CFL Tidbits..

[Mr Dee]

CFL Tidbits
Jeff Hamilton:
For those concerned about Stanley Bryant and Justin Medlock, both will be #Bombers next season.
CFL News
Kent Austin has 3 years remaining on extension he signed before this season so he isn't going anywhere. - @scratchingpost #CFL #Ticats
Terry Jones: (is he piss*ed off or something?)
-The No. 1 thing that was wrong with this team all year was Benevides’ ‘Bend & Break’ defence. - @sunterryjones #CFL #Esks
-#Esks headed home for garbage day because head coach Jason Maas lived in denial that they had fixed everything. - @sunterryjones #CFL
-No back-to-back champions because DC Mike Benevides stubbornly refused to fix  philosophy to fit circumstances. - @sunterryjones #CFL #Esks
-#Esks are headed home because GM Ed Hervey failed to find the talent for the defensive secondary. - @sunterryjones #CFL
-Biggest person to blame for #Esks not returning to Grey Cup is Chris Jones - @sunterryjones #CFL 1/2............for leaving & taking his coaching staff & several players to #Riders - @sunterryjones #CFL #Esks 2/2

"But when you've got a talent like John White, you should be giving him the ball 10-15 times per half.  In Sunday's Eastern Final, White totalled only 12 carries for 66 yards for the entire game."
"You've got to rely on your running game in games like this.  It helps your defense, it helps your quarterback, it helps your play-action game, it helps everything.  It helps your drop back passing game too!"
Gary Etchevery

"If you're a coach and you believe in the value of coaching, clearly the foundation of the entire staff which John Hufnagel built going back to 2008 is what the entire Stampeders organization rests on."
"Wally thought that he alone could make up for what I thought were three really weak hires at the coordinator positions.  They are three guys who have a lot of coaching ahead of them but at this stage of the game, they were just over-matched against Calgary."
Gary Etchevery.

Durant update - "All quiet"

The Situation
-The Riders would prefer to sign Durant to a contract for far lesser money a la Travis Lulay, Drew Willy, or what Henry Burris is scheduled to earn in 2017 which is far less than what he makes now,
-Durant can poke around in free agency and there are possible landing spots in Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg.  However those franchises all have quarterbacks in the picture named Vernon Adams, Drew Willy, Ricky Ray or Matt Nichols so it's unlikely they'd open their wallets to the tune of $350,000 or more for a stranger,
* Durant could sign here for less money and compete for the starting job in training camp, but there's a danger he could still be perceived to be behind guys like Mitchell Gale, Jake Waters and Brandon Bridge heading into Week 1.  I know that sounds preposterous but that's what happened to Henry Burris with Nealon Greene.
It's likely however, that Chris Jones and offensive coordinator Stephen McAdoo would put the best quarterback on the field at New Mosaic Stadium coming out of training camp and that will be Darian Durant if he earns it.
The whole scenario remains quite a head-scratcher.  It appears the Riders are playing with fire with the possibility of Durant signing elsewhere and no capable replacement waiting in the wings but as many, many football people have told me over the past few weeks, "Jones has his way of doing things and it's different than what you've seen before".
---Rod Pedersen

Justin Dunk
There is one major factor that could play into the entire quarterback scenario with the Riders: James Franklin. The 25-year-old is under contract with Edmonton for the 2017 season at a $55,000 base salary. A theory from sources around the league is that Jones is waiting to see whether he can get Franklin from the Eskimos, which could determine what happens with Durant.
Sources say as recently as near the end of the regular season Saskatchewan initiated conversations surrounding a possible barter for the Eskimos’ young pivot.

Rumours...
*rumours, like the one that says Argos coach Scott Milanovich has been telling people he expects a complete house-cleaning of the Toronto football club.
*Do you think Tillman will go after the jobs in MTL and TOR?"
*"Don't be surprised if Burris ends up here in 2017". (Sask.)

CFL News
#Esks #CFL Aaron Grymes released by Eagles.

BC Lions Den
The #BCLions have 24 free agents this off-season, including their entire defensive line except David Menard. (Via @Fifthqtr)
The biggest name on the #BCLions free agent list is none other than Solomon Elimimian. Have to think they will go hard to lock him up.

