Week 15 NFL Capsules

The NFL season is starting to wind down. Week 15 begins with an NFC West contest between Arizona and St. Louis. For a look at the game and the rest of the ones this weekend, click here

CFL Releases Latest Rankings for 2015 Draft

CFL Scouting Bureau – Winter Rankings
1st – OL Brett Boyko (UNLV)
2nd – OL Alex Mateas (Connecticut)
3rd – DL Daryl Waud (Western)
4th – RB Tyler Varga (Yale)
5th – REC Nic Demski (Manitoba)
6th – OL Sean McEwen (Calgary)
7th – OL Sukh Chungh (Calgary)
8th – OL Danny Groulx (Laval)
9th – REC Addison Richards (Regina)
10th – OL Jacob Ruby (Richmond)
11th – LB Nick Shortill (McMaster)
12th – DB Chris Ackie (Wilfrid Laurier)
13th – OL Dillon Guy (Buffalo)
14th – OL Karl Lavoie (Laval)
15th – DL Brendon Tennant (Laval)
16th – LB Adam Konar (Calgary)
17th – LB Byron Archambault (Montreal)
18th – DL Ese Mrabure-Ajufo (Wilfrid Laurier)
19th – REC Jake Harty (Calgary)
20th – DL Ettore Lattanzio (Ottawa)

Richie Hall No Longer Riders DC

Its not often you get a yak session of over 20 minutes with Riders coach Corey Chamblin, but we got one today.

Highlights of the chat with the Head Coach included


--Richie Hall still has an undetermined role with the football team, but he is no longer the defensive co-ordinator

--Chamblin wants to hire a full time defensive co-ordinator and did not dismiss the fact about himself taking over that role. Chamblin also indicated it was him who called the defence in the Western semi-final loss to Edmonton

--Calgary assistant Devone Claybrooks and current Riders DB coach Barron Miles are not being considered for the defensive co-ordinator job, but former Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Sinclair who was in Riderville for a short time before leaving for a position in the NFL is

--George Cortez was not fired as offensive co-ordinator and that the two sides just felt it would be best to walk away from one another

--There are 29 free agents to deal with and while he realizes everyone won't be back, he has prioritized a list with GM Brendan Taman

--He has spoken to Paul Lapolice about the vacant offensive co-ordinators job and he has spoken to Jacques Chapdelaine as well, but at this time he has not spoken to Khari Jones.

--He would not be against Kerry Joseph being on his staff as a quarterbacks coach, but he believes Joseph has opportunities in the US he will pursue first

--Despite the season ending injury to Darian Durant. he was not happy with the 10-8 record the team had saying championship type football teams win championships and he is not satisfied with what happened on the field.

Something To "Mitch" About

The first Sunday of the CFL off-season has come and passed and the realization there is a lot of them coming until training camps in June have many already miserable.  Here's something to think about that I brought up on the Sportscage Friday and something that while I don't think will ever happen, it does have some merit.

Would the CFL be better staging the Grey Cup on a Saturday afternoon. The parties are going full-bore Saturday night and they still would if you started the game at 4 o'clock as people would be out of the stadium by 730 giving them the chance to head to Riderville or somewhere to keep the party going.

While we all converged on the Green Mile in 2013, imagine what it could have been like partying all Saturday night and keeping that going into Sunday. As I said, I don't think the league is even considering that idea. but I think its something they should look at.

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Former WWE wrestler CM Punk had social media buzzing when he came on during UFC181 and said he had signed a contract and would be fighting in UFC sometime in 2015. Many feel this is just a publicity stunt and Punk will get destroyed by whoever he steps into the octagon in. Those people obviously have some solid facts in their corner including the fact Punk has never had an MMA fight. However, I'm guessing Punk doesn't want to embarrass himself and has been and will be training hard to get ready for the fight against an unknown opponent. I don't think he will have a career like Brock Lesnar had, but I don't think he is going to get his lunch handed to him.

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The Seattle Mariners are letting it known they want to be in the baseball playoffs again. I like the moves they are making and if they can add Melky Cabrera they will look very good.

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Is it safe to say the guy with the most pressure on him in the Jays lineup is the player who will bat second. It will be his job to set the table for Donaldson, Bautista and Encarnacion while trying to be on base for those big three as well. Would the Jays put Russell Martin in that spot or do they put him 6th in the order

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Its been said before, but defensive co-ordinators must go batty trying to contain Russell Wilson.

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What has happened to the San Francisco 49ers?

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I have no desire to get out there and do Christmas shopping,,,,none! That's not a good thing is it?

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That's all I got. There's not a lot there today, but what can you do?

Kerry Joseph Officially Retires

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today that international quarterback Kerry Joseph has officially retired from the Canadian Football League.

A 12 year CFL veteran, Joseph played three seasons (2006-2007, 2014) with the Roughriders. He was originally acquired in April of 2006 in the CFL Dispersal Draft, and then re-joined the team as a free agent late in the 2014 season.

In his time with the Green and White, Joseph played 40 regular season games, starting 34, where he collected 8,097 passing yards and 50 touchdowns on 577 completions. He also added 1,365 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns on 191 carries.

The 41 year old leaves ranked tenth in Riders all-time pass attempts and completions, eighth in passing yards, and seventh in touchdown passes.    

For his career, Joseph played 179 regular season games, starting 111, eight playoff games with six starts, and started his only Grey Cup appearance. He also spent time with the Ottawa Renegades (2003-05), Toronto (2008-09) and Edmonton Eskimos (2010-13).

He was named CFL Most Outstanding Player, CFL All-Star, and won the Grey Cup all in 2007. 

This And That

The weekly collection of thoughts running through my muddled mind in no particular order,....

