Eric is Gone?

Sportsnet is reporting Eric Tillman will not be back as Rider GM. Here is the story...

http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/2010/01/06/riders_tillman_time/

No Decision

No decision from the Riders board of directors today on the fate of Eric Tillman. It is not even known if the board met today. Perhaps tomorrow!

2010 NFL Opponents

The NFL has a formula designed so at season's end, you can tell what team will play what team next year. All that is left is for the dates to be established. Here ya go!

2010 OPPONENTS


AFC EAST







1. New England Patriots Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings



Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions







2. New York Jets Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings



Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions







3. Miami Dolphins Home: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions



Away: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings







4. Buffalo Bills Home: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions



Away: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings









2010 OPPONENTS
AFC NORTH






1. Cincinnati Bengals Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers



Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers







2. Baltimore Ravens Home: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers



Away: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers







3. Pittsburgh Steelers Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers



Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers







4. Cleveland Browns Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers



Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers









2010 OPPONENTS
AFC SOUTH






1. Indianapolis Colts Home: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants



Away: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins







2. Houston Texans Home: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants



Away: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins







3. Tennessee Titans Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins



Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants







4. Jacksonville Jaguars Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins



Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants









2010 OPPONENTS
AFC WEST






1. San Diego Chargers Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers



Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks







2. Denver Broncos Home: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks



Away: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers







3. Oakland Raiders Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks



Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers







4. Kansas City Chiefs Home: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers



Away: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks









2010 OPPONENTS
NFC EAST






1. Dallas Cowboys Home: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans



Away: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts







2. Philadelphia Eagles Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts



Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans







3. New York Giants Home: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans



Away: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts







4. Washington Redskins Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts



Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans









2010 OPPONENTS
NFC NORTH






1. Minnesota Vikings Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins



Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, New York Jets







2. Green Bay Packers Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins



Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, New York Jets







3. Chicago Bears Home: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, New York Jets



Away: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins







4. Detroit Lions Home: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, St. Louis Rams, New England Patriots, New York Jets



Away: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins









2010 OPPONENTS
NFC SOUTH






1. New Orleans Saints Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers



Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals







2. Atlanta Falcons Home: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals



Away: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers







3. Carolina Panthers Home: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals



Away: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers







4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers



Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals









2010 OPPONENTS
NFC WEST






1. Arizona Cardinals Home: St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders



Away: St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers







2. San Francisco 49ers Home: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders



Away: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers







3. Seattle Seahawks Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers



Away: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders







4. St. Louis Rams Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers



Away: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders





# # #

Can Regina Have Two "Baby-Faced Assassins"?

It would seem as if TSN thinks we can. During last night's gold medal game, I believe it was Pierre McGuire referred to Jordan Eberle as "a baby-faced assassin". During the CFL season, Rod Black and Duane Forde referred to Rider receiver Weston Dressler as "a baby-faced assassin". I ask you blog-readers (poll question on the right), who is Regina' s baby-faced assassin. Is it Eberle or Dressler?!

6-5 And Canadian Hockey

What is it with the score 6-5 when it comes to great games involving Team Canada win or lose.

1. 1972 Summit Series-Paul Henderson scores in Game 8--the final 6-5
2. 1987 Canada Cup-Mario Lemieux scores in Game 3--the final 6-5. Ironically, the first two games in that best of three final also ended 6-5
3. 2009 World Juniors --Eberle's goal in the final seconds sends Canada to a 6-5 shootout win over Russia as they win their 5th straight gold at the event
4. 2010 World Juniors-John Carlson's overtime goal gives the US a 6-5 win over Canada to give them the title ending Canada's reign.

Have I forgotten any other memorable 6-5 games involving Team Canada?

It Couldn't Last Forever

I don't know if I felt worse after the final of the World Juniors or after the Grey Cup. Once again, I'm left staring at my television wondering what could have been as the U-S ends Canada's gold rush at the World Juniors with a thrilling 6-5 overtime win in a game that equalled and maybe surpassed what the two teams gave us on New Years Eve.

