THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. BANJO BOWL LOSS NO BIG DEAL: Even when the Roughriders wobbled through their 30-year wasteland of the late 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s, they could always count on one weekend. Labour Day. So often were they overmatched by the rest of the CFL in those days, including some elite Winnipeg teams a la Dieter Brock, Tyrone Jones, Greg Battle, Chris Walby, Matt Dungian and more. But we could almost always expect to win in a blowout on Labour Day Sunday. Since the decade of decadence hit in 2007, the cleat has been on the other foot. It’s the Blue Bombers who’ve disappointed their fans year after year. So, if they can’t have more than one championship to celebrate every 30 years, let them have their Banjo Bowl. It’s really all they’ve got.

2. BOB IRVING TURNING INTO A BIG HOMER: “Knuckles” has been doing the Bomber broadcasts for nearly 50 years and he still calls the games with good objectivity and is not afraid to criticize his home team. But it’s really twitter where he’s becoming a Rockstar know-it-all. He supported Mike O’Shea’s railing against the Roughriders for injuring Winnipeg’s long-snapper with no mention of Willie Jefferson’s cheap shot on Cody Fajardo. And yet no credit for Craig Dickenson who, unlike O’Shea, didn’t explode after his loss or whine like a baby over missed calls. But rather, smiled, shook O’Shea’s hand and congratulated him on their win. The Mike O’Shea’s, Bob Irving’s and plenty of other Winnipeg fans of the Canadian football world could learn a thing or two from Craig Dickenson.    

3. JON RYAN’S TWITTER SPAT WITH DT: Rider radio broadcaster, Derek Taylor, was tweeting up a storm over the weekend, criticizing the CFL for using gross punting yards as a stat. Of course, net yards have truly been a much better barometer to determine how much a punter is actually impacting field position. I mean that is, after all, the punter’s job, is it not?  Jon Ryan didn’t like it, sarcastically told DT to pay more attention to the field, rather than his stats binders. Jon Ryan shouldn’t get his knickers in a knot over this. Fans here know that Jon does a lot more than just what his gross punting average tells us. And DT is right to point these things out, too. It’s his job.

4. RIDERS CAN’T LOSE TO MTL AND FINISH FIRST: Losing at home to Mike Sherman’s Alouettes was bad enough last year. But to lose at home to Montreal for 2 years in a row would be completely unacceptable. It’s just not something good teams do. A loss at home Saturday would almost certainly destroy any shot the Riders have at getting a 2^ndstraight home playoff game at Taylor Field 2.0.

5. OTTAWA VS BC TOILET BOWL: Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Not even the great Mike Reilly could keep the BC Lions from escaping their dismal 1-10 start. But former BC quarterback Jonathon Jennings leading the Redblacks into Vancouver Friday night could be just what the doctor ordered for this win-starved juggernaut. Never thought I would ever see the day where Jonathon Jennings would actually help revive the BC Lions but this Saturday night, he just might do that. He might have to toss a couple of interceptions to have make it happen but judging from his and Ottawa’s performance in a blowout loss to the Argos on Saturday, it’s hard to imagine the Redblacks getting better with Jennings at quarterback anytime soon.

6. CFL’s NEW TSN DEAL: More great news. TSN will pay the CFL at least $50 million bucks a season through 2025. Don’t look now but sources close to Commissioner Randy Ambrosie say he’s going to sign a cash contract with at least 2 international TV stations. I’m skeptical this will turn into anything more than window dressing. Like CFL 2.0 or not, and I don’t, none of us can deny that if nothing else, TSN has kept the CFL in business for 30 years, at least.

7. CFL SPORTSNET COVERAGE: Still virtually non-existent. I would love to see Sportsnet pick up a few games like they did in 2004 when Jaime Campbell did the Banjo Bowl. I still think BC Lions owner David Braley scared them off when he once suggested Canadians boycott Rogers for bringing NFL games to Toronto. Somehow, I get the sense that boycott fizzled.

8. ANTONIO BROWN: I agree with the majority of you that this guy is a wingnut and likely be trying out for Saskatchewan Roughriders before long. but to be absolutely fair,…..would YOU want to play for the Raiders?

9. RIDERS SHOULD SIGN WILLSON: Speaking of the Raiders, they cut loose Canadian receiver Luke Willson who’s still only 29. The Saskatchewan Roughriders should sign him. At 6 foot 5, 251 pounds, it would be Ray Elgaard all over again.

10. NFL CANADA TRIVIA:  Name the one Canadian stadium where Antonio Brown actually dressed and wore his black uni for the hometown Oakland Raiders. The answer: What is Winnipeg, Alex?

(Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)