Masoli's Year Is Over

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Saturday that quarterback Jeremiah Masoli will miss the remainder of the 2019 Canadian Football League season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.


Masoli suffered the injury with five minutes remaining in the first quarter of Friday’s 23-15 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. No date for surgery has been determined.

Through six games this season, the 5-10, 228-pound native of San Francisco, California is ranked second in the CFL in passing touchdowns (9), third in completions (125) and passing yards (1,576), and is tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns (4). The Tiger-Cats currently sit atop the CFL standings with a 5-1 record and will head to Regina this week to play the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Thursday, August 1 at 9:30 p.m.

(Hamilton Tiger-Cats)

Rider Depth Chart/Game Day Tidbits

--The Riders have won the last four meetings against the Lions 

--The Riders will be trying to accomplish something they have not done in 45 years since 1974 - sweeping the Lions in a Back-to-Back set. Since that sweep on Oct 13-19/74, they have played 9 sets: 4 BC sweeps and 5 splits. The Lions are looking to keep this run going with a win this week. 

--This will be Saskatchewan's first road game in a span of 37 days - back to Week #2

--Charleston Hughes has a 4-game streak with at least one QB Sack and leads the CFL with 8. He has 31 career multi-sack games. 

--In his last four games, Shaq Evans has had 100 plus receiving yards in three of them

-- Derrick Moncrief is on pace to be over the 100-Tackle mark with 30 in the first 5 games (Pace: 108). 

--Going into the week, Saskatchewan was 3rd behind Winnipeg and Hamilton when it comes to offensive touchdowns scored with 15. 

--The Riders offence is averaging 383.4 yds per game which is 3rd in the CFL

--Despite their 1-5 record, BC leads the league in first downs with 130 

Former Pat Chandler Stephenson Signs New Deal With Washington

The Washington Capitals have re-signed left wing Chandler Stephenson to a one-year, $1.05 million contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

The Saskatoon, Sask., native played in 64 games last season, recording 11 points (5g, 6a). He recorded 112:40 minutes on the penalty kill, ranking third among Capitals forwards.

In the 2017-18 season, the 6'0", 203-pound forward registered 18 points (6g, 12a) in 67 games. During the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup run, Stephenson recorded seven points (2g, 5a) in 24 games. In the series-clinching Game 6 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal, Stephenson recorded a shorthanded goal, marking the first playoff shorthanded goal scored by a rookie in franchise history. Additionally, Stephenson, who also recorded an assist in Game 6 and recorded two assists in the previous Game 5, became the first rookie in franchise history to record two straight multi-point games in the playoffs.

In 144 career games, all with the Capitals, Stephenson has recorded 29 points (11g, 18a). Stephenson was selected by the Capitals in the third round, 77th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.

This and That

--Welcome to Friday and the usual thoughts running through my muddled mind.  As always, they come in no particular order

--The Riders need a repeat performance in Vancouver Saturday.  The Lions need what is possibly a season-saving win.  Did I say "possibly"?  The pressure is on the shoulders of the home team when the two teams meet at BC Place tomorrow after a 13 point Riders win last week.  A Riders win and they win the season series.  Edmonton has already won the season series against the Lions and there isn't any way they are going to catch Calgary and Winnipeg.   The Lions will come out as the more desperate or at least they should.

It's not often that Game 6 of the season is a huge game when you look at the season, but that is the case for a Riders team that may have gotten its game back on track following the bye week.  Those who say a quality win against a team that isn't a bottom-feeder is needed for them to see that something is developing is a statement that can't be denied, but you can't lose to a bottom-feeder either.

--A great question posed by Derek Taylor on Thursday's Sportscage.  Who are the 6 most important Riders for the last 13 games.  Not who are the most popular, but who are the most important moving forward.  I had Cody Fajardo at 1 simply for the fact that he has shown he can do the job and may very well have to do it again if Zach Collaros doesn't return or should go down again.  Considering the track record Collaros has had in green one has to believe we won't be seeing the last of Fajardo this season if Zach comes back as the number one guy.  Who are your six?

