THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. CHRIS JONES STAYING PUT: Good news for the architect of the Rider defense that he’s still wanted, for now, in the National Football League. He’ll work hard to keep his foot in the door for a while down there in the hopes it’ll lead him to a position of power. But part of me also wonders how long he’ll be content with that? We see coaches go down to the NFL all the time, have no meaningful role, and then come back home. Scott Milanovich and George Cortez have provided some good examples. How long will Chris Jones wait before getting homesick to come back north? I give it 5 seasons. He did, after all function, as a relative nobody up here for more than a decade before finally landing a head coaching job. I have to think he’ll wait at least half as long to do the same down there.

2. ROUGHRIDERS IN HALIFAX: Finally, a worthwhile vacation package. Haven’t been this excited about a Rider road-trip since that wedding singer butchered our Canadian anthem before a Riders at Las Vegas Posse game in 1994. This is a much better idea than putting up games in the much-less-scenic Moncton, New Brunswick.  

3. BLUE BOMBERS CHOOSE COLLAROS OVER NICHOLS: No way could they turn their back on the guy who went 4-for-4, including 2 wins over Calgary, and won Winnipeg’s first Grey Cup in 29 years. Matt Nichols might be a better quarterback but right now, Zach Collaros is a better fit for Winnipeg. Ottawa Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins, who badly bungled Ottawa’s quarterback situation by letting Trevor Harris leave less than one year ago, should be getting down on his hands and knees and begging Nichols’ agent Cameron Foster to sign with Ottawa. Nichols reuniting with Paul LaPolice would be a match made in heaven for a franchise going nowhere fast without a new QB.  

4. NO CFL WEEK: They’re too busy having global drafts for no-impact players that nobody cares about.  

5. WHERE I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE RIDERS PLAY: Quebec City. Montreal is my favorite city in the world to travel to and I keep hearing Quebec City is even better.

6. QUARTERBACK SURPLUS: Everybody should have a good quarterback now. Except maybe the Argos. We’re still nowhere near the golden age though. That happened right in my prime as a chubby little kid watching CFL on CBC in the early 90’s. 1992 had Danny Barrett in BC, Tracy Ham in Edmonton, Doug Flutie in Calgary, Kent Austin in Saskatchewan, Matt Dunigan in Winnipeg, Damon Allen in Hamilton, Rickey Foggie in Toronto and Tom Burgess in Ottawa. And they were all still in their prime! Anthony Calvillo, Bo Levi Mitchell and Mike Reilly wouldn’t have stood a chance against that crew.

7. SUPER BOWL PICK: Great matchup and I have no dog in this race. Both teams are very well-rounded and I’m going to pick the Chiefs for one reason: they flipped a 24-point deficit into a 20-point win. I’ve never seen that in my life.

8. CO-OP REFINERY LABOUR DISPUTE: I’m a good social democrat and part of being a good social democrat is wanting our co-operatives to be strong. For that purpose and the fact I’m not a fan of Unifor president Jerry Dias for reasons not related to his behavior during the lockout, I’m leaning on the side of Federated CO-OP in this dispute. And although I see this union fight as horribly misguided, I am grateful that unions like Unifor do exist and push for better working standards for all of us. In the end, I hope both sides can compromise just enough so everyone can save face, CO-OP can be strong and the workers feel like the picket line was worth the effort.

9. DID YOU KNOW: About-to-become baseball Hall of Famer Larry Walker was discovered by Montreal Expo General Manager Jim Fanning during a World Youth Baseball Championship in Kindersley, Saskatchewan during the summer of 1984. Canadians were not eligible to be drafted in those days and so Fanning signed Walker for $1,500 USD and the rest is history. This happened 2 years after Walker was cut by the Regina Pats. What a great get that will be for a Regina Red Sox dinner one of these years!

10. FILM OF THE WEEK:Rodman: For Better or Worse’ showcases how Dennis Rodman went from becoming this nice, humble, blue-collar NBA workhorse to the “The Worm” we all know today.

(Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)

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Jerry
Jerry
4 years ago

I enjoy reading Brendan’s perspectives and I find it fascinating the thought process that goes into some of these statements. That’s not a negative, but sometimes it’s best to listen to another perspective. 1) First – CFL coaches can fit in just fine on NFL coaching staffs frankly nobody is going to tell me that some bottom end NFL Head Coach could carry Wally Buono, Ron Lancaster or Don Mathews brief case. How an NFL Head Coach or to a more accurate note the Coordinators utilizes the staff is completely out of the hands of the individual doing the work.… Read more »

GardenGnome
GardenGnome
4 years ago
Reply to  Jerry

I enjoy your contributions BUT suggesting playing hurt?? I think we’re past the point of sending that message. How often do I hear that the teams/athletes of today would destroy the teams/athletes of yesterday? Here’s the problem with that. Diet, conditioning, training & the amount of money that goes into that are all different. Athletes like Gordie Howe, for instance, didn’t have access to that. Players are bigger because EVERYONE is bigger. If Bo or Ray were playing back in the day, they wouldn’t be the same athlete or have the same result because they wouldn’t have access to the… Read more »

Jerry
Jerry
4 years ago
Reply to  GardenGnome

Here’s today versus yesteryear and yes I can compare eras- the Call would be “Ovechkin at the top of the circle, pass comes in, he unloads…..Gordie Howe in the lane to block…wait…wait….3 inch entry wound I see…yes…12 inch exit wound through his torso…Ovechkin scores…Gordie Howe dies.” or “Bobby Orr skating up the middle past his own 4 guys…he better look out….yes Scott Stevens open ice hit – where is Bobby’s head?…they can’t find his head…if anyone sees an oracle sphere up in the stands please return it.” The list goes on and on. I live in the north end of… Read more »

GardenGnome
GardenGnome
4 years ago
Reply to  Jerry

Scott Stevens flat on his ass as can’t find Bobby. Ovechkin looking for his teeth in the stands courtesy of a Howe elbow. The list goes on. What’s your point?

