THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. LIONS GM CHOICE A SLAP IN THE FACE TO McEVOY: Neil McEvoy has worked in the BC Lions front office for forever and a day. I might be a little biased as he was very patient with me in explaining some of the nuances of the CFL rules in the McMahon Stadium press-box during the 2006 western semifinal in Calgary. But there is no denying that Neil McEvoy is infinitely qualified to be the General Manager of the BC Lions. The fact the Leos front office chose to make him split those duties with a head coach with enough on his plate already having endured a 3-15 season with one team and about to take over another last-place squad is embarrassing. I realize this probably has more to do with an organization about to go through an ownership change than anything else. But to deny someone who should be the General Manager the chance to put both of their hands on the steering wheel isn’t going to make that transition any easier.  

2. DURON’S FIGHT TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT CHRIS JONES: It’s admirable that Chris Jones would tell a young defensive back not to take any lip from Duron Carter during the infamous Duron-brawl at practice three years ago. I’m not the biggest Chris Jones fan in the world, nor was I ever crazy about his ‘always looking for his next job’ mentality. But I give him credit for encouraging athletes to be themselves and play with a bit of an edge. I’ll be stunned if he isn’t General Manager of a CFL team somewhere by end of 2021.

3. NEW EDMONTON FOOTBALL TEAM NAME SHOULD BE: The Edmonton Elks. They could get creative with their mascot and keep the northern hunting theme with their name. Once the Elks win a championship, nobody will notice or even care about the name change.  

4. EXPECT THE CFL TO PLAY IN 2021: It’s looking more and more like we’ll have mass vaccination by the fall. Even if it’s an abbreviated schedule that starts on Labour Day weekend, it’s hard to imagine the Canadian Football League not going ahead next season. And that’s a good thing.

5. CFL SHOULD PUSH FOR EXPANSION TO COVER LOSSES FROM PANDEMIC: The other sports are going to do it, why not the CFL? If they don’t want it in Halifax, why isn’t Commissioner Randy Ambrosie in Quebec City knocking on doors? There’s a lot of francophone head offices in that town looking for places to park their sponsorship budgets.

6. RIDERS MOST IMPORTANT FREE AGENT: Mike Edem, hands down. Canadian who can start, make lots of tackles and do special teams, too. At age 32 by the time next season starts, he should still have something left in the tank.

7. WHO I’M MOST CURIOUS TO SEE: Ottawa Redblacks. Looked awful going into COVID but I just know Paul LaPolice will figure it out.

8. CFL RESET: Let’s get our Canadian quarterbacks on these rosters once and for all. Reduce the starting Canadian quota from 7 down to 5 if you must, but it’s high time we do something about this embarrassing lack of development for Canadians at the most important position.

9. MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: I’m not too fussy about commentators anymore. Now that I don’t really do much of it myself, I’ve come to realize most fans don’t care about who’s in the booth but I must admit I just love Steve Levy behind the mic for Monday Night Football. That booming, million-dollar voice has always been a good fit for ESPN and I’ve often wondered why they haven’t used him in the booth more often. I hope he stops the revolving door of MNF broadcasters.

10. HE SAID IT: “If you don’t think Covid is real, you’re an idiot.” — Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister. And he’s right.

(Follow Brendan McGuire on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)