CFL Releases Schedule in Most Annoying Way Possible

Today was the day!

As we found out late yesterday, the CFL was going to unveil their 2015 schedule today. Everyone rejoiced! We were finally going to find out what our summer and fall was going to look like.

Then, instead of just putting the schedule out at a predetermined time, the CFL made what might go down as one of the stupidest social media moves in history.

In their infinite wisdom, the CFL posted a question on Twitter: "Who do you think will win the 103rd Grey Cup?" They then waited until they received 10,000 tweets answering the question before they released the schedule. It took nearly three hours from when the question was initially posed until they shared the schedule with everyone.

Pardon my French, but this was f**ing dumb!

I am not even sure I can put into words how frustrating and annoying this whole thing was. Fans like to have the schedule out as early as possible so they can plan their summers and maybe try to travel to a road game or two to watch their favourite team. Holding them hostage like this just makes people angry. It doesn't increase brand awareness, and any gains the league made by #CFLSchedule being a "trending topic" was counteracted by pissing off those that are most loyal to that brand.

And to top it off, it now seems like it was a shame!

Instead of today being a day to celebrate and analyze – I will take an in-depth look at the Tiger-Cats' schedule this weekend – we are forced to shake our heads at the collective stupidity of the people who thought this social media experiment was a good idea and the ones who gave it the go ahead.

So, if anyone at the CFL offices is reading this, please, next year, just release the damn thing without all this nonsense. Not everything has to be a popularity contest or a hashtag. Just put the schedule out and let us see when our favourite team will be playing. Thank you.

Breaux Geaux's Home to the Big Easy!

Every Hamilton Tiger-Cats fan knows by now that all-star cornerback Delvin Breaux has been released by the team in order to sign a contract with his hometown New Orleans Saints.

Not that this came as a surprise to anyone who watched him “lock-up” receivers on the boundary side for the better part of the last two seasons. Delvin is that rare-breed athlete that possesses height, length, size, speed and toughness, all ideal qualities to play out on the island that is short-side corner. You did not have to be a veteran football scout to see and know that No. 27 had everything it takes to make it in the NFL.

I believe it goes without saying that all Ti-Cat fans are extremely happy for Delvin. We all know his incredible backstory, and have watched with great interest as he garnered more attention and respect league-wide and in the media. He also seemed, and I can attest personally, to be a very genuinely nice guy. Always with that big, broad, bold smile; always saying thank-you and appreciative of the fans’ attention; and always with a “Retweet” and “Favourite” and reply to anything you directed his way on Twitter.

Delvin is one of the good guys and it is nice when good things happen to good people. It is also uplifting to see hard work pay off and an underdog story come true.

On a personal side, I had the opportunity to meet and interact with “Chip” and his fiancé Kasey a few times this past season. The recent LSU graduate came up to Hamilton to support and be with her soon-to-be husband this past CFL season. Honestly, you could not find a more adorable couple. Kasey: so proud of Delvin and all that he had strived and worked for and accomplished. Delvin: equally and even more proud of Kasey’s recent graduation and thankful for her love and support in his endeavors. Add in their dog Diesel and you truly could not find a more loving couple, and I simply could not be happier for them.

Before we move on to discuss what Mr. Breaux’s departure means to the Hamilton defense this upcoming season, I would like to address an issue that has irked me recently.

There are some that dislike it when CFL teams release some pending free agents prior to the opening of free agency in order to sign a NFL contract. There are also some that feel the CFL should not become a development league for the NFL and put in more restrictive player movement policies and contracts. And finally, there are some that feel it should not be mentioned that a player is going to the NFL. I vehemently disagree with these sentiments and honestly have a difficult time understanding such head-in-the-sand mindset.

Addressing the first issue, releasing a pending free agent a few weeks or even a month before free agency in the CFL opens up so that they can sign an offer from a NFL team is just good employee relations. As we have seen, not all these opportunities work out and a good faith move like that from management can only help when the player decides to return to the CFL.

The second issue about the CFL becoming a development league for the NFL to me is not only ludicrous but also laced with xenophobic paranoia! Realistically, there are somewhere between 10 to 20 players per year who leave the CFL in an effort to crack the roster of a NFL club. Less than half of them are successful and do not return north of the border. So really we are talking about less than two percent of the players at most and more realistically less than one percent that jump from the CFL to the NFL.

Lastly on this tangential subject, let us face facts. The NFL is the dream of most every young man that plays the game of football. The remuneration and recognition is undeniable especially for those born and raised south of the border. We would not fault a homegrown hockey player who begins their career in Europe wanting to and striving toward getting an NHL opportunity. I personally feel it is a great thing when a CFL player gets the opportunity to pursue their NFL dream. It adds credibility to the league as having top-level talent.

Now, as far as what Hamilton will do to replace Delvin is a much harder question to answer. I feel the Ti-Cats could look at a couple players currently on their roster in order to fill the void.

Free agent acquisition from last year Brandon Stewart had an up and down season when he made the difficult move from field-side corner to boundary-side defensive halfback. I believe the former Monster from Eastern Arizona Junior College has both the size and physicality to lock-up the X-spot receivers lined up on the weak-side of the formation. At times, Stewart looked a little lost in space at defensive back and had difficulty picking up switches in different zone coverage packages. This would not be as much the case at boundary corner since his primary responsibility would be one-on-one coverage. Focusing and narrowing Brandon’s responsibilities, while allowing him to play physical, may very well benefit both him and the team very well.

Rico Murray would also be a potential candidate to replace Breaux on the short-side island. In fact, the former Golden Flash from Kent State has played there before when injuries and roster juggling occurred in the past. But as pointed out by my associate Josh, moving No. 0 out to the edge takes his excellent ball skills out of the mix. Murray is a ball-hawk and playmaker, pure and simple. Keeping him inside whether at defensive back or SAM linebacker is really the best spot for his skill set and abilities.

My guess is that Coach Steinhauer will give Brandon Stewart the opportunity to prove himself at boundary-side corner while potentially moving Rico Murray over to boundary-side defensive halfback giving him help over the top on the weak side. Then the task will be to shore up the field side of the formation, with most likely Ed Gainey and Courtney Stephen pairing up on the wide side.