So many thoughts from this one---here you go
1)Did I hear those at CUC chanting "Go Canada Go". Where was the dumb corporate chant? A-O Canada---NO!!!!!!!!!
2)Jake Allen picked a bad time to soil the linen----and yes, yes he did. Those sheets are stained big-time.
3)I like John Carlson--Seahawks tight end. John Carlson--American defenceman, not so much
4)There are no more words to describe how good of a hockey player Jordan Eberle is. I can't wait to see him in Edmonton next year wearing Oiler colours.
5)If Regina hockey fans don't sell out the Brandt Centre on Friday night to welcome the best hockey player this city and team has given us in years than shame on you. Say what you will about Brent Parker, but another player of Eberle's character will not be here anytime soon. You don't owe it to Parker, but you DO owe it to Eberle!
6)Do Regina hockey fans really call Eberle "The Messiah" or did James Duthie make that up? Speaking of James, he didn't have Maggie with him in Saskatoon did he? (No Pierre jokes here!)
7)Do not blame Colton Teubert for that winning American goal. He played it perfectly!
8)I can go to bed tonight knowing Patrick Dempsey's hair isn't sticky and he can now shave every day. (I must give credit to Swift Current morning man Ryan Switzer for this one--great Facebook update!)
9)Finally a Tim Hortons ad I like. The one voiced by Sidney Crosby was great!
10) Has US coach Dean Blais ever won a David Letterman look-alike contest?
11)I can't wait for next year in Buffalo!
12)Look at 5 again--especially if you are reading this in Regina or will be in Regina Friday night!

It ends what was a great couple of weeks in this province. We were treated to hockey we won't see in these parts for a long time. I never, ever thought this tournament would come back to Saskatchewan and while I think there were still some major problems with the way this whole thing went, the bottom line is it was a successful tournament---one that will leave a lasting legacy. Congrats to all involved!
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The Eric Tillman court case is done, but the story is a long ways away from being finished. The question now is will Eric stay or will Eric go? That is up to Jim Hopson and the Rider board of directors. There are very compelling arguments on both sides. I don't envy being Jim or the board at this time, but I am confident they will make the right decision. They will do what in the long run is what they feel is best for this football team. Whatever decision is made will be criticized by some and praised by others. As I have stated many, many times, Jim Hopson gets a tremendous amount of credit from yours truly for turning everything around and making this franchise the envy of others in this league. I will stand by whatever decision the board makes, because it will be the right one.
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The fanaticism of some in the "Rider Nation" with this story has once again gone over the top. I have heard many say the football team can't give Tillman his walking papers because of what he has done with the football team. This is not an issue surrounding the football team! This is an issue much bigger than the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Those whose only concern is what happens to the football team needs to step back just a little----no, they need to step back a lot.
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I've always given credit when credit is due so with that I will praise my former co-workers at CJME who proved once again over the past two days why they are so good at what they do. I was in several places on Monday morning and every one of those places had John Gormley on because everyone knew where to go to get the info they wanted. John and his excellent producer-Tammy Robert--were on the ball for the last two days while Murray Wood made sure his team got all the right information out there. My favourite redhead Sarah Mills was right in there asking all the questions that needed to be answered, and the man I call Kevin Newman Junior aka Patrick Book was also right in there getting his nose dirty and getting all the information that was needed. Good job guys! Good job to Rod Pedersen as well. He was the first to get the information out there as it was on his blog before it was anywhere else. The man must have lightning fingers to text that quickly.
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Randy Johnson is calling it quits after 22 years. Do you know what team Johnson started his major league career with? If you're an Expos fan, you know full well that the gigantic lefty made his major league debut with Montreal way back in 1988 before being traded to Seattle in the deal that brought Mark Langston to the Expos. It was in Seattle where "The Big Unit" became a star. Its a shame that the teams that he, Ken Griffey Junior and Alex Rodriguez led never won a World Series. What surprised me when I learned of his retirement is that he's 46. Really! He is a surefire bet to end up in Cooperstown.
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The Washington Redskins have just gotten better. They have hired Mike Shanahan to be their new head coach. If Shanahan can't get that unit turned around, they might as well pack it in in DC. There is no doubt the NFC East is now the best division in the NFL.
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A belated congratulations to Jon Ryan. The Regina born punter of the Seahawks(the only good thing about that team this year) has signed a six year contract extension that will pay him just over nine million. Congrats Jon! You deserve it. Now that you're making a million and a half, you can get me tickets on the 50 yard line for a game can't you? Never mind, I'll be buying them, but you are going to take me through the Seahawks complex when I get down there for a game.
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As I leave you, I leave you with this....
If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did." ITS A JOKE!!!!! We need some levity after what we saw on the Credit Union Centre ice!

Please Come Back

If Bret Hart can come back to the WWE, I really think Stacy Keibler needs to return as well. She is the best of all the divas the WWE has had and as you can see, she is still a lottery pick. For those that don't know what that means, she is definitely top 5 in my central scouting rankings.