Side note - NFL kickers are 44/45 on Field Goals from 32-33 yards this year, but have missed an astounding 48 extra points from that same distance.
CFL News 

Former Rider Bears LB Jerrell Freeman suspended for next four games for violating NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.
"I made a mistake with my prescription medication for which I take full responsibility." -Freeman

Bob Irving
Off to To. to cover my 44th consecutive grey cup. - ?‍?wow

By: Gregory Strong The Canadian Press Published on Mon Nov 21 2016
TORONTO — Grey Cup organizers are reporting a recent uptick in ticket sales for Sunday's CFL championship game and are confident a sellout crowd will be on hand to watch the Calgary Stampeders play the Ottawa Redblacks at BMO Field.

?‍?They really should bring back Grey Cup trains..at a reasonable price. Would really be a hoot..

?‍?For my money, Marquay McDaniel is the best receiver, for the money, in the CFL.

Gerry Moddejonge
" Walker has played his last game in green and gold."
And considering his contract is up and the NFL opportunities that are sure to come the 25-year-old’s way over the off-season, the Eskimos will be minus one of their biggest players next year.

?‍?Turns out Ottawa had their own 'white' ready for Sunday's game...

?‍?Bombers should be in on the Franklin bidding war, if only to drive up the price...for Jones.

?‍?In Saskatchewan you say? CBC Sask. reports: Bull disrupts rush hour traffic in Regina cbc.ca/1.3861923 #yqr #yqrtraffic

?‍?How about that pick six Jennings threw just before the half?

?‍?How about that Jim Popp?
CFL News.  Brodeur-Jourdain had no interest in moving, called Popp who admitted this, then offered to sign him for less $ - @HerbZurkowsky1 #CFL 
Brodeur-Jourdain admits he placed a call to @CFLPA  following the incident. - @HerbZurkowsky1 #CFL #AlsMTL

?‍?More CFL 'talk' with Drew Edwards and Justin Dunk
Word out of Edmonton is that defensive coordinator Mike Benevides could be one-and-done with the Eskimos. 
The latest out of Toronto indicates that general manager Jim Barker has been given some latitude to negotiate extensions with key Argonaut players
expect Orlondo Steinauer to be a leading candidate for the head job in Toronto if Barker survives.
Meanwhile, Danny Maciocia, the leading candidate for the Montreal Alouettes’ vacant general manager job, has been calling around to potential front office and coaching hires. 
Montreal ownership is said to be keen on retaining head coach Jacques Chapdelaine and potentially offensive assistant Anthony Calvillo.
Grey Cup sales built on a papered house?
another player who wants to explore his options down south is Ottawa’s Greg Ellingson.

CFL News
Multiple reports that current HC Scott Milanovich is on his way out, no matter what happens with Barker. - @3DownNation #CFL #Argos

CFL News
Wonder if Steinauer would keep his mentor, Rich Stubler, on as his DC? Same defensive philosophy. #CFL #Argos

?‍?Don't forget to watch the Vanier Cup on Saturday @1pm ET
This game features the Calgary Dinos vs Laval Rouge et Or (red and gold) (the redgolds?)

[Fatty Liver]

TSN should hire Etchevery for "Coach's Playbook" for entertainment value alone.

[mbrg]

1 hour ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

TSN should hire Etchevery for "Coach's Playbook" for entertainment value alone.

"What you do is shift all of your defensive players to this side of the field...this creates a wide open space on the other side for the offence to exploit...when they do, the defence converges and makes the tackle after 12 to 40 yards..."

[Fatty Liver]

1 minute ago, mbrg said:

"What you do is shift all of your defensive players to this side of the field...this creates a wide open space on the other side for the offence to exploit...when they do, the defence converges and makes the tackle after 12 to 40 yards..."

His schematics would be mind bottling.

[bustamente]

Bob Irving 44 Grey Cups ........................WOW

[Bigblue204]

You've got to rely on your running game in games like this.  It helps your defense, it helps your quarterback, it helps your play-action game, it helps everything.  It helps your drop back passing game too!"
Gary Etchevery

So he does know that teams run the ball in the CFL...

[blueandgoldguy]

Bombers should be in on the Franklin bidding to drive up the price for Jones and the Riders?  I like it!