I for one hope to see more stories like Delvin’s in the future, and I firmly believe it increases the overall talent level in the CFL rather than the myopic and narrow view that it takes it away!

Good luck and best wishes to Mr. Breaux in “Who Dat Nation.”

10 Overlooked Free Agents to Make Your Team Better (Plus One)

Their jerseys are not usually stocked in the team store. When you do see someone wearing one in the crowd, you can be pretty sure they are a family member or loved one.

But do not let that fool you or assign some sense of lesser value to their importance to the team. These players are often key to a team’s success.

In the NHL, they are your third and fourth liners. The grit guys who are often relied upon to jumpstart a sluggish team effort. In the NBA, they are your sixth and seventh men off the bench. The ones that are brought in to address a need and shift the momentum of a game. In MLB, they are your utility players. The guys who can play multiple positions and allow you to make the substitutions that evolves over the long course of an individual game and season.

In the CFL, they are often backups and depth players. They are counted upon to step up should a starter go down to injury. But unlike the other professional sports, they cannot just stand on the sidelines waiting for the coach to point their way and say, “You’re up 47! Get in there!”

They have to be able to contribute somewhere, somehow in the game on the field in order to hold down a valuable roster position. In the CFL, this usually means special teams or rotational duties.

Truth be told, this article originally was to be entitled; “Mark’s Ode to Long-Snappers and Wedge-Breakers”. But alas, due to suggestions from Josh and Eric, I decided to include some of the other players that are very valuable contributors and would be welcomed additions to your respective team… even if they lack the star quality of long snappers and wedge breakers!

So without any further ado, here are my Top 10 free agents (+1) that are not necessarily BIG names, but they will definitely make your team better.

Kendial Lawrence – Edmonton Eskimos

We may as well call the pending Eskimo free agent, “Mr. 400.” All the former Missouri Tiger star did in his first full CFL season was account for 1,790 total yards on 172 touches for an over 10 yards per touch average. Lawrence registered 400 yards in each discipline of rushing, receiving, punt returns and kickoff returns. If I were Eskimos general manager Ed Hervey, I would be inking the very versatile, dynamic and valuable back-up running back to an extension.

Jason Arakgi – BC Lions

The seven-year veteran, who has spent his whole career with BC, appears to want to test the free agency waters. As one of the top special teams tacklers each and every year, Jason provides that edge and nastiness that it takes to barrel downfield without abandon on kickoff and punt coverage. Whether the former McMaster star is just looking to cash in on his value or get a little closer to home, or both, the son of CFL Alumni Nick Arakgi would help any team with his, on average, 22 special teams take downs per season.

Winston Veneble – Montreal Alouettes

After spending time with the NFL’s Chicago Bears, Veneble’s arrival in Montreal has shown that he can be an impact player and big hitter in this league. Always around the football, with a real knack for both stripping and recovering it, the former Boise State standout can play both WILL and SAM Linebacker positions as well as contribute on special teams.

Brian Peters – Saskatchewan Roughriders

With over 80 defensive stops and another 36 takedowns on special teams in only one year as a starter, Peters has shown to have the skills and versatility to be of value in the Canadian game. The Northwestern product has stepped into most every position Saskatchewan head coach Corey Chamblin asked of him, whether it be middle or WILL Linebacker and even long snapper! The technically sound and smart football player would be an excellent depth addition for most every team across the league.

Glenn Love – Calgary Stampeders

The third-year reserve linebacker is very capable of stepping in on defense when needed, but his real value is in special teams coverage. The former UCLA Bruin recorded 20 tackles on the teams as well as another eight, including a sack, on defense. Whether he gets more opportunity to play weak-side linebacker with another team, he would definitely help any team looking to add depth and get better on special teams.

Don Oramasionwu – Edmonton Eskimos

Winnipeg native Donny O suited up for only two games during the 2014 season, yet looking back at his previous five seasons in Winnipeg and Edmonton, it can clearly be seen that the former Manitoba Bison would be very valuable in rotation at the defensive tackle position. Pairing him with other national defensive linemen would give teams a significant advantage when it comes to ratio flexibility.

Alex Krausnick-Groh – Ottawa RedBlacks

The versatile national interior lineman can play both guard and centre as well as contribute as a BIG TIME receiver in specific situations. The former Dino also performs long snapping duties, making him a very valuable depth player for most any team.

Sam Hurl – Saskatchewan Roughriders

The tough-nosed, sure tackling University of Calgary product can provide solid national depth at the linebacker position, as well as spearhead and be a leader on coverage teams. Long snapping abilities unknown.

Tristan Black – Saskatchewan Roughriders

The Central Tech and Wayne State product is solid backing up at both interior linebacker positions, as well as contributing on special teams. A tremendous overall athlete, Black is not only excellent in downfield coverage but can also step in to put foot to ball should your kicker or punter go down to injury.

Aaron Lavarias – Montreal Alouettes

The athletic Lavarias had a very unique 2014 season in Montreal. He suited up and started at both defensive end and middle linebacker. The former Idaho Vandal recorded 22 tackles including 3 sacks during his six games patrolling the middle, and 19 more while rushing from the edge. His versatility and 95 total takedowns in 30 career games would be of tremendous value and impact to many teams.

Marcellus Bowman – Hamilton Tiger-Cats

My plus one is perhaps an odd name to appear on this list since the former Bomber and current Ti-Cat was a household name and coveted free agent just a couple years ago. Yet, a prolonged microsurgery rehabilitation and then ratio issues destined the former Boston College Eagle to the non-active roster. Any team looking for that extra “Boom” and tenacity on defense would do well by acquiring the hard-hitting Bowman.

I realize there will be names on this list that some will not agree with, while there will be omissions that will greatly offend others. But that is the thing about setting a list. It is not meant to be all encompassing, but more of a starting point for discussion.

