THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. FAJARDO’S BIG GAMBLE: Saskatchewan’s resident rock star quarterback could have locked up a four-year contract with lots of guaranteed money last offseason, but instead chose to keep it a two-year deal, clinging to hopes of an NFL tryout, one day. Only problem is that Cody Fajardo will be 30 before he ever plays in an NFL game. At risk of offending Kerry Joseph, that’s pretty old to be a rookie quarterback. The upside to taking that deal, which runs out after 2021, was minimal. The downside of risking a nice payday on one bad season wasn’t and isn’t worth it. If Cody Fajardo and his agent have any sense of reality at all, they will take Roughrider General Manager Jeremy O’Day up on his offer to lock down for a long-term deal immediately.

2. DICKENSON, O’DAY CONTRACT EXTENSIONS: Coaches, General Managers and scouts all over the league deserve contract extensions in exchange for the cuts they’ve all had to endure throughout this awful nightmare. The Head Coaches and GMs were overpaid going into the pandemic and the league should be careful to avoid going back into those same issues, post-COVID. But a reward for a rough 2021 by way of contract extensions should be offered all around the league to provide stability and job security for that same grouping of staff.

3. CODY FAJARDO-JOSH ALLEN: Great read by 3 Down Nation over the weekend. These two are the best CFL-NFL comparable quarterbacks. Usually, the Riders are compared to the Green Bay Packers but I would argue it’s the Canadiana and windy weather of the Buffalo Bills that makes that franchise more like the NFL version of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

4. EXPECT CFL PLAY BY LABOUR DAY: The timeline keeps changing by the minute but the combination of the devastation from another lost season and likelihood of mass vaccinations by the summer are a recipe for a Labour Day weekend kickoff. Hard to imagine the sports world in our own backyard laying down for much longer, especially when the end of this thing is in sight.

5. CLEVELAND’S OLD BASEBALL TEAM NAME: Not sure why they’re bothering to wait another season. It’s almost like saying the name isn’t racist yet but will be in another year. This isn’t rocket science.

6. CLEVELAND’S NEW BASEBALL TEAM NAME: Call them the Cleveland Spiders. Great name with lots of baseball history. Done.

7. BEST SPORTING CHRISTMAS GEAR IN THE MALL: Regina Pats stuff in their store upstairs at the Cornwall Centre. I remember watching the Pats wear their red third jerseys in the 2001 Memorial Cup and thinking it looked really slick. That hasn’t changed and their red merch is as good as it gets for shopping local this holiday season.  

8. THE CROWN: Have to admit I never paid any attention to the Queen or the Monarchy over the first 38 years of my time on this earth and that’s not about to change, either. But I’m enjoying season four on Netflix and hold some admiration for the Queen. She reminds me of my grandma. Promotes world peace and doesn’t make a fool of herself the way some politicians do (see President of the United States). I don’t expect the Royal Family to be a thing for much longer because it really is outdated. Once the Queen dies, it’s going to be a gong-show and it won’t last. Especially as the world’s perception of Prince Charles deteriorates as it realizes how petty and insecure he is/was and how badly he treated the late Princess Diana.   

9. HOPES FOR THE END OF NFL SEASON: For the Browns to lose the rest of their games, finish 9-7, and miss the playoffs. Again.

10. CANUCKS ANTHEM SINGER: Mark Donnelly got fired for singing at an anti-mask protest on the west coast. I’m all for free speech but there are limits. And if you’re dumb enough to embarrass your employer, who allows you to put food on the table, well then, there’s the door.

(Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)