Once Maurice Lloyd and Anton McKenzie had signed with the Eskimos and the Lions, the swords started coming out within some factions of the Rider Nation. Fans blaming the legal problems of Eric Tillman and the "inexperience" of Ken Miller and Jim Hopson in this area as to why two of the top linebackers in the CFL will play for another team next year. C'mon people!!! Had Tillman been pulling the strings the same thing would have happened. Lloyd and McKenzie are playing with other teams for one reason and one reason only. That reason......$$$$$$. The combination of the almighty dollar and lack of loyalty are why these guys aren't playing elsewhere.
Lloyd was apparently offered 135-thousand dollars a season by the Riders. It wasn't enough in his mind so he went somewhere where he could get more. The Eskimos even apparently threw in a 100-thousand dollar signing bonus. I'm guessing McKenzie also got a better monetary offer than what the Riders were willing to give and he took it. Lets go one step further. Glenn January got a six figure salary from the Bombers. Do you think the Riders were going to give January six figures. No way!!! The guys that left yesterday left because there someone offered them more green not to wear green and white. Its as simple as that. Trying to make the current situation in Riderville as the reason as to why this happened is just grasping at straws. Don't make the brass the scapegoat here.
While still on the topic of football, I hope my beloved Seahawks take a good hard look at trying to gain the services of running back Fred Taylor. He was let go by the Jaguars yesterday but I think he still has a year or two in his tank. The free agent acquisition of Julius Jones didn't exactly go the way Seattle planned and maybe a combination of Jones and Taylor can help spark some life back into a team that was one or two levels below dismal in 08.
Where has this been all season??? That's what Ottawa Senators have to be asking themselves. The Senators making it 5 straight wins with a 2-0 win in Nashville last night. I don't think this win streak will be enough to get Ottawa back into the playoff race but you do have to ask if perhaps finally the right buttons have been pushed courtesy of new head coach Cory Clouston.
Alex Rodriguez will speak to reporters today at Yankees camp. What a gong show that will be!!!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Mo's A Shmoe!!
The Riders have failed in their attempts to keep Anton McKenzie and Mo Lloyd. McKenzie signed with the BC Lions today and the L-P's Murray McCormick says Lloyd is off to Edmonton to join Richie Hall....
http://communities.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/blogs/roughriders/default.aspx
Its been a rough day for the Riders as they have lost McKenzie, Lloyd, Glenn January and Steve Morley while adding only Joe McGrath as far as we know. Will the developments of today mean there is interest in free agent linebackers Mike Fletcher(Toronto) or Cam Hall (Winnipeg). We will see. In checking out the Rider roster tonight on Riderville, I couldn't help but notice Corey Grant is no longer listed on there. Did I miss something????
http://communities.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/blogs/roughriders/default.aspx
Its been a rough day for the Riders as they have lost McKenzie, Lloyd, Glenn January and Steve Morley while adding only Joe McGrath as far as we know. Will the developments of today mean there is interest in free agent linebackers Mike Fletcher(Toronto) or Cam Hall (Winnipeg). We will see. In checking out the Rider roster tonight on Riderville, I couldn't help but notice Corey Grant is no longer listed on there. Did I miss something????
Free Agency Update Pt 3 and 2010 Olympic Pix
Again not much new to report with the exception of the fact Anton McKenzie is now gone as he has signed with the BC Lions. Jamie Boreham has been kept by the Riders as he signs a new deal with the club. I'm surprised we haven't heard anything about Mo Lloyd yet. I thought Lloyd would have went somewhere before McKenzie. In fact, I think you can be perhaps a little optimistic Lloyd hasn't signed as that must mean the Riders are still in the mix somehow.
As I mentioned earlier today, Pierre McGuire will unveil his Olympic team tonight during TSN's broadcast of the Ottawa-Nashville game. I wanted to beat Pierre and get my picks out there so I can compare them later. Here ya go
Goalies--Luongo, Brodeur and Price. Luongo is probably the best goalie in the NHL right now when you stack everything up but Brodeur is still when at the top of his game the best in the world. Price gets to see what its like because he could very well be the man that Canada pins their hopes on in Sochi, Russia in 2014.
Defencemen (in no particular order)--Dion Phaneuf, Chris Pronger, Mike Green. Dan Boyle, Jay Bouwmeester, Robyn Regehr and Shea Weber.
Forwards (in no particular order)--Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton, Jarome Iginla, Ryan Getzlaf, Mike Richards, Rick Nash, Dany Heatley, Shane Doan, Vincent Lecavalier, Jeff Carter, Corey Perry and Marc Savard. (It is tough to leave Jonathan Toews off this team but I am in favour of Savard).