So while others will get the headlines and be atop the wish lists of many CFL fans, this would be as good a place to start to make your overall team better. They may not be big-name players or coveted free agents that garner media attention, but they most definitely will make the team you cheer for better should they find their way onto your roster.

Where Have All the Stars Gone?

When I hear or read various media-types talk about the lack of “Star” quality in today’s game, I generally dismiss them as curmudgeons that all too often hearken back to the good old days of the CFL. I will admittedly get a little upset thinking that they do not give the players of today enough credit, and are stuck in their romanticism with the names of the past.

I decided to take a closer look into it and found – much to my surprise I might add – the grumpy, old sourpusses may actually be onto something!

We all know that offensive output league-wide was down this past season. When you look at the last 10 years, Net Offense Yards Per Game in 2014 was down roughly nine per cent from the average, while it is off almost 18 per cent from the high of 769 yards per game that was achieved in 2008. Over the last 10 years, the trend, while downward, is not as dour as one might think. The average contraction of offensive output is just shy of one per cent per season.

But what really jumps out when looking at the various numbers is the dramatic decline in members of what I will call “The 1,000 Yard Club”.

As you can see illustrated above, the number of running backs or receivers that gained more than 1,000 yards rushing or receiving in a particular season has been in an almost free-fall descent. In fact, the rate of decline of 1K rushing or receiving members is far greater than the decline in overall Offensive Output Per Game.

In 2014, the league saw only ONE running back cross over the 1,000-yard threshold (Calgary’s Jon Cornish). On average, over the last 10 years, there are usually 3.6 rushers that achieve the 1,000-yard milestone. For those of you playing along at home, that is more than a 250 per cent drop in “Star” or “Elite” running backs. If measured from the top year of 2009 – when seven running backs were able to chew up more than 1,000 yards – that represents a 600 per cent decline in the number of 1,000-yard rushers.

Now, hold onto your hats everyone because this is about to get even bumper. The decline in 1,000-yard receivers is even more dramatic – almost staggering even. In the most recent season, there were three receivers that accumulated more than 1,000 yards (Edmonton’s Adarius Bowman, Winnipeg’s Clarence Denmark and Montreal’s Duron Carter). The average over the last 10 years, you ask? Ten! Yes, that’s what I said … TEN! And that is just the average. If you once again measure from the top year of 2005 – where 19 pass catchers exceeded 1,000 yards – that is an astonishing decline of more than 500 per cent in “Star” or “Elite” quality receivers.

What would explain or account for such a decline and disparity?

What has happened to the Thousand Yard Club?

Where have all the “Stars” or “Elite” Players Gone?

Some would say that it is due to the ineptness of offenses league wide. Yet, as previously noted, Offensive Output Per Game has not declined at the same rate as Members of the 1,000 Yard Club.

Others will say that it is due to expansion and the subsequent watering-down of talent league wide. While this may explain the drop between 2013 and 2014, it does not explain the declines experienced over the previous nine seasons.

How about rules and regulations? Perhaps. Changes to way the game is officiated often results in changes to player performance and the on-field product. But if you really think back on it, the majority of the rule changes and applications have been implemented to benefit the offensive side of the ball.

Are defenses getting better? This may actually carry some attribution weight when it comes to explaining the disappearance of many “Star” or “Elite” offensive players. But again, better defenses only explains the most recent past as Total Offensive Output has basically been flat on average over the last 10 years.

Running-Back-by-Committee Theory? While this explains the decline in 1,000-yard rushers, it does nothing to help resolve the mysterious disappearance of the 1,000-yard receivers.

So, are we just going through a temporary down cycle where there is a lack of “Star” or “Elite” Players or is there something else at play here?

My personal belief is that it is the way coaches have changed the way the game is planned, strategized, managed and ultimately played.

Dink and Dunk. Go through your reads and progressions. Hit the check-down. Spread the ball around. Play within yourself. Manage the game.

While this does not sound all that illuminating or controversial, I do feel that it has a significant and worrisome undertone that I personally believe we are witness to occurring in today’s CFL.

The CFL is becoming a league of coaches and moving away from a league of Stars. Gone are the days of improvisational players. Those guys with that certain je ne sais quoi! They have taken player creativity out of the game by micro-managing every aspect of the game.

Coaching systems and strategies are much more dependable, predictable and reliable than any individual player. They are complex and constrained systems executed by practiced participants. That is what the league and the owners ultimately are looking to achieve: dependable, predictable and reliable results.

But is that what the fans want?

The CFL All-Star Team Does Not Represent a Real CFL Team

On paper, the CFL All-Star team – which was announced yesterday – looks very good. It is the crème de la crème of the league, with the top passers, receivers, rushers, tacklers, sackers and defenders all represented. On paper it is a who’s who of the players that put up the biggest numbers during the course of the regular season. Of course arguments will abound about who made it, who didn’t, and ultimately; “Who the heck votes on these things and WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!?!”

I will leave those discussions and arguments to other fora, blogs and social media sites. That is because I want to explore a much more important and salient issue.

The CFL All-Star Team, as designed and selected, would be hard pressed to actually win on the field! And that is because it truly does not represent how an actual CFL team is structured and looks like on the field of play.

Here are a few modest changes that I would like to see in the CFL All-Star team design:

It’s time to delete one running back & add one fullback/tight end

Firstly, while I can understand having two running backs on the roster is a good strategy (right, Coach Austin?), how many teams actually start two running backs? As far as I could tell, by looking through team depth charts, that number would be zero! Most, if not all, teams use a fullback/tight end in their offensive formations. Many times they actually use two tight ends, and while they may not necessarily start in that formation, they definitely are an important part of the game and much more representative of a typical team.

Don't worry about the numbers: add a fifth receiver

Another question I have: why only four receivers? I presume this is because they are trying to balance the numbers to only have 12 a side – insert Saskatchewan Roughrider joke here! – but if that is the reason, it is a pretty lame one. The CFL is a passing league. All teams use a five-receiver set at some point throughout the game. In fact, most teams predominantly use a five-receiver set under normal game action. If you are not using two running backs or a running back and a fullback/tight end set, you are most likely employing a five-receiver formation.

