Podskee Wee Wee, Episode 4: The Favourites Show!

Episode 4 is here for your listening pleasure. Mike and I picked the mics to mostly talk about some of our favourite things about the CFL, both past and present. We also touched on the hailstorm of anger that came from a certain prairie province, and as always, answered some excellent questions from you, our listeners.

This episode actually goes pretty long, clocking in at over 83 minutes, so I hope you like the sound of our voices, because you are about to hear both for longer than usual.

If you haven't already, remember that you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by clicking the button below. And any comments or ratings you could leave on iTunes would be greatly appreciated. And of course, feel free to sound off in the comment section. Any and all feedback is welcome.

Enjoy the show!




P.S. We have a special treat for you guys and gals this time around. The reason for posting these will make much more sense once you listen to the show.

Here is your giant-headed scribe with former Tiger-Cat linebacker Otis Floyd:


And this is a 1972 Grey Cup commemorative lunchbox I own:

Last-Minute Classique News

The just-retired Otis Floyd is going to lead the Cats out onto the field before tomorrow's game against Montreal. I expect a LOUD pop for Floyd when he emerges from the tunnel. There is no better way to get the fans fired up than having one of the most animated players in recent Ti-Cats history lead the Black & Gold onto the field for tomorrow's huge matchup.

Also, don't forget that the Purolator Tackle Hunger program will be at Ivor Wynne Stadium tomorrow to accept your donations of cash or nonperishable food items. If you donate, you can have your picture taken with the Grey Cup. This is for a good cause, and all the food donated will help people in Hamilton who truly need it. Whatever you can spare will, I'm sure, be much appreciated.

Otis Floyd to Announce Retirement

Former Tiger-Cat Linebacker Otis Floyd is set to announce his retirement today.

Floyd came to Hamilton in 2009 and was one of the main factors in bringing respectable football back to Steeltown. He was let go this past off-season after the Cats signed Rey Williams.

I have been an unabashed Floyd fan since his first day with the Cats, and I have made that known more times than I care to admit. Floyd was easily my favorite player the last two seasons, and I doubt I was alone. Floyd was the type of player that always endeared himself to Ti-Cat fans as a hard-nosed player who left it all on the field.

The one lasting memory I have of Floyd is his game-sealing interception in Week 2 in 2009 against BC. Floyd was a former Lion, and he picked off Buck Pierce to secure Hamilton's first win in BC since 2004.

Floyd was the undisputed leader of the Tiger-Cats' Defense, as he anchored the most fearsome Linebacking corps in the CFL (along with Markeith Knowlton and Jamall Johnson).

Floyd played only two seasons with the Cats, but his impact was huge. I don't know if Floyd will be at the game tomorrow afternoon, but if he is I will stand and cheer for him just like I did when he wore the Black & Gold.

Thank you, Otis.

Cobb and Floyd Officially Released

We all knew that this news was coming sooner or later, but today the Ti-Cats released Running Back DeAndra' Cobb and Linebacker Otis Floyd.

Both players became expendable after the team signed Running Back Avon Cobourne and Linebacker Rey Williams two weeks ago.

I am not going to lie – watching Otis Floyd leave is tough. He was easily one of my three favourite players one the team since he joined Hamilton in 2009. He may have been my favorite player. I just loved the way he played. He exuded so much passion, and he brought a take-no-prisoners attitude that the Defense needed. Many times I have called him the heart and soul of the Defense, and to know he will never wear the Black & Gold again sucks. I have a beautiful #35 away jersey in my closet that I will wear with pride. Floyd was exactly the type of player that this Tiger-Cat fan always loves. Should he continue his career in another uniform, I will give him a standing ovation when he returns to Ivor Wynne in 2011. A guy like Otis Floyd deserves nothing less.

I don't want to give Cobb short shrift, but I'm more bummed by seeing Floyd leave than I am Cobb. I like Cobb, but he seemed to regress last season. I hope he finds his way onto another roster, and he was one of the players that helped turn Hamilton around. I will never forget the game against BC in 2009 when Cobb went off. A surprising win that showed that the Cats were on their way back.

It's a bit of a sad day for this fan. Good luck in the future to both Otis Floyd and DeAndra' Cobb. Thank you for the part you played in bringing respectable football back to Hamilton.

