TUESDAY SHOW RECAP: FREE AGENCY SPECIAL!

It was fast and furious in the bunker on Episode 175 of The Rod Pedersen Show! Here are the highlights:

• Rod and Dupes got the show going with The Rollout for Flooring Superstores as they teed up Day 1 of CFL Free Agency. Their topics included: 1) The Riders signing QB James Franklin, 2) Which current Rider QB has to go?, 3) Is chemistry going to be an issue on the Riders (with the expected loss of Naaman Roosevelt), 4) Where does Naaman land?, 5) How much gas does Marcus Thigpen have left in the tank?, 6) 1-year contracts. Rod likes ’em, 7) Evaluating Rider GM Jeremy O’Day, 8) QBs left on the market: Antonio Pipkin, Montell Cozart, Brandon Bridge, Jonathan Jennings & Dakota Prukop.
• Right off the top the boys were joined by TSN’s Farhan Lalji via video chat from the BC Lions locker room. Farhan broke the news of both the Riders’ signings of James Franklin and Solomon Elimimian, and examined both deals. He has a close relationship with Elimimian, and explains why Sol and the Riders remain a good fit. Farhan also discussed the events in the CFL leading up to free agency, including Willie Jefferson’s return to Winnipeg.
• Stampeders great Nik Lewis joined the bunker in Segment 2 to provide expert analysis. Tuesday’s show was our highest viewed ever with CFL fans tuning in from around the globe. The panel dissected each signing as it came in, and the viewers offered up plenty of questions and opinions.
• The CFL coverage halted at 11:30 am CT as Maple Leafs great and beloved Saskatchewanian Wendel Clark joined the show from Toronto. There was a Watch Party at Wendel Clark’s Classic Bar & Grill in Saskatoon to take in the interview, and the Kelvington product didn’t disappoint. He discussed why he got into the restaurant business, recapped his weekend in the NWT for Hockey Day In Canada, discussed the success of his pal Kevin Kaminski with the La Ronge Ice Wolves, and gave a breakdown of the current Toronto Maple Leafs. Wendel feels they’re good enough to make the playoffs but will have to be a whole lot tougher if they’re going to have any success.
• Former Rider, Eskimo and Ticat DL Eddie Steele joined the show from Edmonton for an analysis of Day 1 of free agency. He said the biggest move by the Eskimos was landing head coach Scott Milanovich, who has universal respect in pro football. Eddie also said that Willie Jefferson is the best D-lineman in the CFL, ahead of Charleston Hughes and Micah Johnson.
• TSN’s Henry Burris joined the show from Ottawa for a very informative chat. He’s impressed with the moves made by the RedBlacks (starting with the hiring of head coach Paul LaPolice), reminisced over old times Calgary with Nik Lewis, gave a harsh criticism of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his anti-Western Canada stance, and explained his transition into the role of an analyst on the CFL on TSN panel (“I decided I wouldn’t say anything on the panel that I wouldn’t say to someone’s face”). Hank also discussed Rod’s long-standing rivalry with the Calgary Stampeders and Rod asked Burris if Calgarians will ever get over it? Henry’s response was, “Keep being you Rod”.
• The Calgary Sun’s Danny Austin joined the show to recap an unexpectedly busy 24 hours for the Calgary Stampeders. He said the loss of so many players to the NFL has forced Stamps boss John Hufnagel to be so active. Regarding the Stampeders coaching staff being raided, he pointed the finger at the CFL’s new football operations cap. Regarding 1-year contracts, Danny agrees with Rod that it makes things very exciting in the CFL.
• Tuesday’s show is available for viewing now on our Facebook page or you can listen to the podcast by clicking on the PODCAST tab at the top of this page.
• See you at 10 am CT Wednesday on Facebook Live!