Make the linebacking unit a true unit: one MIKE, one WILL, one SAM

Not all linebackers are created equal. Each position has its own very specific and different responsibilities, which requires a very specific and different skill set. Over the last few years, the All-Star linebacking unit has sometimes been an all-middle-linebacker affair. It has also been a mix of weakside and strongside linebackers with no true run-plugging middle linebacker. And like this year, it sometimes is a mix of MIKE and WILLs. Well, good luck to one of those guys having to cover a slotback waggling to the line of scrimmage or a running back releasing down the seam. The linebacking unit needs to reflect how most teams approach the game defensively.

Time to recognize both the kick returners AND the cover guys

Special teams is not all about punt and kick returners, nor is it just about those trying to stop the punt and kick returners. It’s both! And both are a very important part of the team and, ultimately, the game on the field. Yet, the way the current All-Star team is designed, it is only one or the other. It is like trying to get Coke and Pepsi in a restaurant. You can only have one! Just like there is a difference between punting and place kicking, and therefore 2 categories, there needs to be a category for returners as well as those who cover kicks. Every team has one of each, so why not recognize them both?

There are a few other changes I would like to make – as a former long-snapper you can guess what else I would like to add – but I’ll leave it at that for now. I believe the minor modifications I mentioned would make the All-Star team much more representative of an actual CFL team.

The CFL Could Learn Something from the NFL

For those out there that don't watch the NFL, Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson broke Jerry Rice's single-season record for receiving yards. Johnson topped Rice's 1995 record in Detroit's game last night. And what happened when Johnson broke the record?

Nothing.

Johnson went over to the sidelines, gave the ball to his dad and the game continued on as if nothing happened. Considering Johnson broke one of the records held by the greatest pass catcher in pro football history (don't bother debating this because Rice is the greatest ever and it is undeniable fact), so this was no small feat. This was something worthy of celebrating, but the NFL didn't stop the game to honour the milestone.

And that is the right thing to do.

One of my biggest beefs with the CFL is when a guy breaks a record, be it single-season or all-time, they stop the game to hold these elaborate ceremonies. It's awkward and, to be honest, comes off as a little bush league. When Chad "Look At Me" Owens aka "Overrated Owens" aka "The Cryin' Hawaiian" broke that meaningless record this past season, the Argos stopped the game to celbrate it. When Damon Allen broke the all-time passing yards mark, the game was stopped (and that game wasn't even played in Toronto; it was played at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Labour Day).

Contrast that to last night, and to when Brett Favre broke the passing yards and touchdown marks. A little acknowledgement, but no grandiose midfield celebrations. No stopping the game for 10 minutes to present either player with a plaque. A tip of the hat, likely an announcement in the stadium and the game went on as usual.

That's how it should be done. Stop halting games to recognize individual achievements, no matter how significant.

The CFL would be wise to take a page from the NFL's book on this one. The league needs to put its foot down and stop these game-stopping ceremonies. The next time someone breaks a record, I hope what follows looks like what I saw in Detroit last night and not what I saw in Toronto in November.

Three Questions: Canadian Football League

The off-season is underway and every team faces questions. Today, I look at three questions concerning the Canadian Football League.

1. Will there be any rule changes?
The off-season usually brings about a batch of rule changes, but that might not be the case this season. The only real change I could see coming is expanding automatic reviews to include turnovers. Right now, all scoring plays are automatically reviewed, but with the NFL going to automatic reviews of turnovers this season, I could see the CFL following suit (they've piggybacked on NFL rule changes a lot in the last couple of years). But other than that, I don't see any rules changes, major or minor, coming into effect for next season.

2. Will they reup solely with TSN?
The television contract that made TSN the sole carrier of CFL games expires after this upcoming season. TSN has an exclusive negotiating window until January of next year to reach an agreement to keep all the games on TSN. If TSN gives the CFL the money it wants, they'll be staying with Canada's Sports Leader. But it might be in the best interest of the league to find another partner willing to broadcast a game or two a week. TSN has been awesome for the league, but by sticking with just one network, the league and TSN have become synonymous. CFL coverage on The Score and Sportsnet is almost nonexistent and bringing one of them into the mix would increase the league's profile. Right now, neither network has any stake in covering the league because all they are doing is promoting their competition. This is a really difficult decision for the league to make and I am glad I'm not the one making it.

3. Will we see the CFL video game?
Rumours about a CFL game pop up all the time, but for the first time in a long time, it actually seems like it could be a reality sooner rather than later. Commissioner Mark Cohon talked openly about a potential CFL video game during his Fan State of the League address during Grey Cup weekend. From the sounds of Cohon's comments, it might not be a traditional game on a platform like XBox or Playstation, but maybe a mobile game. He kept the plans pretty close to his vest, but this is the first time I had ever heard the commissioner talk about a CFL video game. Maybe after years of hoping, fans might finally get a chance to take the virtual field as their favourite CFL franchise.

Ignorance and Idiocy (UPDATE: Wilbon Responds)

It has been a good while since I went on a rant. It's kind of hard to be angry as a Tiger-Cat fan right now and one needs to be angry to rant. But I found something to be angry about after watching ESPN's sports-talk program Pardon the Interruption.

During Friday's episode the idea of American football being played in the Olympics came up as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is starting to advocate for the sports inclusion in the games. When co-host Tony Kornheiser read a quote from Goodell that said 64 countries play American football, one of the requirements a sport must reach before being considered for the Olympics, Wilbon began by laughing at it. He followed that up with a quote so ignorant and idiotic that I have to print it in full (they can be heard at the 5:14 mark of the podcast of the episode):

This is junk!. There's two countries playing real American football, America and Canada, and we're not sure about Canada.

Wilbon, for all his sports-writing expertise, lets his ignorant side shine through on this one. While I've come to expect that Americans know very little about our brand of football, but hearing the arrogance in Wilbon's voice as he says "and we're not sure about Canada" made me want to reach through my TV and punch him right in the mouth.

Maybe someone should show Wilbon the footage of Team Canada's 23-17 gold medal victory over Team USA in last month's finals of the IFAF Under-19 World Championships.