--Gainer is under heat again for abusing a stuffed animal.  OMG!! At some point, can we take political correctness and do with it what Gainer does with the Lion and his stuffed Tiger which will likely make an appearance at the next home game?   That was the biggest non-story of the week that made a lot more headlines than it should have.  As I said on Twitter this week, are we in a world where mascot-on-mascot crime is frowned upon.  If so, let me off.

Will the Riders now produce another video where Craig Reynolds is seen chewing out Gainer for his "antics"? Will that video include his stuffed lion being taken away from him. (OHHHHHH NOOOOOOO!!!) The video where Gainer ditched his green contacts was outstanding so hopefully the creative team over there can produce something before the Hamilton home game.

--The Mike Scheper firing from Riderville is a strange one when it comes to timing.  There's more to this story. The timing is very, very odd.

--There are braincramps and there are Rick Campbell brain-cramps.  What was that? I don't understand his thinking at all at the end of last nite's game and I don't think I'm alone.

--Those were two bad CFL games on Thursday nights.

--The Flames have a new arena.  We all knew it would happen eventually.  Where's the new football stadium though?  We all remember when Ken King and his cronies proudly announced in the first arena deal that was squashed that a football stadium was coming too to replace the archaic MacMahon Stadium.  It would appear as if the Stampeders were forgotten this time around.  Surprise, surprise! The Stampeders deserve better.  King and company should either double down and get the Stamps a new building or just sell the squad.  The latter might be the better thing for the organization as this shows how much Calgary Sports and Entertainment cares about one of their properties.

--The Jays and Cleveland played a game on Facebook Live Tuesday night.  As they were last year, Jays fans were not happy wanting to see the game on Sportsnet.  Facebook Live isn't the platform you want to be on IMO.  How many viewers do you actually get?  It can be tracked, and when I checked out the game in the 4th inning, there were just over 3000 people checking it out.  If you want highlights great, but if you are looking to watch the whole thing.  No thanks!   I am guessing more than 3000 people would be watching the Sportsnet broadcast.  This one is a head-scratcher.

--Why are some in Toronto upset with the fact Kawhi Leonard didn't give an overwhelming thank you to Toronto and the Raptors as he officially became a Clipper. What more do you want from the guy?  I think he brought you what you were looking for.  There really should be no Kawhi-hate at all amongst Raptors fans.  Meanwhile, if you saw Clippers owner Steve Ballman, you wonder just what it is in his medicine closet.  That was weird!

--You are on a road trip with your significant other.  You are in charge of the snacks.  What three items are you taking?

--Storms like the one that rolled through Regina Wednesday night are just great to watch. Those cloud formations were unreal.

--The stretch drive is on in the WCBL.  Regina has a leg up on Swift Current and Weyburn, but the 57's and Beavers are right behind.  It's going to be a fun last couple of weeks and playoffs.

Riders Fire DL Coach Mike Scheper

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced that the Club has parted ways with Defensive Line Coach Mike Scheper.

“The decision to let Mike go was a difficult one,” said Head Coach Craig Dickenson. “Mike is a tireless worker and a dedicated coach. In spite of this, we felt this decision was the right one for the team. We thank Mike for his work and wish him the very best in the future.”


Members of the Roughriders’ existing coaching staff will work with the defensive line until a new assistant coach is hired.

