THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. ROUGHRIDERS BLESSED FOR MISSING OUT ON FRANKLIN:  I, as were some of you, was completely brainwashed into hopping on the James Franklin bandwagon back in the 2017-18 offseason. Saskatchewan needed a fresh face of the franchise and he looked the part. The last year and a half with Toronto could not have gone any worse than it has for their prized quarterback. This season could not have gone any better than it has for the Riders prized QB, Cody Fajardo. It took winning the ’07 Grey Cup with league MOP Kerry Joseph to get over the loss of Henry Burris. There’s been no Grey Cup yet since missing out on James Franklin but some way, some how, I think the fans here are already over it.

2. TRADING JWL A WORTHWHILE THOUGHT: This is a great receiving core gelling with its field general and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Rather than sitting someone down for a receiver we’re not even sure really wants to be here all that bad, it might be a worthwhile exercise for Roughrider GM Jeremy O’Day to pick up the phone and text around the league to see if there are any takers for Jordan Williams-Lambert. His skills will undoubtedly fetch some interest and if 3DownNation’s Justin Dunk is to be believed, which he is, JWL is earning a pro-rated salary for about $150,000/year to finish this season and the Riders will be on the hook for that amount next year unless he gets another NFL tryout. Sounds like an awfully big headache to deal with for someone who hasn’t contributed all year.

3. SHIVERS STEPS OUT OF CHRIS JONES’S SHADOW:  It’s clear the defense is playing for their first-year coordinator and being so young (because 36 is still young, of course) he seems to relate well to them, too. But more importantly, Jason Shivers appears to be carving out his own identity for himself and this Rider defense. Don’t get me wrong, Chris Jones still has his fingerprints all over this thing. But it’s just as clear to see this defensive unit is following its new leader.

4. BIG PLAY CHAIN:  Seemed a bit hokey at first to see them use that on the sideline but what the heck? Sports was never meant to be serious, anyway.

5. ARGOS NEED IMMIGRANTS:  The one thing I don’t see the Toronto Argonauts marketing team trying all that hard at is recruitment of newcomers to Canada. They need to focus their marketing efforts at Pearson Airport, in the China town section of the city and any immigrant sporting or cultural organization they can find. How about instead of recruiting CFL 2.0 players, maybe some find some athletes on the cricket pitch and see if they’ll give our game a go? The athletes are there. The new, young and affluent fans are there. What’s the problem, guys? This isn’t rocket science.

6. PINBALL PART OF THE SOLUTION:  How are the Argos not recruiting Pinball Clemons to come back and coach? The guy is more recognizable in southern Ontario than just about any other celebrity, let alone Argo players. And he’s a proven winner to boot. If he doesn’t want to coach, the front office desperately needs to get him on board with the marketing and recruiting of new Canadians to come out to the games. It would help the Argos reduce that whole ‘fans-dressing-up-as-empty-chairs’ look we’re seeing at BMO Field these days.

7. LIVE MIC GAMES:  I’ve loved the idea from the start but it’s never really taken off as anything earth-shattering. Though I thought Saturday’s Rider-Toronto game was one of the best yet and I think I know why: The broadcasters shut up during some stretches. They should try some more of that in these live mic games. Let the players and coaches tell the story for a change.

8. KHARI JONES:  He goofed on that 3^rd down gamble in BC over the weekend and it cost the Alouettes a game where they clearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Meh. Khari Jones has done a magnificent job in Montreal this year and a little adversity like that will only add a log to their fire.

9. MLB PLAYOFFS:  We’ll be cheering for the Atlanta Braves in the NL because of Josh Donaldson and Alex Anthopoulos. Cheering for the Minnesota Twins in the AL because they’re the closest team to Regina and they’re due. Anyone ever notice that Minnesota never wins squat at anything?

10. WEEKLY WISDOM:  Cheer up, Monday is gone. It only gets better from here.

(Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)