I will give him credit for one thing, though: he is right and Canada does not play "real American football." We play Canadian football.But he was right about that on a technicality, so I'm not giving him too much credit.

Wilbon's comments were ignorant and typical of ESPN blowhards who speak before they think. I like PTI and like Wilbon, but he's no different than the Jim Rome's, Skip Bayless' and Michael Landsberg's of the world; he's a guy who gets paid to shoot his mouth off.

Guess Wilbon's not as enlightened as fellow ESPNer, and big-time CFL fan, Chris Berman.


UPDATE: ESPN's Michael Wilbon has responded via Twitter. He posted the following in response to this post:

Follow @RealMikeWilbon

Michael Wilbon
@RealMikeWilbon

@JoshSmithBWW Stop whining...you play minor league pro football and u want to argue...take it elsewhere. The CFL is fine; it's not the NFL.

 Reply  ·  Retweet  ·  Favorite
37 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® · powered by @socialditto

I'm going to guess that Wilbon didn't actually read the post because if he did he would realize that this was never about the CFL vs. the NFL or even Canada vs. the US. This was about his comment that he wasn't sure if Canada played football. It was an ignorant comment, and I stand by that statement, but I especially stand by it after this new comment where he calls the CFL "minor league pro football."

I think what bothers me the most about that statement is that it is disrespectful to the hundreds of players that play in the CFL. Guys are up here for reasons other than talent and by calling the CFL a minor league, Wilbon implies that players are in the CFL because they lack the talent to play in the NFL. I know it probably means little to a guy who, according to others, sold his credibility a long time ago, but perhaps there are guys who play in the CFL because they'd rather earn their paycheque than be a third stringer for the Cleveland Browns.

While Canada will likely never be the football power the US is, Wilbon decided to make that point – which is a point I do not disagree with and was the never the reason for my initial post – in the most ignorant and disrespectful way possible. Hopefully, this is the final time we will hear from him on this subject.

Some Tiger-Cat links

I don't normally post links, except when I'm plugging my own stuff or stuff from friends, but with the bye week in full effect, there hasn't been much present Tiger-Cat news to talk about. So with that in mind, I thought I'd post a link to an article and post a video that have been brought to my attention over the last couple of days.

The article comes from the Carolina Panther website and is a feature about former Tiger-Cat kicker Justin Medloc. It is from a couple of days ago, but it was sent to me this morning and I thought I'd pass it along. There are some interesting tidbits in there about his time in the CFL and in Hamilton, but the part that will likely be of most interest to Ti-Cats is just how close Medlock was to returning to Hamilton this season. While it is a subject that was written about when Medlock left, this is the first time that I recall seeing detailed specifics, such as how much money the two sides were apart at the time of his signing with Carolina.

The video is an eight-minute clip from an upcoming documentary called "Gridiron Underground" by former Tiger-Cat running back John Williams. The documentary is about African-American players in the CFL and features interviews with players such as Bernie Custis, Henry Burris and Warren Moon. I found the clip to be absolutely captivating and I think everyone who sees it will agree:

My Friend Steve is a Game Changer

A little over a week ago, I wrote a post about my friend Steve and why I nominated him to be a Scotiabank Game Changer.

I am proud to announce that Steve has been selected as the Scotiabank Game Changer for this week's Tiger-Cat game against the Montreal Alouettes. He will receive a cheque for $1,000 that will go to Hamilton Health Sciences.

If you read my initial post on this, you know how I feel about Steve and his charity efforts. He is the most selfless person I know and I was proud to nominate him. I am so happy that he was selected and that his name and brand (High Fives 2 Help Lives) will get more publicity and get scene around the country. More people need to know what great work he does and that is one of the reasons why I nominated him as a Game Changer.

As great as it is that Steve has won the $1,000 for Hamilton Health Sciences, the work is not done yet. There is still a chance for Steve to go to the Grey Cup, represent Hamilton and come home with $100,000 for Hamilton Health Sciences.

To everyone who has voted, I give you my sincere thanks. I may have nominated him, but his hard work and your votes are what helped make this happen. I was but a cog, and a small one at that, in a much larger machine. You, the voters, and Steve, the great man that he is, are the main reasons why I can now call my friend a Scotiabank Game Changer.

Scotiabank Game Changer

Normally when there are two or three things going on in Tigertown, I like to combine them. I will post something on the all-time running back nominees and the possibility of closing Cannon Street in front of the new stadium later, but this post is about something a lot more important than football, so I felt it deserved its own post.

Those who attend games or watch on TSN have probably noticed that Scotiabank has a Game Changer program where they will give money to people who have or are making an impact in their communities. It just so happens that I know one of these people and when I first heard of the program, his name was the first one that popped to mind. So after getting all the needed information, I decided to nominate my good friend Steve Gillon as a Scotiabank Game Changer.

You can read Steve's profile by clicking the link, and I think it does a good job of encapsulating all the great work he does, but there was a word limit, so I would like to go into a little more detail (and get a little more personal) about why I nominated Steve.

Steve decided when his grandparents and uncle passed away that he wouldn't just sit around and do nothing about the diseases that took those he loved away from him. I remember attending what I believe was his first fundraiser at the London Tap House in downtown Hamilton in July of 2009. I'm not the most social guy in the world, but I figured it was worth it to support my friend. Since then, Steve has held numerous fundraisers, and even a toy drive, in an effort to give back. All this fundraising led him to establish his own non-profit organization, High Fives 2 Help Lives, in 2011.

Since establishing High Fives, Steve has helped raise almost $5,400 for various charities, with his Movember campaign being his most successful so far. You may recall that last NMovember I posted a piece lamenting the fact that the CFL was not doing something to promote Movember like they had with their breast cancer awareness program in October. You may also remember who happy I was to find out that memebers of the Tiger-Cats office staff were getting in on the Movember fun.