[Mark F]

5 hours ago, Mr Dee said:

Bob Irving
Off to To. to cover my 44th consecutive grey cup.

way to go Bob!

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

You know... Noel Thorpe would be a good fit here I think

[WBBFanWest]

22 hours ago, Mr Dee said:

"Wally thought that he alone could make up for what I thought were three really weak hires at the coordinator positions.  They are three guys who have a lot of coaching ahead of them but at this stage of the game, they were just over-matched against Calgary."
Gary Etchevery.

I spit coffee all over my monitor when I read that.  Thanks Dee, thanks loads.

[Logan007]

In Saskatchewan you say? CBC Sask. reports: Bull disrupts rush hour traffic in Regina cbc.ca/1.3861923 #yqr #yqrtraffic

So basically just a normal day in Regina?

Edited November 23, 2016 by Logan007

[Mr Dee]

@WBBFanWest & @Logan007

Is it just a coincidence that you guys posted what Etchevery said...and a mention of bull in the next post?

[Tracker]

3 hours ago, Logan007 said:

In Saskatchewan you say? CBC Sask. reports: Bull disrupts rush hour traffic in Regina cbc.ca/1.3861923 #yqr #yqrtraffic

So basically just a normal day in Regina?

There's been a lot of bull in Saskatchewan for quite awhile, evidenced by the amount of bovine excrement posted on Riderfans.

[Stickem]

Well here's some more 'bull' out of riderland...Not only are they going to go after and sign Franklin...they're also signing Duron Carter...No mention of re-signing Durant though...??? Who says their priorities are full of the stuff they like to spread on lawns..lol

[Mr Dee]

Justin Dunk floating one out there to Drew Edwards...Corey Chamblin in consideration for DC in....Winnipeg?

Drew throws one back about Chamblin possibly in Toronto, or taking over from Steinhauer in Hamilton...

[Bigblue204]

7 minutes ago, Stickem said:

Well here's some more 'bull' out of riderland...Not only are they going to go after and sign Franklin...they're also signing Duron Carter...No mention of re-signing Durant though...??? Who says their priorities are full of the stuff they like to spread on lawns..lol

Lawless tweeted that Carter will be deciding between the rider/stamps/esks.....so they aren't far off on that one.

[Bigblue204]

3 minutes ago, Mr Dee said:

Justin Dunk floating one out there to Drew Edwards...Corey Chamblin in consideration for DC in....Winnipeg?

Drew throws one back about Chamblin possibly in Toronto, or taking over from Steinhauer in Hamilton...

Oh I hope he doesn't come here.

[sweep the leg]

Why would the Riders want Carter? The one position they're actually good at is receiver.

[SpeedFlex27]

There are lots of leaders in the Stamps dressing room. Carter will know his place if he acts the way he did in Montreal. They won't pay him top dollar like other teams would as Hufnagel doesn't spend wildly on free agents. Besides, they have some young dynamic receivers now that I don't think the Stamps really need Duron Carter.

[rebusrankin]

Carter/Roosevelt/Muamba/Best/Labatte, is that why Jone is lowballing Durant? No $$$

[Brandon]

2 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

Carter/Roosevelt/Muamba/Best/Labatte, is that why Jone is lowballing Durant? No $$$

Not at all  

[wbbfan]

31 minutes ago, Brandon said:

Not at all  

if we know one thing about the riders, they dont care about league "rules". 

On 11/22/2016 at 1:32 PM, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

His schematics would be mind bottling.

He fooled more people then any coach in history. Too bad most of them were his own players. 

[Goalie]

I'd be OK with Chamblin as DC. In my opinion he's a big upgrade on Hall. 

[Brandon]

2 hours ago, Goalie said:

I'd be OK with Chamblin as DC. In my opinion he's a big upgrade on Hall. 

Do we have to always bring Rider DC re-treads as our DC??? Wouldn't that be 3 in a row? 

[Fatty Liver]

5 hours ago, wbbfan said:

if we know one thing about the riders, they dont care about league "rules". 

He fooled more people then any coach in history. Too bad most of them were his own players. 

Etch is a Don Cherry in waiting, absolutely unfiltered which is somewhat refreshing compared to the mono-speak drone that emanates from the CFL talking heads, coaches and athletes.  He may be a half step off crazy but he's funny as hell.