This Week In The CFL

Week 7 kicks off with the Calgary Stampeders visiting the Ottawa REDBLACKS at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday. Ottawa opened the season with a 32-28 win in Calgary and will be looking to snap a three-game skid. The Stampeders enter the game 3-2 and are hoping to build off a Week 6 victory over the Argonauts. The scene shifts to Edmonton at 9:30 p.m. ET with Toronto in town. The 0-5 Argonauts are closing-out a three-game stretch through Manitoba and Alberta. Edmonton looks to bounce back after last week’s 20-10 setback in Montreal. Emily Reid will be taking the stage at halftime as part of the Thursday Night Football Concert Series. Friday Night Football features a heavyweight tilt of division leaders with the Winnipeg taking on Hamilton at Tim Hortons Field at 7 p.m. ET. The teams combine for a 9-1 record, with the lone loss coming in Week 4 as the Tiger-Cats fell to the Alouettes. The contest marks only the 6th time since 1958 that two teams, which have each played a minimum of five games, are entering a matchup with a single loss between them To round out the week, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will travel to BC Place to complete the backend of a home-and-home series on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. Last week, Saskatchewan came out on top with a 38-25 victory. BC is looking for its first home victory and have announced a $100,000-minimum 50/50 guaranteed jackpot at the game. CLASH OF DIVISION LEADERS ·     Winnipeg (5-0) takes on Hamilton (4-1) in a game between the top squads in each division. ·     Since 1958, five matchups have featured teams which have played at least five games each, while combining for only 1 loss. o  Aug. 9, 2013. Calgary (4-1) vs. SSK (5-0) (42-27 CGY) QBs: Kevin Glenn vs. Darian Durant o  Aug 5, 2011. Winnipeg (4-1) vs. Edmonton (5-0) (28-16 WPG) QBs: Buck Pierce vs. Ricky Ray o  Aug. 5, 2005. BC (5-0) vs. EDM (5-1) (25-19 BC) QBs: Casey Printers vs. Ricky Ray o  Aug. 2, 2002. Montreal (5-0) vs. EDM (4-1) (37-14 MTL) QBs: Anthony Calvillo vs. Ricky Ray o  Aug. 6, 1995. Calgary (5-0) vs. Baltimore (5-1) (29-15 CGY) QBs: Doug Flutie vs. Tracy Ham ·     Hamilton and Winnipeg are the league’s two highest-scoring teams at 37.4 points per game and 33.8 points per game, respectively ·     They are tied in points-scored on offence with 157 and each has tallied 21 touchdowns ·     They top the league in points-allowed: Blue Bombers at 16.0 points per game; Hamilton at 20.0 points per game QBS ON THE RECEIVING END ·     Montreal’s Vernon Adams Jr. caught a 21-yard TD pass from Eugene Lewis last Saturday. o  It was Lewis’ second-career TD pass; his first came in 2018 after finding George Johnson for a 61-yard score. o  Lewis is now a perfect 3/3 for 104 yards and two touchdown passes. ·     The last time a QB caught a TD pass was on October 8, 2016 with Winnipeg’s Matt Nichols on the receiving end of a 4-yard pass from Rory Kholert versus BC. The Bombers went on to win the game 37-35. ·     Winnipeg’s Darvin Adams has had a knack for slinging the football in the past few years. He is 3/3 for 80 yards and a touchdown pass. ·     The only other active non-QB with a TD pass is Saskatchewan’s Emmanuel Arceneaux. On October 4, 2014, as a member of the Lions, he threw a 17-yard TD pass to Shawn Gore. EXTENDING PERFECTION ·     Winnipeg is aiming to start 6-0 for the first time since 1960. Since 2000, only seven teams have managed the feat. Their results at the end of the year: o  2018: CGY 13-5 (Best record in the CFL, Won GC) o  2017: EDM 12-6 (Third in the West) o  2008: SSK 12-6 (Second in the West) o  2006: MTL 10-8 (First in the East) o  2005: BC 12-6 (Best record in the CFL) o  2004: MTL 14-4 (Best record in the CFL) o  2002: MTL 13-5 (Best record in the CFL, Won GC) ·     There have been 14 starts of 6-0 or better since 1958. Only four of those clubs went on to finish with the CFL's best overall record at year-end. QUICK SLANTS ·     Saskatchewan’s Charleston Hughes now has 31 multiple-sack games. He is also on track to become the oldest sack leader in CFL history, a distinction currently held by Elfrid Payton, who set the mark in 2002 at the age of 35. ·     Toronto’s SJ Green has 9,422 career receiving yards. He needs eight yards to eclipse Adarius Bowman (9,429) at No. 26 and 52 yards to pass Hall of Famer Hal Patterson (9,473) for 25th all-time. ·     Winnipeg has not fallen behind in a game since midway through the third quarter in Week 1, and they have spent a total of 9:24 trailing an opponent this season. The team currently owns a streak of four wire-to-wire wins-in-a-row; the club record is five, set in 1981. ·     Calgary is looking to avoid a two-game losing skid on the road. The last time they lost two straight away from McMahon was in 2015 – a span covering 36 road games. ·     Ottawa is seeking a season sweep of the Stampeders after winning their first encounter in Week 1. The last East Division team to sweep Calgary in a season series was Toronto in 2012. ·     The Argonauts did not record a sack in either of their first two games of the season, however they have tallied eight in their last three matches. ·     Toronto is looking to avoid an 0-6 start – a mark which would match how they opened the 1981 campaign; that year, they went on to start 0-11. ·     Matt Nichols has completed 10 passes for 20+ yards downfield this season, seven of which have gone for TDs. ·     Calgary’s Brandon Smith returned last week following a two-game absence. The team holds a record of 122-38-1 (.762 win %) with him in the lineup. ·     BC Lions QB Mike Reilly has been sacked 21 times this season; on the opposite end of the spectrum, Edmonton Eskimos QB Trevor Harris has only been sacked once. ·     Roughriders receiver Shaq Evans is averaging 20.4 yards per reception to lead the league. Sitting second is Armanti Edwards with an average of 18.6 (among those on the Top 10 in receiving yards). ·     Evans also leads the league with three 100+ yard games this season. ·     Trevor Harris is making his 65th career start. He is 34-28-2 (.547 win %) and is 2-3 versus Toronto. ·     Toronto’s James Wilder Jr. tops the league with 233 yards after the catch this season. ·     Hamilton’s Brandon Banks leads the league with six TDs this season (3 REC, 1 RUSH, 2 KR), and his career-high is 11 (accomplished twice: 2017, 2018). He is on pace for 21 TDs, which would land him tied for third on the single-season list. Milt Stegall holds the record with 23, established in 2002. ·     Montreal’s Patrick Levels leads the league with 36 defensive tackles, followed by Calgary’s Cory Greenwood (34) and BC’s Jordan Herdman-Reed (32). Greenwood and Herdman-Reed are both Canadian. ·     Greenwood is on pace for 122 tackles which would be one shy of Alex Singleton’s club record, established last year. At this point in 2018, Singleton had 28 tackles. ·     Despite being 1-5, the BC Lions have recorded the most first downs this season (130). ·     This season, teams that trail at the half are 5-15; team trailing after the third are 2-19. ·     Saskatchewan’s Solomon Elimimian (757) is 10 defensive tackles away from surpassing Greg Battle (766) for 7th on the all-time list.