My support for Movember came because of one man: Steve. If you look at the first link in the above paragraph you will notice his name is featured prominently. There is a reason for that, and it goes beyond us being friends for over 20 years. I am, to put it bluntly, damn proud of him. He took what is one of the worst things in the world, losing the people you love, and turned it into something positive. He found a way to give back and has done some amazing work over the last three years. So when the chance came to help him out, I jumped at it. He has worked so hard to give back to others, that is was time for me to finally give back by helping him.

When I heard about the Scotiabank Game Changer program, I thought of no one else but Steve. So in addition to this post, I will also be adding a link to Steve's Game Changer profile on the sidebar. Please, just take a minute or two to read his profile and vote for him. I know he would appreciate it and so would I.

Tebow the Tiger-Cat

Since being installed as the starting Quarterback for the Denver Broncos last October, no player has been more polarizing than Tim Tebow.

His supporters bring up his intangibles, mainly how he has won at every level he has played. His detractors point out his lack of polished skills, mainly how he is an inaccurate passer. Both sides have their points, but I think it is too early to tell what kind of player Tebow will be; two seasons and 13 starts does not a career make.

But the Denver Broncos have decided to move on from Tebow, having signed four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning to led the team. That means Tebow's football future lies somewhere other than the Colorado capital.

One of those places could be Hamilton.

Sportnet's Arash Madani tweeted that Tebow's CFL negotiation rights belong to the Tiger-Cats. It's highly unlikely that Tebow will play in the CFL; there should be plenty of suitors for the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner who helped guide the Broncos to an improbable AFC West division title and first-round playoff upset of the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011.

But should Tebow find his NFL opportunities not to his liking, he could end up coming to Hamilton. Tebow is not unfamiliar with the CFL, as it was none other than Montreal Alouettes Head Coach Marc Trestman that worked with Tebow prior to the 2010 NFL Draft. Also, former players like Matt Dunigan and Doug Flutie have been asked about whether Tebow could be a success in the CFL.

Tebow becoming a Tiger-Cat now or at any time in the future is extremely slim, but it is fun to think about what "Tebowmania" would look like north of the border.

Bounties in the CFL? You Betcha!

The scandal that has engulfed the National Football League regarding bounties being placed on opposing players by members of the New Orleans Saints has reached Canada. Adriano Belli and a pair of unnamed current CFL players have come out and said that similar bounty programs can be found in the CFL.

What is happening in CFL locker rooms differs from what occurred in New Orleans because that involved a coach, Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams, being at the forefront and that doesn't seem to be the case in the CFL.

Players pooling cash is nothing new; I specifically remember the Edmonton Eskimos Secondary talking about a pool they had where the first person to get an interception would receive the payout. The Esks went nearly half a season back in 2010 without registering a pick, and this was there way of having a little fun with it.

I don't have a big problem with players pooling money together, even if it is doled out to those who lay vicious hits on a Quarterback, Running Back, Receiver, etc. I don't think any person can say they didn't get excited when Jamall Johnson laid that bone-jarring hit on Buck Pierce last season. It was one of the highlights of the year. Would it surprise anyone if we later found out that the Ti-Cat Defense put a bounty on Pierce? Would it make the hit less spectacular? The answer to both those questions is no. Pierce has an injury history, so it makes sense for teams to target him. It was done legally, and if Johnson won himself a few extra dollars because of it, I don't see the problem.

But where bounty pools step over the line is if the payout is given for intentionally injuring an opponent. Football is a violent game without adding the intent to injure into it. The Johnny Sears hit on Steven Jyles last season is where a vicious hit crosses the line. The aftermath also crossed the line, when Rob Murphy and Taylor Robertson both vowed revenge for the hit. It is impossible to know whether the Bombers had a bounty of Jyles, but I think it can be reasonably assumed that the Argos were putting one on Sears. That type of stuff has no place in the game.

Concerns over player safety are at an all-time high, and the CFL is doing everything it can to make the game safer. That's a noble cause, and one worth pursuing. But no matter what the league does, football will always be a violent game. Hits like Johnson's will continue to make highlight reels, and players across the league will pool money together to give extra incentive to make those hits. We may not like the idea of bounties being placed on opposing players, but we all still get out of our seats when hits like Johnson's or Carlos Thomas's on Geroy Simon get made, and as long as that is the case, players will have a reason to want to make them.

Reviewing Scoring Plays Among Suggested Rule Changes

While they still need approval, three new rules should be in place for the start of the 2012 season; two regarding helmets coming off during play and one in which all scoring plays will be reviewed.

If you watched games last season, especially in the first half of the year, you saw helmets pop off at an alarming rate. It seemed that not a quarter would go by without a helmet flying off. The league has decided that enough is enough and have put forth two rules that will hopefully curb lost helmets. The play will now be whistled dead should the ball carrier lose his helmet. In addition to that, any non-ball carrier that loses their lid will be ineligible for the remainder of that play. Should they continue to play, their team will be penalized 10 yards for illegal participation. If they are hit by an opposing player after losing their helmet, the opposing team will be penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness.

It is a good rule, and one that I hope will help eliminate helmets flying off. The only issue is that there is some leeway – meaning judgment – on helmets that pop off while players are blocking or being blocked. I don't like when rules can be interpreted differently by different referee crews; from one game to the next the calls could vary drastically. Rules need to be pretty straightforward with little room for interpretation so that the chance of a blown call is kept to a minimum.

The other change is one that I have been calling for since mid-October, so to say I am happy to hear that the league will be adopting the NFL-style automatic reviews on all scoring plays is an understatement. Scoring plays decide games, and getting those right is the most important thing the league can do. I do hope that the league will expand the rule to include all plays in the end zone, but if they do not, that is not a big deal. I noticed that NFL referees were much more inclined to rule a play a touchdown and let replay handle it than they were to call it otherwise which would not allow for a replay. I would expect the same to happen in the CFL.

You have to hand it to the CFL, they are not afraid to alter or change the rules of the game to ensure a better product. These potential changes are all a step in the right direction.

The Secrecy of Player Salaries, Pt. 2 (Twitter Edition)

A recent debate has broken out on Twitter regarding publicizing player salaries. I have written previously on the subject but input from people who are directly impacted by disclosing salaries have given their opinions on the subject.

