THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. CLUTCH CODY PASSES BIGGEST TEST YET: We knew Cody Fajardo could excite and win consistently. What we haven’t seen, until now, is Cody’s ability to drive his team near midfield through the BC red zone and into the end zone in the dying seconds. This was as clutch as clutch gets. Unlike the 2019 west final, this game-winning touchdown drive against a good team was one where Fajardo was not going to be denied by any crossbar. The Blue Bombers remain Cody’s kryptonite but Friday’s win was a pretty big pickle that he needed to dig out of the jar, too.

2. SOME LION FANS ARE SORE LOSERS: Complaints galore on social media after Fajardo’s quarterback sneak was ruled a touchdown. It is true that none of watching on TV have any idea whether or not Fajardo actually crossed the goal-line. However, none of the BC fans have proof that Fajardo DIDN’Tmake it, either. Head referee Ben Major was Johnny-on-the-spot and had no hesitation in making the touchdown call. With no evidence to the contrary, we all have to give the ref the benefit of the doubt whether a bunch of poor sports from BC like it or not.

3. RESPECTING MIKE McCULLOUGH: Rider nation was buzzing in reaction to his rant that opened the post-game Roughrider roundtable on Rider Radio CKRM late Friday night. Mike explained that he and his family are not vaccinated and that he is not happy about not being welcome at Mosaic Stadium. And then Mike said something that really hit home for me. Whether we agree on this or not, “Your friends should still be your friends.” Despite Mike’s blatant disregard for the fact that it’s been the efforts of those of us who have been vaccinated that there even are Rider games or a roundtable program that he gets to appear on, he should be treated with respect. He’s right when he says this shouldn’t turn fans from friends to enemies and I’ve had enough brief encounters with Mike over the years to testify that he is one of the good guys. I don’t see him attacking or ridiculing the pro-vax crowd which is more than I can say about the ridiculous, and downright appalling, garbage from John Chick and probably the most overrated receiver in CFL history, Chris Getzlaf.       

4. WHY SO MANY RIDER FANS DISAPPROVE OF CHRIS JONES: He’s coached with 5 different CFL teams and won Grey Cups with all of them, except Saskatchewan. Simple as that. The same was true for the man who brought Chris Jones into the Canadian Football League. More evidence that Chris Jones truly is Don Matthews Jr.

5. THE CURIOUS CASE OF TREVOR HARRIS: Looks the part, sounds the part but for some reason never really quite ever plays the part of elite CFL quarterback. Ottawa let him walk over a very small amount of money. His ex-teammate, Almondo Sewell, loved to trash him and so did ex-Edmonton-signee Derek Dennis. And then the Elks COVID situation threatened to derail not only their entire season but the league’s entire season as well. Where was Trevor Harris’s leadership in encouraging his teammates to be vaccinated then? Where is his leadership now? He’s off the six-game injured list, says he’s feeling great, and yet the Elks won’t declare him as the starter for Tuesday night’s game in Ottawa. Wouldn’t most star quarterbacks be fighting their way off their death-bed to rescue their team when they are needed the most? Not sure I see that with Trevor Harris.  

6. THIS WEEK I’M JEALOUS OF: The Regina Thunder. Ranked number one in Canada sitting pretty at a perfect 5-0 with both games against the Saskatoon Hilltops already in their back-pocket. The Thunder just might be Regina’s best football team next to the Roughriders. And yes, I’m aware Regina has a U-sport team as well. 

7. U OF R RAMS START SLOW: Blew a big lead in Winnipeg over the weekend but back here to play the Calgary Dinos on Saturday. It truly is remarkable how we have three strong football programs with the Riders, the Thunder and Rams all in one city the size of Regina. Some call this a Rider town, which it is. But it is also very much a football town.   

8. BLUE JAY WILD CARD HUNT: Yankees have the hardest schedule. The Red Sox have the easiest and the Blue Jays are somewhere in between. The Jays all six remaining games are at home against teams they have played well against, the Yankees and the Orioles. I like Toronto’s chances and expect them to sneak in by a whisker. This has been a good year for the Jays, regardless of how it pans out. The real pressure to PRODUCE NOW won’t and shouldn’t come until 2022.

9. JERSEY ADVERTISEMENTS: The NBA started this a few years back and now the Washington Capitals are diving in as the first NHL team to do it. I used to cringe at the mere idea of it all. However, the CFL often shows off not one but TWO jersey patch advertisements on the front and it doesn’t bother me one bit. The pandemic is forcing the industry to speed up the transition from dependence on ticket revenues to more broadcast, gambling and advertising revenues. I’m more concerned about the ties to gambling that we used to worry about and now all of a sudden don’t seem to worry about at all.

10. TV PICK THIS WEEK AND NEXT: Still guest hosting for Rod Pedersen on Access Now TV’s IN THE HUDDLE for two more weeks. Tuesday night we’ll be with 1980s Roughrider alumni Marshall Hamilton and Greg Fieger. We’ll run down Friday’s win in BC and look ahead to Saturday’s game in Calgary. Watch for replays of this week’s episode all week on Access Now TV or the Access Now app.  

(Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)