That's All Folks!!

Its now official. The Saskatchewan Roughriders will not be a part of the 2011 CFL playoffs. I think the stark reality of that statement has been felt for a while, but it became a certainty yesterday afternoon as the B.C Lions made it eight straight wins with a 29-18 win over a Riders team that played a damn good football game----for three quarters.

Here are the sounds coming from a very quiet dressing room....

 DurantOct16 by mitchellblair


GetzlafOct16 by mitchellblair

McKenzieOct16 by mitchellblair

MillerOct16 by mitchellblair

Here are just some thoughts from the sidelines as I watched the season go POOF!!

--This team is so fragile when it comes to confidence that as soon as one big play goes against them, its game over. I think many of us knew that the season was done when Arland Bruce III trotted into the endzone in the 4th quarter. The resiliency this team had been known for is gone.

--The offense did not put the ball in the endzone, but you hafta admit they were a lot better than what we had seen. Yes, the name of the game is to score touchdowns and the team didn't do that, but at least they had an idea as to what they were doing.

--I don't blame Darian Durant one bit for yelling at Andy Fantuz in the 3rd quarter. Have you ever seen Peyton Manning or Tom Brady yell at receivers when they aren't doing what they are supposed to. Those two are pretty good and no one bitches at them when they bitch out receivers. Kent Austin was never one to hide his emotions if his receivers weren't doing the job.

--Chris Milo's 2nd half has likely meant the end of Luca Congi in a Riders uniform. Sad, but true.

--Dario Romero's continued braincramps has likely meant the end of him in a Rider uniform in three weeks. I've had enough of the boneheaded play. Aggression is one thing, stupidity is another.

--We are seeing the end of the Wes Cates era. The home game against Hamilton will likely be his last and the same can be said for Gene Makowsky no matter if he wins or loses the political race in Regina Dewdney.

--The o-line will be younger and will have a much different look in 2012. Dan Goodspeed and Alexandre Gauthier are past their best before date.

--Geroy Simon is a player. What more can you say about the guy?

--Sorry Lions fans, but I think Paul McCallum is the best kicker you guys have had and not that guy named Passaglia. Of course if it hadn't been for Roy Shivers' stupidity, guys like Congi and Milo would never be in the equation here and McCallum would still be here.

--Corey Holmes looks like he could still play. It was great seeing him this weekend.

--If you're not a Weston Dressler fan, you aren't a football fan.

--I don't care what you say, this team is not as bad as their record indicates. If I had told you at the start of June that this team would have what it has on both sides of the ball, you wouldn't have told me this team would have fired its head coach and won just four games.

---I don't know if they will win again this year.

--I don't care what you say, Andrew Harris was NOT in bounds on his touchdown. He went out!

Just some other thoughts on happenings today

---I think Jim Schwartz went a little overboard in his post-game scuffle with Jim Harbaugh. Yeah, Harbaugh may have been a little too exuberant, but Schwartz embarassed himself in my opinion.

--The Niners are 5-1. The Niners? The Alex Smith led Niners?

--Aaron Rodgers makes more and more Packers fans go "Brett who?" with each pass he throws.

--What happened to Indy Car driver Dan Wheldon should remind us all that while frustrated over the performance of your favourite football team, that is nothing compared to the pain and agony that his friends and family will feel over the upcoming days, weeks and months.

--I will take Texas to beat the Cardinals in the World Series. This Cubs fan will never take the Cardinals.

--Its 1 AM and I'm damn tired. Thats all!