It all started when Sportsnet's Arash Madani sent out a tweet somewhat bemoaning the fact that the CFL does not release player salaries. Dave Naylor of TSN also weighed in. Both reporters feel as if the salaries should be made public.

Then things got interesting. First, it was Nikki Jimenez who agreed with me that salaries should be kept private. Then Kevin Glenn made his opinion known, which aligned with Mrs. Jimenez.

The arguments for disclosing salaries were the same we always hear: other leagues publicize their salaries so CFL should as well and fans pay the salaries so they have a right to know. I don't agree at all with either sentiment. For starters, just because other leagues do it doesn't mean every league has to. That is, quite honestly, a rather weak reason. Secondly, while fans may pay to watch the team and therefore contribute to players' salaries, teams like Hamilton lose money, which means fans aren't paying the whole freight. Also, just because your purchases help to offset cost doesn't grant you the right know what the employees make. Purchases made by Tim Horton's customers pay for those salaries, but you wouldn't dare walk into your local coffee shop and ask to know what the guy or gal behind the counter makes.

I'm not surprised at the stances taken by the respective groups; reporters want to know more and players (and their wives) want to keep their privacy. I also don't think either side is wrong, I just happen to side with Kevin Glenn and Nikki Jimenez.

I am sure this is an issue that will continue to spring up, but until a really strong reason for publicizing salaries is made – and that has yet to happen, in my opinion – the status quo is just fine. Players are people too, and just because they are talented enough to make a living in a high-profile profession, does not mean they lose the right to their financial privacy. I don't see how a fan's enjoyment of the game is enhanced by knowing what the players make. I understand that transparency is important, but so is individual privacy. On this issue, privacy should win out.

A Look at Hamilton's 2012 Schedule

Amidst the frenzy of Fantuz's signing, the CFL released the 2012 schedule on Friday.

The season kicks off with Saskatchewan coming to Hamilton to play the Tiger-Cats on June 29th. That means that Andy Fantuz's first game as a Tiger-Cat will be against his former club.

It won't be long before we get a glimpse of the new Battle of Ontario, as the Ricky Ray-led Toronto Argonauts travel down the QEW to take on the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton in Week 3.

In Week 5, we will find out what kind of reception Rider fans will give Andy Fantuz as the Cats travel to Regina. Because of the Fantuz signing, Hamilton-Saskatchewan could end up being a very testy rivalry for the next couple of years, at least between the two fan bases.

Hamilton faces their toughest test when they play back-to-back road games against the Bombers (August 16th) and Montreal (August 23rd). Hamilton was unable to win in or against Winnipeg last season, dropping all four game (including the playoffs), and while the Montreal hex was broken in 2011 (Hamilton beat the Als three out of five contests, including the thrilling East Division Semi-Final), it won't be easy for the new-look Cats to take out the Als.

Fans can also rejoice, as the Labour Day Classic is back to what it is supposed to be. The Argos will head back to Hamilton for the annual meeting on the first Monday of September, and Hamilton will return the favour by heading to Toronto five days later.

After that, the team alternates between home games and away games, until the season comes to a close in Toronto on November 1st.

But maybe the most important day, or at least the one long-time fans will cherish the most, is the October 27th game against the Blue Bombers. That is to be, barring a home playoff game, the final Tiger-Cats game at venerable Ivor Wynne Stadium. My hope is for a huge crowd to send the stadium out in proper style.

Hamilton's schedule is actually very good. Only one road trip to Montreal, four games against the Argos, and only one two-game road trip. The team also plays the majority of their home games on Friday or Saturday, and not one game, either home or away, is played on a Sunday. For the final season at Ivor Wynne, it couldn't be set up any better more massive crowds. It's as good a schedule as could be hoped for, and it could portend to great things for the franchise in 2012.

Day One of Free Agency Starts and Ends With a Whimper

The league moved the start of free agency up 12 hours, but perhaps the old midnight start time hid the truth that the beginning of free agency isn't very exciting. There was very little in the way of actual signings – for a brief period of time new Eskimos Receiver Cary Koch, he of 36 career catches, was the talk of the league – and all of the marquee names are still available (though the late word is that former Argos Defensive Back Byron Parker is heading to BC).

News on the Tiger-Cat front was scarce, and the team did not sign any players on day one. The team is apparently looking at former Argos Linebacker Kevin Eiben. Eiben would make an excellent addition to the team, as he can start at Linebacker (if needed) and provides great Canadian depth.

The team has also sent a contract to Justin Medlock. I've expounded enough about Medlock, but in short, SIGN THE MAN!

But the biggest news of the day, Ti-Cats wise, was Bob Young's tweet about none other than Andy Fantuz.

Fantuz is currently in Africa on vacation, and the time difference is being used as a reason for his not having a deal. So when Young said that he "always wanted to go on Safari to bag a big Cat," everyone took notice.

Young is not one to say things publicly that could jeopardize his team, so he must be under the impression that the Cats have a very good shot of signing the Chatham, ON native. Based on the signings of Receivers Koch and Greg Carr by Edmonton and Jason Barnes by the Argos, it seems as if the Riders and Ti-Cats remain as the two top suitors for the 2010 Most Outstanding Canadian.

I initially thought the big names, like Fantuz and former Blue Bomber Guard Brendon LaBatte, would already be signed, but that obviously didn't happen. I don't expect either to remain on the market for long – LaBatte is thought to be on the verge of signing with the Roughriders – but who knows.

The league changed the start time to make the beginning of free agency to be more fan friendly; it turned out to be anything but. Perhaps moving the time back or allowing teams to talk to players a day or so before the official opening, without fear of tampering, would have made today more exciting.

In any event, the free agent frenzy was anything but; however, with lots of good players still on the open market, a lot is still left to be determined.

TO in T.O.: Terrell Owens and the CFL

Sometimes, when there isn't much to talk about, I start getting crazy ideas.

This is one of those times.

Free agency is going to start on Wednesday, and I will have my thoughts on that posted in the next two days, but we are in a bit of a lull as far as news in concerned. So I started thinking last night about non-free-agent stuff.

