THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. O’DAY ERA TRULY STARTS WITH FREE AGENCY: He’s been in charge for two whole years now but Saskatchewan Roughrider General Manager Jeremy O’Day hasn’t yet made this his team. Until now. The 2019 first-place finish had some of his fingerprints on it such as the starting quarterback and the head coach. But even Craig Dickenson was brought here by Chris Jones. That great defence and most of the roster were and still are leftovers from the Chris Jones-era. That’s not a bad thing and O’Day gives the impression that he cares more about winning than he does about leaving fingerprints or satisfying anyone’s ego. And that’s a big checkmark for him. But how this team performs next season (whenever that happens) and beyond will serve as the true measuring stick for the Jeremy O’Day era in Riderville. From his early success, great down-to-earth connection to the community and even folksy demeanor with the fans and media, he is getting rave reviews so far. But can he keep it going after the nucleus built by his predecessor ages it’s way off the roster? This is where we begin to find out.   

2. RIDER FREE AGENT SIGNINGS TO WATCH FOR: In the CFL’s TOP 30 FREE AGENTS LIST posted on its website, the league identified eight linebackers including Solomon Elimimian and Cameron Judge, neither of whom is expected back the Roughriders. So that leaves Hamilton’s Justin Tuggle, Ottawa’s Don Unamba, Edmonton’s Larry Dean, Montreal Alouettes Chris Ackie, Patrick Levels and Henoc Muamba. I expect one of them to end up with the green and white. Beyond that, all bets are off. And that’s probably a good thing. The Rider defence needs a youth movement and all signals point to one beginning this offseason.  

3. DICKENSON CHOOSES REGINA OVER NFL: 104.9 The Wolf/620 CKRM stalwart Michael Ball reporting the Riders head coach expressed zero interest in the Green Bay Packers recent opening for Special Teams Coach, preferring instead to build a legacy in the wheat province. Chris Jones could probably have an assistant coach job in the NFL if he really wanted one and all indications are, he doesn’t. It all just reiterates the fact that a CFL head coaching gig is pretty awesome. The CFL means as much or more to these American coaches than they mean to the CFL.  

4. CHRIS JONES ADMITS HE WAS WRONG ABOUT FAJARDO:  Jones one big shortfall during his time in Saskatchewan was never figuring out the quarterback position. Rolling the dice on Vince Young, Kevin Glenn, Brandon Bridge and Zach Collaros came up mostly snake eyes for the head coach. All the while passing on Fajardo, who at the time appeared destined for a career as a perennial backup. Chris Jones recently admitted he was wrong about Fajardo, indicating he never saw the potential of what we now know was there in the Riders resident Rockstar quarterback. Credit to Jones for admitting he was wrong, a quality rare among alpha-male football coaches. Double kudos for Jones to point these things out, even after Fajardo was somewhat critical of the Rider GM/Head Coach in an interview earlier this year. Jones chose the high road and that doesn’t always happen, either.

5. CHRIS JONES WILL COACH IN THE CFL NEXT SEASON: He’s uber-qualified and desperately wants back in. None of us know when the next season will be and I don’t know if he’ll be head coach at the start of it but make no mistake: Someone will struggle out of the gate and do whatever it takes to right their ship. Chris Jones is the most proven commodity available to do just that. Expect him to roaming a CFL sideline somewhere by the end of next season.

6. NICHOLS LANDING IN OTTAWA: This is hardly a surprise to anyone. The Argos had to choose between paying their starting QB a bonus for not playing or to let him go and take their chances. The boatmen chose the latter. Matt Nichols joining his old offensive coordinator, Paul LaPolice, in our nation’s capital is a no-brainer. Nichols is a proven commodity in ways no other available quarterback is. At age 34, before he takes his fist snap in Ottawa, Nichols is running out of time. After a year away from earning any real cash plying his trade, Matt Nichols will give his new head coach a quarterback with the smarts of a veteran and the hunger of a rookie. That’s a potent combination.

7. DECLARATIONS ABOUT A JUNIOR HOCKEY SEASON: I keep hearing announcements from the WHL and SJHL that a season will go ahead. Truth is, none of them know anything of the sort until they all get the green light from public health. Instead of throwing darts at the wall, how bout we all just agree that ‘play is suspended until further notice’, shall we? It’s better than toying with people’s emotions by filling them with false hope. I’m just sayin.

8. SUPER BOWL PICK: It is a dream matchup. The GOAT on his way out vs the GOAT on his way up. I felt cheated that we never got a Brett Favre vs Tom Brady super bowl after the 2007 season but this Tom Brady vs Patrick Mahomes thing will make up for it just fine. I have no dog in this race but based on how well-rounded the Chiefs are and some basic flaws in the Buccaneers such as Tom Brady not always being on the same page as his receivers, I’m going to pick the Chiefs by a field goal. It’s been a dream season for Tompaand will be a classic Super Sunday but Cinderella is about to strike midnight.    

9. ANTI-MASKERS: I’m tired of this COVID thing but I’m getting especially tired of these anti-mask demonstrators.

10. HE SAID IT: “Warren Woods transcended the caddiness of sports media”—Michael Ball on his weekly podcast.  

(Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)