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Monday, September 21, 2009

Really, Is There No One Better?

Give Saskatchewan Roughriders GM Eric Tillman some credit, he seems to be the only guy who is willing to bring in some quarterbacks with impressive college resumes. Since taking his position with the Riders, he has brought in former Iowa standout Drew Tate and Texas Tech's Graham Harrell. He has former Missouri standout Chase Daniel on the negotiation list. The same goes for Kansas' Todd Reesing and Boise State's Kellen Moore.
I have to wonder what type of quarterbacks the other teams have on their neg lists---especially the B.C. Lions. Yes, the Lions have reached desperation stage because they are bringing Casey Printers back to the league. The same Casey Printers that failed miserably in Hamilton and the same Casey Printers that hasn't been the same since he tried his luck in the NFL. Isn't it time for CFL teams to start trying out some younger blood at the quarterback position? Isn't it time for them to start developing a QB like what the Riders are doing with Darian Durant? Yes. Jarious Jackson is hurt and Buck Pierce is one hit away from ending up like Dave Dickinson, but I really have to wonder why the Lions are going to the recycling bin.
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I'm glad I didn't spend the money to watch the Ottawa Senators play the Tampa Bay Lightning's B team. The Lightning were the team that wanted to come to Regina to play last night's pre-season game. They were the squad that should have been dressing their regulars. I don't care what Rick Tocchet says, the bottom line here is if you are willing to bring your team to Regina or anywhere that doesn't have NHL hockey, you should be showcasing your best players. Why should fans be paying the money they were to see hockey that isn't NHL calibre. Give the Senators a lot of credit for playing guys like Spezza, Fisher and Kovalev when they didn't have to, but I feel the Lightning were obligated to show Reginans who paid their money to see guys like Lecavalier, Stamkos, St. Louis and Hedman. Play your B team when in Tampa guys because people here will remember if you plan on coming back next year. I can't be too mad at the Lightning though. After all, it was them that beat Calgary and prevented the Flames from winning the Cup. The NHL was so screwed up after realizing Calgary was one game away from winning it all that they had to take a year off to get things right again.
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Quite the performance by Peyton Manning and the Colts. They had the ball for less than 15 minutes but they beat the Dolphins 27-23 in the NFL Monday niter. 99 times out of 100 if you have the ball for less than 15 minutes, you don't win and you don't come close to winning. They only had 35 plays in the entire game. Talk about being efficient with your chances.
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A plug for a new sports magazine that is trying to get off the ground. It is run by former Leader-Post writer Julie Folk and its called Adrenaline Sports. The website is http://www.adrenalinereginasports.com/. Check it out. Julie may have something big on her hands with this. After all, there is no better sports city in Canada than Regina. Yeah, I might be a little biased with that statement, but its true.
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Dave King has been hired by the Phoenix Coyotes. I think we've seen the last of Wayne Gretzky in that organization.
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Do Canadians love the CFL? They sure do when the Riders are playing the Eskimos. 1.13 million Canadians took in Sunday's game from Mosaic Stadium on TSN. That figure is simply incredible when you consider it was just a regular-season game. I'm thinking with the Riders in Edmonton this Saturday that that figure could be eclipsed. I'll be watching! I'm also thinking that as the games start to have more and more meaning that more and more Canadians will be tuning in. The marriage between TSN and the CFL is definitely working and one would have to think everyone involved is smiling.

8 comments:

Thomasean said...

The Lightning weren't even a little bit obligated to play their stars. Tocchet said he wanted to watch the guys battling for third and fourth line time. They already know what role Vinny and the rest will play, why risk injury? It's the pre-season, no matter where they play the games.

Anonymous said...

I think you've got it wrong Thomasean. The Senators weren't obligated because they were the "visiting" team. Tampa was the home team---they were the team that wanted to enter the Regina market. They were the team that asked the public to pay 80 bucks for a ticket. In my mind, if they are coming here and asking for our money, the least they could do is skate out Lecavalier, St. Louis, Stamkos, etc. etc. That was absolutely embarassing. If Tampa comes back here next year, I won't go. The Islanders and Flames did the same thing in Saskatoon. They both viewed Saskatchewan as a place where the "yokels" would pay big $ for something they don't see often and then they didn't deliver.


Chris G

Anonymous said...

The game was good, but when Brian Lawton says his top players are going to play, I went to the game expecting that. Lawton perhaps needs to explain that to Tocchet.

Anonymous said...

Good point on quarterbacks. There have be to some talented young guys out there that can be brought up north to learn our game. If Tillman can do it, why can't Wally. Perhaps its all connections and scouting and if that's the case, Rider fans should be pretty happy with Tillman.
As for the CFL audience, it's amazing what a battle between two Western teams will do. I'm guessing any game involving two of Calgary, Edmonton and Sask down the stretch will get these numbers.

Bill

Anonymous said...

The QB dilema goes in cycles. We had the golden age in the late 80's to the mid/late 90's then we had the lull. The CFL game is very unique. Some of these "college name" QB's come up here and wash out. This happens for a couple reasons. They do not committ to learning the Canadian game with it's nuances. They either can't get used to the extra man, unlimited motion, and most of all the play clock. Second reason is they just reach their level of incompentance, and can't make it as a professional. I thought for sure Steve Sarkisian was built for the CFL game as would be Eric Crouch. It didn't happen. It's pro football, and it's the next level. Some make it and some do not. Where the coaches are concerned the pressure is to win now. If we didn't have the defence we have to help the Riders hang in games I'm sure they would not let Durant learn on the job like he has been. They went after Bishop last year, and they would have went after Printers this year. Knowledge is power, and veterans bring that element to the game.

Obama

jn said...

why printers-because he is a former mvp and is only 27 years old. also when teamed with the right coach, good things happen. remember kent and kerry?

Anonymous said...

To Thomasean. Are you a spin doctor for the Lightning?

Anonymous said...

Isn't Printers a whole one year older than Durant? Never let the facts get in the way of a lame argument...