Arland and Otis Not Going Anywhere

While some of us (namely me) were worried that Arland Bruce and Otis Floyd might be heading off into retirement, we can stop that talk right now.

Bruce said that he believes he has "80, 90 games left in [his] system." That equates to about four or five more seasons. This is great news. Hopefully these 80 or 90 games for Bruce all occur with him in Black & Gold. Bruce hadn't made any rumbles about retirement, but he did after the loss in the East Division Semi-Final to the BC Lions in 2009.

Floyd says he plans to be back for his 12th CFL season. This puts to rest rumours that he started himself when he told AM900 CHML's Matt Holmes that Sunday's East Division Semi-Final was his last game. We've all heard veteran players say after tough losses, especially tough playoff losses, that they didn't think they'd be back. Floyd, however, seemed pretty definitive, and he made the statement unprompted. That's what made it feel so genuine.

This is great news from where I sit. Both guys had great seasons in 2010 and showed that they can still contribute at a high level. Floyd set a single-season personal best, with 83 tackles, and finished second on the team to Jamall Johnson's 101. Floyd is the heart and soul of the defense. While he is getting up there in age (and I wouldn't be surprised if 2011 is his last season), Floyd still competes at the highest of levels, and I bet that the loss on Sunday is not how he wanted his career to end.

Bruce very well might have led the CFL in receiving yards had he not missed most of the final three regular-season contests. His game has not fallen off in the least, and I would hazard a guess that the drops he had in Sunday's playoff game will provide fuel to his fire for 2011. I expect him to be extra motivated come the start of the 2011 CFL season.

I look forward to both being back in Black & Gold in 2011.

Knowlton, Floyd, Johnson: Simply the Best

With the recent news that the Tiger-Cats have re-signed Markeith Knowlton, I figured now was as good a time as any to provide a little insight into the Linebacking corps of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.


Linebackers are considered the heart and soul of every defense, and this is especially true in Hamilton. Without top-notch LBs to anchor a defense, you don't have a defense. The three men that start for the Ti-Cats comprise the best group of LBs in the CFL.

Yes, you read that right. Markeith Knowlton (#25), Otis Floyd (#35) and Jamall Johnson (#28) are the best linebacking group in the entire Canadian Football League.

In 2009, these players exceeded even the most ardent fan's wildest expectations. Knowlton had 95 tackles, one sack, four fumble recoveries, four interceptions, two blocked kicks and two defensive touchdowns and was named a CFL All Star. Johnson led the Cats in tackles with 109, while also recording two sacks and being named a CFL All Star. Floyd finished the season with only 67 tackles, five sacks and one interception, but he was the leader of the group, due mostly to his experience. He was the spokesman for the team, especially the defense; Floyd became the public face of a much improved unit.

All three players will return in 2010, hopefully to anchor an even more impressive defensive unit. Knowlton and Johnson look to bolster their All Star credentials, while Floyd looks to improve on his solid play and continue to be the vocal and emotional leader of the Tiger-Cats defense.

Each team has its strengths and its weaknesses, but few teams have a bigger strength than the Cats have at Linebacker. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have the best Linebacking group in the CFL.

Re-sign Rewind: Floyd is Back!

Linebacker Otis Foyd signed a contract extension on January 6, 2010, to stay with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Details can be found on the Tiger-Cats website.

I love Otis Floyd and last season he quickly became my favourite player on the Tabbies, so I am completely in support of the team re-signing him. I know he is no longer a young player, but he has a role to fill at Middle Linebacker and, along with Markeith Knowlton and Jamall Johnson, the Tiger-Cats might have had the best linebacking group in CFL in 2009. Floyd's numbers weren't great, but he did win Defensive Player of the Month for September and was the Defensive Player of the Week winner for Week 18.

Floyd was clearly the heart and soul of the defense in 2009. The team fed off his drive and hard work. After the final regular-season home game (a Tiger-Cats thrashing of the eventual Grey Cup participant Saskatchewan Roughriders) Floyd told the crowd that the team would be back for one more home game, meaning that the Cats planned to go to Winnipeg the following week and beat the Bombers so that the Cats would host the East Division Semi-Final. Floyd's words rang true as the Cats hammered the Bombers and hosted the BC Lions at Ivor Wynne Stadium in the playoffs.

Otis Floyd epitomizes the type of hard-working, tough player that is always beloved in Hamilton. I'm glad he's back for another go-around with the Black & Gold.