banjo Bowl, wouldn’t it have been nice to have a former CFL official tell us that yes it was a good call or no it wasn’t?  It may not satisfy your thoughts, but we get what the 3^rd team on the field is calling and why. 

3 – NICK ARBUCKLE: The Argos got another dramatic last-second win on Saturday as they beat Edmonton in a game that they really should have won and would have if it weren’t for a late Cody Fajardo turnover. He is good at committing those against Toronto isn’t he as I think back to TD Atlantic a few years ago. I digress. While he wasn’t around for the final drive due to a lower-body injury, Nick Arbuckle was phenomenal again. The dialogue around the MOP this year has centred around Bo Levi Mitchell and Trevor Harris for good reason. Do you put Arbuckle into the conversation? He has now thrown for over 4000 yards this season and if he doesn’t get hurt late in the victory, he would have had anther 300 yard game. At the end of the day, I still think it is a two man race between Mitchell and Harris, but if he can get Toronto to the playoffs and throw for over 5000 yards, do you consider him?

4 – ZACH COLLAROS: Milt Stegall was right with his post-game comments after the Banjo Bowl. When discussing Zach Collaros, he said it is time for the long-time Winnipeg and CFL quarterback to call it a career. You can debate all you want if the hit on Collaros by AJ Reavis was roughing the passer. The reality is, it was under the definition of the rule. It wasn’t a dirty hit, but it was a helmet-to-helmet hit and like it or not, you can’t do that.  At the end of the day, it isn’t about the hit and if it was clean or not, it is the repercussions of it. How many concussions has Collaros had? I think some of them have been not publicized both here and in Winnipeg.  He has done everything he needs to do.  He would love to go out winning the Grey Cup on his homefield, but I don’t think that is going to happen now. For his own good, he can’t be under center for another play in the CFL. If he isn’t willing to realize that himself, and yes that is something that is very tough for an athlete, maybe it is time for Winnipeg to put its chips in and say that’s it and thanks for the memories.  After what happened Saturday, every snap he takes puts him in jeopardy of life after football.  He needs to maybe sit down with Dave Dickenson and Matt Dunigan to have a good chat about his post-football life. 

5 – THE MLSE/BILLS AGREEMENT: I’m going to need to see it to believe it, but right now I think the agreement struck between the Buffalo Bills and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is not a good thing for the Toronto Argonauts or the CFL.  There is no way with a new stadium in Buffalo ready to open its doors that they are coming north of the border and there is no talk of that, it seems as if the already large footprint that the NFL and Bills have in the GTA is about to get bigger. 

There is going to be a Bills-theme Argonauts game played later this year. ????!!! Why would you promote an NFL team at a CFL game? I can only imagine the uproar there would be if the Riders announced that one of their games was a Minnesota Vikings themed game or if the Lions had a Seahawks-themed game. It makes no sense! 

Someone asked me if the Argos could capitalize on Bills season ticket holders by having tickets to Toronto games included in their package. I don’t know.

Some are saying this agreement is great because it talks about both the Bills and Argos teaching the game to kids. Ummmmm, why do we need the Bills to do that? The Argos aren’t doing that already? The CFL isn’t doing that already? That is an admission of failure by many north of the border.

Time will tell as to how this turns out, but I just don’t see this being a good news scenario for the CFL or the Argos. 

6 – WEEK 2 NOTES: The first Sunday of the NFL season was tremendous with a lot of outstanding contests that was capped off by that Buffalo-Baltimore contest. Here are some notes heading into Week 2. 

• Since 1990, history has shown that teams that are victorious in their season openers are more than twice as likely to advance to the playoffs as teams that lose their opener. During that span, 54.2 percent of teams (294 of 542) to win their opener have advanced to the playoffs, including both of last year’s Super Bowl participants – the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. However, an 0-1 start is not impossible to overcome, as 25 percent of teams (136 of 541) since 1990 that lost a season opener advance to the playoffs, including five teams in 2024 – the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders.
• The Kansas City Chiefs-Philadelphia Eagles contest will mark the 11th rematch of a Super Bowl in the following season all-time and the fourth to occur within the first two weeks of that season. The Super Bowl winning team has won seven of the 10 previous rematches.
• Detroit quarterback Jared Goff is 3-18-1 career when he hasn’t had either Sean McVay or Ben Johnson as his play caller.  The Lions face Johnson and the Chicago Bears in a battle of 0-1 teams. 
• Last week in their Week 1 victory, the Indianapolis Colts became the first team in at least 47 years (1978 season) to score on every offensive possession of a game. If the Colts score on each of their first three offensive possessions on Sunday against Denver, they will become the first team in NFL history to score on each of the first 10 offensive possessions of a season.

7 – ATTENTION HABS FANS: So last week in this space, I said the Habs would have a better record than Toronto this year. This week, I bring up Montreal again because of Sidney Crosby. While speaking with Pierre Lebrun of “The Athletic”, Crosby discussed the ongoing desire that Montreal fans have of number 87 joining the team he cheered for as a child. Crosby responded with an “I get it” and didn’t necessarily dismiss it even though it is likely he will ever leave Pittsburgh despite many who want him to do so so he can take one last run at a Stanley Cup.

If Montreal GM Kent Hughes was to want Crosby, it would cost him a lot. How much does Sid have left in the tank? The 38-year-old can obviously still contribute and his presence in Montreal would create a lot of excitement in “Le Belle Province”. Would you make the relatively unproven Ivan Demidov the centerpiece in a package to Pittsburgh? Would you even want Sid in Montreal? I think I would.

8 – REGINA’S CONNOR AND LEON: I have not seen the Regina Pats so far this year, but if what I heard this week is any indication, let’s stop it right now. Yes, there is excitement at the Brandt Centre as both Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue get ready to start their WHL careers together. While there is excitement, let’s let these kids play the game. I had someone tell me after an exhibition game this week that they will be the Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl of the WHL. Whoa, whoa, whoa! Let’s not put those two under that type of microscope. At least, not yet.  They might in the next couple of years, but you can’t put that on the dynamic pair right now. They also need to stop with the Connor Bedard comparisons. It’s understandable to do that, but don’t. Those in Regina who know and watch the game much more than me these days say Schultz reminds them of a young Sidney Crosby. If that is the case, and there is no reason to think it isn’t, then we are in for a treat for the next few years. As for Pue, I want to get a good look at him to see what type of player he is. That will come soon as methinks I’ll probably check out the home opener on the 26^th. Meanwhile, the season starts next weekend. Next weekend???!!! 

9 – RANDOM THOUGHTS:

• If “Phillies Karen” isn’t a popular choice for a Hallowe’en costume this year, we have failed as a society.  What a “rhymes with my first name” she is! Imagine having to deal with someone like that.  Come to think of it, Rod and I did at one time!
• Did I miss the tribute video for Aaron Rodgers from the Jets? 
• Where would the Edmonton football team be had the decision been made to start Cody Fajardo instead of Tre Ford at the start of the season?
• 50 plus yard field goals in both the NFL and CFL are turning into chip shots. 
• It’s national coaches week. Many of us have been impacted by a great coach. Thanks to all of those who have helped us or our child along our athletic path no matter when. 

That’s all I got. Have a great week!