Something To "Mitch" About

--The Riders needed a win and they got it.  It was perhaps their best all-around game of the season.  There is no doubt the second half was their best half of the season.  Thanks to Montreal's win over Edmonton, the green-and-white got a little closer to Edmonton while taking a big step to perhaps burying a BC football team that is Mike Reilly and not much else.

Here are some thoughts on what transpired Saturday night on the Mosaic turf.

--Chalk one up for the "old guys"!  Charleston Hughes, Marcus Thigpen and Jon Ryan

  What can you say about Charleston Hughes that hasn't been said before.  A three sack night against what is a porous BC offensive line, but there are many tackles around the league who can't compete with #39 when his desire is to get to the quarterback.  You won't see many better defensive games than what Hughes had.  Once again, he leads the CFL in sacks. Some wonder if we will see a repeat of last year where his numbers tailed off, but I still say that was partially because of teams trying to combat him which allowed Willie Jefferson to have the monster second-half he did.  If that happens this year, it means AC Leonard should benefit.  Pick your poison.

  Thigpen's 104 yard kickoff return at the end of the first half got the /=S=/ back into the football game and gave them the momentum to have the second half they had.  There is still some speed in Thiggy's aging legs

 There is still some thunder in Jon Ryan's leg as well.  What a night kicking the football.  I am sure JR would sacrifice some yards on those boomers for field position, but he has shown he still has what it takes.  I wonder if the NFL has seen that.  If they have it's too late, because he's our guy now and I don't think he is heading back.   Still with JR, tell me that fake punt didn't remind you of what he did

--Cody Fajardo answered his bad game against Calgary with a big bounce-back game.  While he said the right things leading up to the game, Fajardo had to show that the first two games he had as the starter weren't an anomaly and that he could get up off the canvas after a rough outing against Calgary. He did!  What impressed me the most about Fajardo's game is that offensive co-ordinator Stephen McAdoo allowed Fajardo to use his legs as well as his arm.  He is a better quarterback when that happens as it keeps the opposition defence on its toes.  That young quarterback we have been looking for since Darian Durant may be here folks.