No matter who represents Canada, the pressure on this team to win gold on home ice will be immense. I don't envy Steve Yzerman one bit. One might argue that Canada could have a great performance in Vancouver winning golds in many different events but if the mens hockey team doesn't win gold then the games could go down as a failure to many. Nothing is a certainty and you know the competition will be one of the best we have ever seen.
Agree??? Disagree??? Let me know!
As I mentioned earlier today, Pierre McGuire will unveil his Olympic team tonight during TSN's broadcast of the Ottawa-Nashville game. I wanted to beat Pierre and get my picks out there so I can compare them later. Here ya go
Goalies--Luongo, Brodeur and Price. Luongo is probably the best goalie in the NHL right now when you stack everything up but Brodeur is still when at the top of his game the best in the world. Price gets to see what its like because he could very well be the man that Canada pins their hopes on in Sochi, Russia in 2014.
Defencemen (in no particular order)--Dion Phaneuf, Chris Pronger, Mike Green. Dan Boyle, Jay Bouwmeester, Robyn Regehr and Shea Weber.
Forwards (in no particular order)--Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton, Jarome Iginla, Ryan Getzlaf, Mike Richards, Rick Nash, Dany Heatley, Shane Doan, Vincent Lecavalier, Jeff Carter, Corey Perry and Marc Savard. (It is tough to leave Jonathan Toews off this team but I am in favour of Savard).
No matter who represents Canada, the pressure on this team to win gold on home ice will be immense. I don't envy Steve Yzerman one bit. One might argue that Canada could have a great performance in Vancouver winning golds in many different events but if the mens hockey team doesn't win gold then the games could go down as a failure to many. Nothing is a certainty and you know the competition will be one of the best we have ever seen.
Agree??? Disagree??? Let me know!
Free Agency Update
Not much to report. The biggest fish in the free agent pool is now an Argonaut though. Rob Murphy is leaving the Lions for the Argonauts. Winnipeg has taken another Rider o-lineman as Steve Morley joins Glenn January(Could Mike Abou-Mechrek be next??). There are also rumours floating around Edmonton this afternoon that Rider free agent linebacker Mike McCullough might be ready to sign a new deal with the Eskimos. I would think McCullough would have a chance at being the starting middle linebacker here if Mo Lloyd heads elsewhere but lets wait until that has happened if it indeed does before pondering what the Riders gameplan for that position is.
I see Pierre McGuire is ready to unveil his 2010 Olympic team tonight. I have mine all ready to go...I will have to try and get it on here before Pierre does and then compare.
I see Pierre McGuire is ready to unveil his 2010 Olympic team tonight. I have mine all ready to go...I will have to try and get it on here before Pierre does and then compare.
Let The Shopping Begin
As the clock hit 11 o'clock Regina time last night, the phones started ringing and moves have been made as CFL free agency is now underway. The Riders have made one signing. As had been rumoured on many sites, Joe McGrath is now a member of the Green and White as another Saskatchewan born player joins the team. McGrath joins Scott Schultz as Moose Jaw born players suiting up for the team. If McGrath is anything like Schultzie, can Riderville handle two Moose Jaw players. We will see. Here's his bio from the Eskimos website....
http://www.esks.com/Team/PlayerRoster/tabid/151/Default.aspx
McGrath's signing may have signalled the writing on the wall for Glenn January. After one season in Regina, he leaves to join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In what might be considered an ominous sign for fans hoping the team can keep both Mo Lloyd and Anton McKenzie, the Riders also made a trade with Toronto in which they send a late round draft pick to Toronto for Canadian born linebacker Aaron Wagner. At one point, the Argos had him pencilled in to be Mike O'Shea's replacement. Here's his bio from the Argos site....
http://www.argonauts.ca/index.php/roster/show/id/647
Speaking of Lloyd and MacKenzie, there is no word on either of them yet. The same applies to Rob Murphy and Jesse Lumsden. I thought I would wake up this morning and find Lloyd and Murphy had new homes but that hasn't happened and maybe just maybe that is good news for Rider fans hoping Lloyd will stay in Regina. Sportsnet is reporting Lloyd turned down a 3 year deal that would have paid him 135-thousand a year and that he will end up in either BC or Edmonton. Its also reported McKenzie will do the same thing but something tells me he will end up continuing his career as a Rider.
One other non-related football item that caught my eye is Tiger Woods' good friend Mark O'Meara says Tiger is ready to get back on the course. He just doesn't know when Woods will do that. Can Tiger be better than he was when he left the game as some have suggested. I don't know he can but we'll soon find out.