  --The Rider Nation wanted George Cortez's head on a platter and they got it Thursday as the football club confirmed his contract would not be renewed. Its funny how no one had a problem with the offense and what it was doing until the 3rd quarter of the Banjo Bowl. Yes, I think Cortez had to be a little more flexible and create a different game plan under Tino Sunseri and Seth Doege, but he was stubborn, but to pin the blame on him or anyone for the second half collapse is a little extreme.  Like it or not, this season ended when Durant got hurt. In fact, the guy whom this will have the biggest effect on is Durant as he now has to learn another offence when the one he had was pretty damn effective. Many names will surface, but I am going to put my chips onto Khari Jones' square.  The only reason I don't put it on Paul Lapolice's square is I believe he will be a head coach next season or resuming his role on TSN.

 --Marc Cohon's end date is right around the corner. The league said Thursday Cohon will leave his post early and say goodbye to the CFL in early January.  He either has something or the chasm between himself and the league has grown tremendously.

  --The Edmonton Eskimos had seven all-stars to lead the CFL all-star parade while Calgary only had 5. This again makes me wonder if Calgary had gotten to the top playing both Durant and a healthy Mike Reilly. I don't think so.

  --I can't believe the amount of people who are saying lay off Brandon Banks for not returning to the field after having his punt return called back due to penalty. If a Rider had done that, you would want him crucified at the 55 yard line and run him out of town. After all, some fans did dump manure on a certain kicker's lawn for missing a chip shot field goal didn't they? There's a reason why the 13th man hasn't been made public---although really now it could be.

 --On the day one 41 year old retired from the NHL, another returned. Daniel Alfredsson said goodbye to the game after a great career mainly with the Senators while Martin Brodeur played his first game for a team other than the Devils when he started for St. Louis. Alfie still has goals in his stick and Brodeur still has saves in his glove, but Marty should have done the same thing Alfie did and hang them up.

  --Is it safe to say the Vancouver Canucks made the right move by hiring Willie Desjardins as head coach? The Canucks are near the top of the NHL standings and a lot of it has to do with Desjardins has brought to the table. He's a proven winner.

 --Craig MacTavish will finally speak on Friday as to why the Oilers are so abysmal this season. I want to hear what Kevin Lowe thinks and I want to hear from owner Daryl Katz as well. I like MacT, but with the exception of Bob Nicholson, this team needs a complete overhaul starting with Lowe. Why he hasn't been gassed a long time ago remains a mystery. It is nauseating watching the Oilers play and even when they are winning as was the case in Winnipeg Wednesday night, you know its not going to last.......which it didn't.   SIGHHHHHH!!!!

--The stars of High Impact Wrestling turn the Hungarian Club in Regina to "Gronkville" Friday night as the "King's Challenge' is held. Its a unique 16 man tournament which will end with someone holding the belt. A great night is in store. Methinks the place will be packed as well. That's not a bad thing!

--Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has basically said goodbye to re-signing Melky Cabrera by trading for Seattle outfielder Michael Saunders. Is Anthopoulos looking for a closer? He should be and perhaps an 8th inning guy as well.

--The pictures coming out of Regina Beach this week are incredible after that house explosion. Thank god no one was inside that house when it went BOOM!!! Thank god it happened December 3 and not July 3 as well.

--The stories of one senior after another being improperly cared for and being brought out by the NDP is not great and it does leave one with questions to be asked, but here's one. How many families are satisfied with the care their mom and dad are getting in a seniors home? It would seem to me as if there are more who are satisfied than more who aren't.  The Saskparty won't get these people to come forth and why should they. In the end, when health minister Duncan and Premier Wall talk about the rural hospitals being closed by the NDP and what the opposition did to healthcare while Mr. Romanow and Calvert were in power they mean it because that set us back a long ways. Are you going to tell me the Plains Hospital wouldn't be better served for what it was supposed to be than a Saskatchewan Polytechnic Campus? I don't agree with everything the government does, but the healthcare issue goes right back onto the party that is complaining about it in my books.

--Off the political soapbox now and back to sports.  The Canadian Curling Association must be giddy with the fact ESPN3 will pick up TSN'S "Season of Champions" coverage thus giving Americans a great look at the game. Its tremendous news for the sport as it keeps growing.  One other curling note and that is with Linda Moore gone from TSN and her replacement coming from other curlers, will we be graced with an appearance by Dwayne Mihalicz this year? CMON!!!!

 --Get ready for a solid dose of yours truly on the Sportscage. Rod and a caravan of 57 are off on the annual Sportscage trip to Southern California and when he gets back, he gets his much deserved vacation so it will be me hosting the proceedings into early January. We'll have some fun!!!

  --I can't help but wonder where Marc Trestman's Bears would be if they had a real quarterback. I can't see Jay Cutler with that team next year and I can't see him being a starter anywhere either. OK, maybe the Jets. That defence is horrible as well.

 --Week 14 NFL Lock Of The Week--- Rams over Redskins
    Week 14 NFL Upset Of The Week ---Chiefs over Cardinals

--Gas at well below a dollar a litre in Regina? I didn't think I would ever see that again.

--Have a great weekend!

Rider News

--Three members of the team were named CFL all-stars today. The three are John Chick, Tyron Brackenridge and Brendon Labatte.

--GM Brendan Taman confirmed George Cortez would not be back for 2015 as offensive co-ordinator, but he would not say defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall is also leaving as has been reported, Taman says Hall is being evaluated.

--Taman blames himself for not having enough bullets in the gun saying the team went on a downward slide in 2013 when Kory Sheets went down with a knee injury and again this year when Darian Durant went down.

 --Durant continues to progress nicely from his torn elbow tendon and there are no anticipated problems about his return to the lineup at training camp.

 --The team may look to putting more money into scouting and adding a couple of more bodies to help himself, Craig Smith and Jeremy O'Day out.