Which led me to this simple question:

Should a CFL team make a play for Terrell Owens?

I know the reasons why not. He's a 38-year-old Wide Receiver with a penchant for being a drama queen. He's an egomaniac that has been his own worst enemy. He has left locker rooms in shambles with his me-first attitude. He is currently playing for the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League, which he owns a portion of as part of his agreement to play for them. Initially, it absolutely looks like a no.

But I also know that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers nearly signed Adam "Pacman" Jones a couple of years ago when he was a twice-suspended player from the NFL. Jones was in far worse shape, career-wise, than Owens is now. Also, the Argos brought in Ricky Williams, who was serving a year-long suspension from the NFL for violating their substance abuse policy. It shows that CFL teams are not afraid to take a risk if they think the player can contribute.

Which brings us back to Owens.

The guy can be a jerk, but he's also an extremely talented player. The fact that he has to play for the Wranglers is not because he's past his prime, it's because he's burned a lot of bridges and he was injured. His last NFL season, in 2010 with the Cincinnati Bengals, Owens put up decent numbers. Even at 38, the guy can still play.

But it is not as simple as saying he can play so sign him up. There are things that need to be taken into consideration.

First and foremost, is the question of whether or not Owens would want to play in the CFL. Normally, that answer would probably be no, but he's further off the map playing in the IFL than he would be playing in the CFL. He wouldn't get as much media attention as he did during his 15-year NFL career, but he'd get more than he'll get suiting up for the Wranglers.

It would also be good PR for Owens. Look at what playing in the CFL did for Ricky Williams. The guy was routinely called a loser after being suspended for a second time, but his time in Toronto seemed to resurrect his career, and there was recently some kind things written about his time in Toronto. Playing in the CFL could help Owens rehab his image in the same way it helped Williams.

The other obvious question is: what CFL would take him? Working on the assumption that he is not currently on a neg list, there is really only one landing spot for a guy like Owens: Toronto. Signing Owens makes both marketing sense and roster sense. The Argos would get one of the most colourful sports personalities of the last decade, making it easier to market the Argos. Adding someone as well known as Owens would get butts in seats.

It also makes roster sense because the most glaring hole in Toronto's Offense is at Receiver. They do not have a go-to guy for new Quarterback Ricky Ray; bringing in Owens would change that instantly. He'd be the big-time playmaker the team sorely needs. He'd make for an excellent additon to the roster from a performance standpoint as much as from a marketing one.

And let's not forget that Owens is not unfamiliar with Toronto. He played for the Bills when they took on the New York Jets at the Rogers Centre SkyDome in 2009. From all the media appearances he made, he seemed to like Toronto. Owens is not a guy who is afraid to voice his opinions, so I take him at his word that he viewed Toronto as a wonderful city.

Could Owens help the Argos (or any other CFL team)? We'll probably never know. But it is still fun to throw the idea out there.

My Dad once said, as a joke, that Ricky Williams was going to play in the CFL (for the record, he said Hamilton, not Toronto).

I called him crazy.

Just goes to show that you never know what might happen.

The Secrecy of Player Salaries

The Winnipeg Free Press released a list of what seven starting Quarterbacks (the one team missing was Winnipeg because all their QBs are headed for free agency). Anthony Calvillo and Ricky Ray, not surprisingly, top the list at approximately $400,000 per season.

I use the word "approximately" because it is not known what the exact amounts are because the league does not release that information.

I should stay that way.

I have never understood the obsession some fans have with knowing what players make. It is, quiet frankly, no one's business what anybody makes, and that doesn't change because the person is a professional athlete. You wouldn't stop a stranger on the street and ask them what their annual income is, so I don't understand why fans feel like it is their right to know what a player makes.

Complaints about the lack of transparency when it comes to certain aspects of the league – like contract length or the negotiation list – I understand. I don't need to know what a player makes, but it would be nice to know how long they signed for. Waiting for the league to release a free agent list is silly, especially when the list includes retired players or players playing in the NFL. Knowing when a player is about to hit the open market is not a necessity, but it also isn't so invasive that it needs to be kept private.

I've also heard the reason for the neg list not being made public – it's a fluid list, with names going on and off all the time – but it's not like names don't get leaked (Tahj Boyd, Geno Smith and Kellen Moore are on the Ti-Cast neg list; Robert Griffin III is on Calgary's), so there seems to be no harm in releasing each teams' full list.

But demanding to know what a player makes is where I personally draw the line. I just don't think anyone deserves or needs to know what someone else is making. Sure, it would make for interesting water-cooler talk and it would allow fans to play fantasy GM and discuss how to fit players under the salary cap. But the need to know is trumped by the fact that these players deserve some privacy.

There are ways the league could, and should, be less secretive; divulging player salaries to the public is a step the league does not need to take.

Three Question: Canadian Football League

The end of the season always brings a host of questions, today we tackle three question facing the Canadian Football League.

1. Will we see any rule changes?
The CFL is one of the few leagues that has no problems tweaking their rules for the betterment of the game. I expect the league will make some changes, but one that needs to happen is one I've talked about before: automatic replay on all potential scoring plays. Scoring plays, above all others, need to be correct as close to 100 per cent of the time as possible. If the league makes no other rule changes this off-season, they must at least make this one.

2. Will the league address the reffing issue?
People complaining about officiating is nothing new, but even the most ardent supporters of the league's officials must admit that the officiating in 2011 was worse than normal. There were a ton of bad calls that cost teams dearly. There is no single solution; it's not like the league can just wave a wand and magically make the refs better. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away, so the league needs to step up and do something to ensure a repeat of 2011 does not happen.

3. Will we finally get a date for Ottawa's return?
This has been a question that has hovered over the league since the city was given a conditional franchise back in 2008. It looks like all the hurdles put forth by single-minded buffoons have been swept aside and construction will begin at Lansdowne Park soon. That means we are that much closer to the stadium being ready. We might not get a firm date, but it looks like we could have a more secure tentative date in the next six months.