I had to post this. Shaquille O'Neal has always been known to have a good time and he certainly did so before the NBA all-star game last night. A game in which he was named co-MVP with former teammate and it would appear to be former feuder Kobe Bryant. Take a look at his pre-game intro.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhSqFH_aJdY&eurl=http://deadspin.com/5154135/shaquille-oneal-steals-the-very-ridiculous-show&feature=player_embedded
Have a great holiday Monday!
http://www.esks.com/Team/PlayerRoster/tabid/151/Default.aspx
McGrath's signing may have signalled the writing on the wall for Glenn January. After one season in Regina, he leaves to join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In what might be considered an ominous sign for fans hoping the team can keep both Mo Lloyd and Anton McKenzie, the Riders also made a trade with Toronto in which they send a late round draft pick to Toronto for Canadian born linebacker Aaron Wagner. At one point, the Argos had him pencilled in to be Mike O'Shea's replacement. Here's his bio from the Argos site....
http://www.argonauts.ca/index.php/roster/show/id/647
Speaking of Lloyd and MacKenzie, there is no word on either of them yet. The same applies to Rob Murphy and Jesse Lumsden. I thought I would wake up this morning and find Lloyd and Murphy had new homes but that hasn't happened and maybe just maybe that is good news for Rider fans hoping Lloyd will stay in Regina. Sportsnet is reporting Lloyd turned down a 3 year deal that would have paid him 135-thousand a year and that he will end up in either BC or Edmonton. Its also reported McKenzie will do the same thing but something tells me he will end up continuing his career as a Rider.
One other non-related football item that caught my eye is Tiger Woods' good friend Mark O'Meara says Tiger is ready to get back on the course. He just doesn't know when Woods will do that. Can Tiger be better than he was when he left the game as some have suggested. I don't know he can but we'll soon find out.
I had to post this. Shaquille O'Neal has always been known to have a good time and he certainly did so before the NBA all-star game last night. A game in which he was named co-MVP with former teammate and it would appear to be former feuder Kobe Bryant. Take a look at his pre-game intro.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhSqFH_aJdY&eurl=http://deadspin.com/5154135/shaquille-oneal-steals-the-very-ridiculous-show&feature=player_embedded
Have a great holiday Monday!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Goodbye JJ
I think Rider fans will always have a soft spot for James Johnson. The defensive back was the Grey Cup MVP on that magical Sunday at Toronto's Skydome when he intercepted three Ryan Dinwiddie passes to help the Riders win the 2007 CFL championship. In fact one could argue that his touchdown in the game was perhaps the turning point. I wonder how Winnipeg fans feel about Johnson. I guess we will find out because the Riders traded Johnson to the Bombers today. This frees up some cap space and could perhaps insure that either Mo Lloyd or Anton McKenzie are back when free agency opens up later tonight. I don't know about you but I thought Johnson regressed a little in 2008. He started the year great and then went downhill for one reason or another. I'm guessing as it stands now it means either Tad Kornegay or Denatay Heard will man one corner with Omarr Morgan at the other.
The Pittsburgh Penguins did something I think they should have done a long time ago today. They told coach Michel Therrien to hit the road. I've never been impressed by this guy and often thought the only reason he was where he was because of the talent around him. That talent has not been getting it done this year and Penguin brass decided it was time to let Therrien go. Dan Bylsma gets promoted from the minors to take over. Watch for Pat Quinn's name to get mentioned as the front-runner here.
Matt Kenseth wins the Daytona 500.
If you had Bills running back Marshawn Lynch in the "Who's the next NFL player to get in trouble with the law" pool then you are a winner. Here's that story...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3909366
And to end your Sunday with what I hope is a chuckle. One of the more outstanding sports satire websites is "Sportspickle". I howled when I saw this one....
http://www.sportspickle.com/features/volume4/2005-0216-natgeo.html
Have a good Sunday night and/or Monday morning. Its been a week since I started doing this and I have received a lot of favourable feedback. I thank all of you for reading this and the kind words. There have been a lot of kind words expressed my way over the past month. You find out in rough times who your friends are and I have definitely found that out over the last few weeks. Many of you are also 100 percent correct with your assumptions.
The Pittsburgh Penguins did something I think they should have done a long time ago today. They told coach Michel Therrien to hit the road. I've never been impressed by this guy and often thought the only reason he was where he was because of the talent around him. That talent has not been getting it done this year and Penguin brass decided it was time to let Therrien go. Dan Bylsma gets promoted from the minors to take over. Watch for Pat Quinn's name to get mentioned as the front-runner here.
