WEDNESDAY COMMENTARY – WAS IT NECESSARY?
(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)
NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN RIDERVILLE!
CERTAINLY THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT STORY COMING OUT OF SATURDAY’S 23-17 RIDER LOSS AT CALGARY WAS CODY FAJARDO’S POSTGAME COMMENTS.
I WENT BACK AND WATCHED THE NEWS CONFERENCE VIDEO AND, FRANKLY, DIDN’T FEEL WHAT HE SAID WAS OUT OF LINE.
CLEARLY IT WAS A FRUSTRATED QUARTERBACK AT THE PODIUM AND HE EVEN ADMITTED AT THE TIME THAT HE WAS EMOTIONAL. HE DID CALL OUT HIS RECEIVERS WHICH IS A TOUCHY THING TO DO AT THE BEST OF TIMES, PARTICULARLY WHEN HE WASN’T PERFECT HIMSELF, BUT CODY’S A “HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE” KIND OF GUY.
IT LED TO FAJARDO ISSUING AN APOLOGY ON TUESDAY FOR HURTING ANYONE’S FEELINGS, BUT I DIDN’T THINK AN APOLOGY WAS NECESSARY AT ALL. HOWEVER IF YOU’VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS COMMENTARY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, YOU KNOW CODY CAN DO NO WRONG IN MY EYES! I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE CASE WITH YOU TOO?
WHAT IT REALLY GOT ME WONDERING IS WHAT’S GONE ON BEHIND-THE-SCENES, AND WHAT LED TO FAJARDO HAVING TO BACKTRACK.
MONDAY’S SIGNING OF STAR RECEIVER DUKE WILLIAMS REALLY LOOKED LIKE A KNEE-JERK MOVE TO ADDRESS THE RIDERS’ RECEIVER ISSUES BUT I’M TOLD THE RIDERS’ PURSUIT OF THE FORMER BILLS RECEIVER GOES BACK TO LAST WEEK, EVEN BEFORE THE CALGARY GAME.
WILLIAMS WON’T EVEN BE ELLIGIBLE TO PLAY IN SATURDAY’S RETURN GAME BETWEEN THE RIDERS AND STAMPEDERS IN REGINA, AS HE FULFILLS HIS QUARANTINE MANDATE.
BUT THE DRAMA WHICH THIS WHOLE SITUATION HAS CAUSED WILL LIKELY SERVE AS SUFFICIENT MOTIVATION FOR SASKATCHEWAN TO GO OUT AND RIGHT LAST WEEK’S WRONGS FROM THE GAME AT MCMAHON. THE ODDSMAKERS SEEM TO AGREE, AS THE RIDERS ARE LISTED AS 2.5-POINT FAVOURITES BY BETREGAL.NET
ARE THE RIDERS GOOD ENOUGH TO SIMPLY SNAP THEIR FINGERS AND FLIP A SWITCH AGAINST THE STAMPS AND TURN THEIR SEASON AROUND?
WE’RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY
Yes
Two throws: one to Moore, one to Lafrance. Missed ’em both, therefore shush! He was not in position to criticize. I’m a HUGE Cody fan. Patience Grasshopper…….
Hey Rod, I also went back and listened to the post game interview by Fajardo. I didn’t think he was that out of line at all. Some things need to be said, After all, he was right. This is professional football and he was super frustrated. They don’t get open on the long ball and they don’t get their fair share of catches on those like other teams receivers. He was tough on himself too. Plus, these guys get paid to catch the ball and why is it wrong for a team mate to challenge them. Perhaps the only fault… Read more »
The next game is on Saturday, and he’s still apologizing for last Saturday. I abhor gambling, but honest to God how does a person now not bet on Calgary to win this game? The reality is people truly believe professional football is akin to some type of Remember The Titans movie or a 3A Regina High School team. I get that because if FW Johnson doesn’t rah rah then they have zero hope and most of the players would just up and quit. This guy does not have to apologize nor does he have to concern himself one iota with… Read more »
Roberto, you ask how does a person not bet on Cal to win this game……not sure what you mean by that?? Are you saying a small riff between a couple players changes the whole team morale and they will tank it?? Ha ha give you head a shake if you believe that. This sort of thing, the call out by Cody is a blip on the radar, it will effect nothing. These are professionals who throw and catch the ball for a living and slight disagreements on things happen all the time with everyone. So to answer your question, how… Read more »
Roberto, even though I disagree with you on who to bet on saturday night, I agree with the rest of your post. Cody does not have to apologize, this is professional football, forget about feeling, win the game. I especially agree with your comment about drops and penalties should not be an issue at this time of the year. Riders had two 15 yard penalties last game against Cal – one on a defensive lineman who punched a guy in the face after the whistle and when Marshall hit the receiver out of bounds because he was frustrated. Nothing said… Read more »
The only thing that made it necessary is because he called them out in the media instead of the locker room. I’m sure it was appreciated by his team mates. This could be a galvanizing moment for the team. I’ll be attending Saturday’s game in person, I’m sure it’s going to be a beauty!
306, agree fully and good post by you. That sums it up quite nicely what you just said.
The real story will be after upcoming weekend post game. There’s a bunch crap going on behind the scenes and the head coach and general manager are two saps who can do nothing to solve it.
Dickey is a good coach and JO is a great GM. If you have proof of any behind the scenes info, bring it. It seems Cody brought it to the forefront in the open, which is a classy move after he made a mistake. If most people could do that, there would be less hard feelings on and on between friends, family and people in general. So Jimbo, can the speculation.
Rider update,
Jordan Williams Lambert takes a hike out of Regina, leaves the Saskatchewan Roughriders to go home Stateside.
season ending injury so may as well go home. But the guy seems to be a bit injury proned. Perhaps he is not in our long term plans on this team.
Exactly! Thanks for adding context to remark!
You knew, you just knew as soon as Cody’s words were being muttered in that post game interview that the Roughriders management team would trot him out to some podium to embellish a fake apology to the gullible riderville fanbase. Cody was ranting and raving on the sidelines on national television, throwing a 3 year olds tantrum directed towards Jason Maas. Cody even had the gall to run off the field unprofessionally without any courtesy to shake hands with anyone. His actions speak for themselves, now he’s trying to sugarcoat things, apology not acepted here inbour corner.
Bob, he wasn’t apologizing to you, you have nothing to do with this. So stop making this about you. Your a no body in this whole thing. He apologized to who needed to be. Thats all he can do. The players can accept it or not, up to them but not everyone is perfect like you, people make mistakes and then try to make amends. Those that do, are classy in my book.
Agreed again! I will say that Maas is starting to make MacAdoo look like a genius…….check the numbers!