--Do you think Mike Reilly is regretting signing that big deal?  I actually feel sorry for him and what he has (or hasn't got) in front of him.

--The Shaq Evans criticism can stop.  I was one of those frustrated with Evans last year and at the start of this because of drops.  He is now a big part of the Riders offence.  His game has elevated from year one to year two.   A 1000 yard season if not more awaits.

--Dakoda Shepley was a beast!  He is living up to his first-round draft status last year.  One has to think his NFL aspirations aren't done, but again he's our guy now.  He is just going to get better and better and could be one of the league's best if not the best hoggie in the next few years.  Yeah, that's a big statement to make for someone who has only played a handful of games, but he has a lot of Brett Jones in him and we saw and are seeing the career Jones is having.

--The Riders are 2-3.  They have beaten the two teams that are the worst in the CFL and have been beaten by two of the top teams in Hamilton and Calgary.  Does that make you a glass half-full or glass half-empty type of person?  I won't sit here and tell you the Riders are in the upper 3 of the league because they're not, but I don't think they are one of the bottom three either.  We still have two-thirds of the season to go and I think now we are starting to see an identity for this team.  A loss next weekend puts them back at square one, but BC needs to do a lot for that to happen IMO.

--Local realtor Craig Adam was a little cranky on Twitter Sunday morning when he asked why on "Country Day" there was no Saskatchewan talent pumping over the speakers.  That's a valid point.  With the likes of the Hunter Brothers, Jess Moskaluke, Colter Wall and Tenille Arts, a lot of Saskatchewan country music could have been blasting through instead of what we heard---especially Cotton Eye Joe! (YEESH!!).  I had no problem with Emerson Drive doing their thing.  I actually like the fact that halftimes this year are concerts and not something else happening on the field like dog races or something else.

--I knew Khari Jones would succeed when he became a CFL head coach and he is.  After taking a couple of weeks to see what he had and getting his feet wet, Jones has led the Als to three straight wins with that third win coming over the Eskimos Saturday.  Vernon Adams Jr is certainly benefitting from Jones' tutelage.   The Als may be a tire-fire off the field, but they have gotten it together on the field and that is good news as new ownership looms.

--I am still shaking my head over the Milan Lucic-James Neal trade.  Ken Holland fleeced Brad Treliving and he "may" have found that 20 goal scorer he was looking for   Neal was a disaster in Calgary, and the questions surrounding his game are credible.  He was not a good fit in Calgary and he will have to rebound.  As for Lucic, Oiler fans know his game is on its last legs.  If Neal scores 15 goals for Edmonton, its a win if you ask me.  Calgary now has Lucic and Cam Talbot on their team. I thought the aim was to get better in the off-season.

--Ron Francis will do an outstanding job as GM in Seattle. That is a great hire!

--The website Hockeywriters.com lists the all-time Vancouver Canucks team as they get ready for their 50th anniversary.  The top forward line are the Sedins and Alex Burrows.  Alex Burrows?!  HELLOOOOO!  I was never the biggest Pavel Bure fan, but you are going to put Burrows ahead of Bure.  You are going to put Burrows ahead of Thomas Gradin? Uh no!

--Roy Halladay got his day in Cooperstown, but sadly he wasn't there to see it.  The phrase "top-of-the-rotation workhorse" that is on his plaque is one that is so fitting.  As his wife said, this was not her speech to give but that of her late husband's.  It's too bad we will never know what those words would have been

--NBA Jam needs to come back! Remember that video game.  Imagine the duos you could have now

   --Curry and Thompson (GS)
   --Leonard and George (LAC)
   --Lebron and Anthony Davis (LAL)
   --Westbrook and Harden (DAL)
   --Durant and Irving (NJ)

That's just 5!

--Can I get Memphis Grizzlies NBA Summer League champs merchandise?

--If you have been to Toronto, chances are you have been to Wayne Gretzky's restaurant.  I try to get there every chance I get when in Toronto, but I may have made my last visit.  The restaurant, just a Vladdy Guerrero Junior homer from Skydome, is closing either late this year or early next.  I've had a few great nights with some outstanding friends in this place.  Great memories!

--When the mosquitoes are quiet, there is nothing like a Saskatchewan summer night.  Sunday was one of those nights--at least where I was.

That's all I got.  Have a great week!