Matt Kenseth wins the Daytona 500.
If you had Bills running back Marshawn Lynch in the "Who's the next NFL player to get in trouble with the law" pool then you are a winner. Here's that story...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3909366
And to end your Sunday with what I hope is a chuckle. One of the more outstanding sports satire websites is "Sportspickle". I howled when I saw this one....
http://www.sportspickle.com/features/volume4/2005-0216-natgeo.html
Have a good Sunday night and/or Monday morning. Its been a week since I started doing this and I have received a lot of favourable feedback. I thank all of you for reading this and the kind words. There have been a lot of kind words expressed my way over the past month. You find out in rough times who your friends are and I have definitely found that out over the last few weeks. Many of you are also 100 percent correct with your assumptions.
This And That
If you are a basketball fan, Regina was definitely the place to be on Saturday night as there were two big games. The finals of the 57th Luther Invitational Tournament went with the home team in the final. In the end, they had to settle for second as they were beaten 80-56 by the team from Raymond, Alberta. Its the 11th time that the small town in southern Alberta (just south fo Lethbridge)with a population of just over 3-thousand has won the event. Meanwhile at the University, it was Game 3 of the GPAC semi-final between the host Cougars and Winnipeg. James Hillis' squad got 28 points and 11 rebounds from Kris Heshka while Jordan McFarlen had 16 points with 12 rebounds in an 85-74 win. That means its off to Brandon next weekend for the division final.
At the Brandt Centre, the Pats were in tough playing the WHL's top team and in the end the Calgary Hitmen were too much. Calgary gets three in the 3rd for a 5-2 win. I don't have the numbers in front of me but it seems to me as if Dale Derkatch's squad has been badly outscored in the final 20 minutes of the hockey game. This isn't the first time this year that a team has really taken it to the Pats in the 3rd. Is this a reason for what has happened??? Just add it to the mix I guess. The loss is Regina's 7th straight and they remain 4 points back of Edmonton and Prince Albert who are battling for 8th. 7th place Kootenay is 10 points up on Regina meaning the chances of finishing 7th and getting Saskatoon in the first round are now likely a pipe-dream.
Rider fans are on pins and needles as CFL free agency begins at 11 o'clock Saskatchewan time. The biggest question amongst the Rider Nation isn't who the team is going to pursue but will they be able to keep middle linebacker Mo Lloyd. Its beginning to sound more and more as if Lloyd could be joining Richie Hall in Edmonton and BC is still in the mix too. I guess we'll find out soon as I can't see this dragging out over a few days. Other free agents are Anton McKenzie, Mike Abou-Mechrek, Jamie Boreham, DJ Flick, Glenn January, Mike McCullough, Tristan Clovis, Leron Mitchell, Scott Gordon and Steve Morley. I have been hearing for the last week the team is ready to offer a contract to Joe McGrath---a Moose Jaw native who has been playing for the Eskimos. If he indeed does wear green and white what does that mean for Abou-Mechrek, January and Morley. I don't think the quotable Abou-Mechrek will be back. I can't see Flick returning and the same goes for Clovis and Gordon with Mitchell perhaps being number one on the depth chart at safety when training camp comes around. I can see Boreham and McCullough returning.
John Morris has always been known to speak his mind and the curler is doing it again. Morris has lifted the lid on an age-old argument about the Brier field. The 3rd on the world champion Kevin Martin rink feels the Brier winner should return the next year as Team Canada the way the ladies do it. This would mean no Northern Ontario. I know Saskatchewan's curling guru--Warren Woods of Global TV-- would likely disagree because he is from that part of Canada but I agree with Morris. Remember when the Scotties was at the then Agridome with two Saskatchewan rinks in it(Sandra Schmirler and Cathy Trowell)....it guaranteed a sellout. With this years Brier in Calgary, it would be a guaranteed sellout if you had Martin and Ferbey or Ferbey and Kevin Koe or one of those three and another rink in the field.
NHL play last night. Former Saskatoon Blade Mike Green set NHL history. The Caps defenceman scored in his 8th straight game as Washington beat Tampa. Green has to be considered a shoo-in for Vancouver 2010 and he must be a front-runner for the Norris Trophy at the end of the year. Could Nick Lidstrom's stranglehold on that trophy be coming to an end.