Jerry
Jerry
4 years ago
Reply to  GardenGnome

My point is I get bored and want to see if my internet troll skills are still at an Olympic level. I would say so:)

Show a kid today youtube clips of Gordie Howe and/or Bobby Orr and usually the response is – “are their skates sharp why are they so slow?”

The guys who could adjust to this era due to hockey sense and speed – Guy Lafleur and Mike Bossy past that’s about it. Both would have to change aspects of their game, but they fit the mold.

Rocky
Rocky
4 years ago
Reply to  Jerry

You find it fascinating the thought process that goes into some of these statements _ Brendan McGuire? Got some news for you gullible Jerry, there’s a thing called the internet, information all there. All someone has to do is put their own words here there, wel laa you have a article you can post, not much effort or thinking needed. Quit with the brown nosing, grow a sack. PS, You do make some very interesting statements along with the author of this 10 point post, stay on topic, sports please. Don’t need to read your random union 2cent mudslinging, thanks.… Read more »

Jerry
Jerry
4 years ago
Reply to  Rocky

Most kids are taught to go for it and dream big. In Saskatchewan you get a contingent of people that do not do that. They think well I am 900th on the seniority list…I play my cards right in 20 or 30 years I can take a paid sick day then be high enough to have the seniority to get the call in for time and a half when my union brother/sister takes a sick day:)

Socialmisfit
Socialmisfit
4 years ago
Reply to  Jerry

Jerry…. if someone making 170 grand a year bothers you, maybe you should have applied yourself harder in life then make comments about people’s incomes. Also if your upset about that number, maybe realize that people in these positions work shift work, work in dangerous environments, work a significant amount of ot, miss time away from family events including Christmas, children’s activities among others. The grind of shift work has a tremendous impact on people’s social, mental and physical well being and shortens their life expectancy. Also people in these positions have spent a years grinding getting lay offs, working… Read more »

Jerry
Jerry
4 years ago
Reply to  Socialmisfit

They don’t bother me in the least. They look like complete and utter idiots which confirms to never judge the $ in a pocket to the actual brains in the head. – spare me they miss family time, or they hate being on the road. I did apply myself – I don’t work shift work. I don’t go on the road. I don’t work in a dangerous environment. I don’t have a short life span. My social, mental, and physical well being is in tact…..again are you saying if I apply myself and work in a refinery I’ll be better… Read more »

Socialmisfit
Socialmisfit
4 years ago
Reply to  Jerry

Jerry… I wanna keep this a sports talk site but some of your comments…. wow!! Obviously reading the comments you make seems to come back to unions consistently so something must be bothering you.

As for your comments about single mothers that it was absolutely embarrassing and shameful. I am really happy for you that your life choices always went to plan so you can feel empowered to pass on assumptions and judgements towards single mothers.

GardenGnome
GardenGnome
4 years ago
Reply to  Jerry

Perhaps, Jerry, you should do some work with associations that look after single women & their “rug rats”. In my late teens I hitchhiked across the country & eventually ended up in a hostel on Howe Street in Vancouver, abutted to the notorious East Side in that city. My girlfriend stayed in a women’s shelter under the Granville Bridge. You learn quickly that people aren’t always in those circumstances because they want to be there. We were, but the hostels had lots that weren’t. Now I know by now you can take the passive aggressive route & claim you don’t… Read more »

Jerry
Jerry
4 years ago
Reply to  GardenGnome

I am devoid of empathy. Life is hard, nobody cares, work harder. They’d melt if anyone told them that.

When women stay off the Peruvian nose candy, the hard rock lemonades, internet dating, and avoid ending up on a pole in a dark bar doing the Monday afternoon 1-5 p.m. shift they have a chance. Past that I really don’t care about their plight.

They want equality there it is.

mister winnipeg
mister winnipeg
4 years ago
Reply to  Jerry

Who makes 170 grand at the co-op refinery? Can I get a job there?!?!?

SeeSeeRider
SeeSeeRider
4 years ago

I always thought Collaros would head east but, rumour has it, the Argos offered him half the money. Must have been while he was still an Argo & Pinball told him to come & see him in February (wink, wink). Huge gamble but with sources saying the Nichols injury is worse & he might not be ready in May I can see why the Bombers opened up the pocketbook. In today’s world that close to $500K per season puts him right up there with Harris. A first round pick, a truckload of hard money in signing bonus & guarantees for… Read more »

Rocky
Rocky
4 years ago

CFL, NFL.
CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie needs to rethink his global initiative, trash it. He should be trying to work out a beneficial working relationship with NFL because the CFL is sure taking a beating with their player talent leaving to southern destinations to play.

Noopsie
Noopsie
4 years ago

Jerry with irreconcilable statement has become the new Dink (Yer’ Welcome Obama) and Doink ( The Woz) rolled into one clown unto himself. Jerry now the new Dink & Doink of blog.