Finally, there is talk amongst NFL circles that the Atlanta Falcons are now trying to trade Michael Vick. An Atlanta newspaper looked at teams that are in need of a quarterback and where the best fit for the disgraced quarterback who will soon be released to a halfway house after serving time for dogfighting would be. Teams like Detroit, Kansas City and Cleveland are mentioned and so are my beloved Seahawks. (WHAAAATTT??!!) The paper suggests Vick could be a fit in the Pacific Northwest because his head coach and offensive co-ordinator in Atlanta are now both in Seattle serving in the same role. There is no need for Vick in Seattle. None, none whatsoever. This will not happen!!!!
NASCAR fans are excited about today because its the Daytona 500. I am not a NASCAR fan so I won't check that out. The NBA all-star game is today. It again does not resemble the game we see most nights so I will likely miss that. It is the first Sunday in a long time in which there is no football being played. SIGGGHHHH!!!! I wonder what the NFL network will have on. Have a good Sunday!!!!
At the Brandt Centre, the Pats were in tough playing the WHL's top team and in the end the Calgary Hitmen were too much. Calgary gets three in the 3rd for a 5-2 win. I don't have the numbers in front of me but it seems to me as if Dale Derkatch's squad has been badly outscored in the final 20 minutes of the hockey game. This isn't the first time this year that a team has really taken it to the Pats in the 3rd. Is this a reason for what has happened??? Just add it to the mix I guess. The loss is Regina's 7th straight and they remain 4 points back of Edmonton and Prince Albert who are battling for 8th. 7th place Kootenay is 10 points up on Regina meaning the chances of finishing 7th and getting Saskatoon in the first round are now likely a pipe-dream.
Rider fans are on pins and needles as CFL free agency begins at 11 o'clock Saskatchewan time. The biggest question amongst the Rider Nation isn't who the team is going to pursue but will they be able to keep middle linebacker Mo Lloyd. Its beginning to sound more and more as if Lloyd could be joining Richie Hall in Edmonton and BC is still in the mix too. I guess we'll find out soon as I can't see this dragging out over a few days. Other free agents are Anton McKenzie, Mike Abou-Mechrek, Jamie Boreham, DJ Flick, Glenn January, Mike McCullough, Tristan Clovis, Leron Mitchell, Scott Gordon and Steve Morley. I have been hearing for the last week the team is ready to offer a contract to Joe McGrath---a Moose Jaw native who has been playing for the Eskimos. If he indeed does wear green and white what does that mean for Abou-Mechrek, January and Morley. I don't think the quotable Abou-Mechrek will be back. I can't see Flick returning and the same goes for Clovis and Gordon with Mitchell perhaps being number one on the depth chart at safety when training camp comes around. I can see Boreham and McCullough returning.
John Morris has always been known to speak his mind and the curler is doing it again. Morris has lifted the lid on an age-old argument about the Brier field. The 3rd on the world champion Kevin Martin rink feels the Brier winner should return the next year as Team Canada the way the ladies do it. This would mean no Northern Ontario. I know Saskatchewan's curling guru--Warren Woods of Global TV-- would likely disagree because he is from that part of Canada but I agree with Morris. Remember when the Scotties was at the then Agridome with two Saskatchewan rinks in it(Sandra Schmirler and Cathy Trowell)....it guaranteed a sellout. With this years Brier in Calgary, it would be a guaranteed sellout if you had Martin and Ferbey or Ferbey and Kevin Koe or one of those three and another rink in the field.
NHL play last night. Former Saskatoon Blade Mike Green set NHL history. The Caps defenceman scored in his 8th straight game as Washington beat Tampa. Green has to be considered a shoo-in for Vancouver 2010 and he must be a front-runner for the Norris Trophy at the end of the year. Could Nick Lidstrom's stranglehold on that trophy be coming to an end.
Finally, there is talk amongst NFL circles that the Atlanta Falcons are now trying to trade Michael Vick. An Atlanta newspaper looked at teams that are in need of a quarterback and where the best fit for the disgraced quarterback who will soon be released to a halfway house after serving time for dogfighting would be. Teams like Detroit, Kansas City and Cleveland are mentioned and so are my beloved Seahawks. (WHAAAATTT??!!) The paper suggests Vick could be a fit in the Pacific Northwest because his head coach and offensive co-ordinator in Atlanta are now both in Seattle serving in the same role. There is no need for Vick in Seattle. None, none whatsoever. This will not happen!!!!
NASCAR fans are excited about today because its the Daytona 500. I am not a NASCAR fan so I won't check that out. The NBA all-star game is today. It again does not resemble the game we see most nights so I will likely miss that. It is the first Sunday in a long time in which there is no football being played. SIGGGHHHH!!!! I wonder what the NFL network will have on. Have a good Sunday!!!!
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