I have much to say about the CFL and today's BIG trade. Before that, let me get a few things off of my chest....
The NBA is a joke, plain and simple. For the third time in less than a week, a trade involving New Orleans PG Chris Paul has been vetoed by the league. Unfortunately for Paul along with both Los Angeles team who have had deals for the Wake Forest product worked out, the Hornets are being run by the NBA team at this point as they look for a buyer. In the minds of the owners, these potential deals make the rich richer in terms of the Los Angeles clubs.
Essentially nobody wants Paul to be traded at the expense of another team getting better. Well, here is how it will play out. Chris Paul will be forced to play the season in New Orleans because no deal for him will be allowed. Next summer comes along and Chris Paul walks away from the only organization he has known in his short career, signs where ever he wants and what do the Hornets get???? Not a damn thing. The only club this is really hurting is the Hornets; they have had three deals worked out, all of which see them getting significant returns for Paul. In the end, attendance in New Orleans struggles, continued ownership problems abound and before you know it this franchise is moving for the third time in a decade. Way to go NBA...way to go.
Sidney Crosby will miss his third straight game with what the Penguins are referring to as concussion like symptoms. This is very, very troubling. If this is indeed a concussion, you know what this means for Crosby? The Penguins? The NHL? Hockey Canada? This means that the best player in the game is pretty much done at the ripe ol' age of what? 24? I am unsure on his exact age but this is potentially awful news for the Crosby and the NHL.
And now on to the CFL.....
A monster deal today coming out of the Alberta capital as the Eskimos have sent QB Ricky Ray to the Toronto Argonauts for Steven Jyles, a draft pick, and a Canadian kicker. Some have gone so far as to say this is being done by the CFL Board of Governors to ensure the Argo's are competitive next year as they aim to host the Grey Cup. What this is in reality is the Eric Tillman factor. Tillman has done the exact same thing with Ray that he did with Kerry Joseph, surprisingly enough with the same dance partner as in 2008. Ray is 32 and nearing his expiration date; Tillman knows that. The Argos are in the market for a proven QB..a pocket passer that they hope can take the mold of Anthony Calvillo. After all the double blue does have the OC from Calvillo's finest days in Montreal in Scott Milanovich. We all know how well Kerry Joseph did in Toronto and without some serious upgrades at the reciever position, I don't see things going much better for Ray.
I know this is the second time Tillman has traded for Jyles, but I honestly don't think this is his idea of a starting QB next year. If you ask me, he has something up his sleeve and we will see another QB land in Edmonton soon. Is it possible the Stamps ship Henry Burris to their arch - rival? Is Burris on the way to Hamilton which in turn would allow one of Kevin Glenn or Quinton Porter join the Evil Empire? Buck Pierce? Who knows what is in store in Edmonton. What I do know is if Tillman feels that Jyles is the answer, I think that makes the Eskimos a far inferior team entering next season than they were at the end of 2011.
Is it a salary dump in order to make a play for Andy Fantuz come February? Tillman made no qualms about the fact he inquired about the availability of the Canadian reciever at this past season's trade deadline. Tillman also was the man who drafted Fantuz in the first place. It could make sense, but again I don't think Fantuz would go there unless a more established QB is in place.
OR....does this make Toronto the front runner to sign Fantuz? He is from Ontario, and that football team could be better with some help at reciever and Ricky Ray has done wonders for guys like Fred Stamps. The possibility of huge numbers for Fantuz with Ray delivering is strong.
Time will tell. The Riders would love to keep him, the fans want him to stay. At the end of the day, I think this trade today is the start of a bizarre season of transactions in the CFL and until next June, we won't know who is where.
The saga continues in the search for the next Head Coach of the Riders. Brendan Taman to this point has interviewed six candidates, and Kent Austin won't go away. It is reported that Austin wants $600, 000 per year and a lot more responsibility than simply Head Coach. Marc Trestman makes $500, 000 per year and has a much better track record than Austin. Austin was a HC for ONE YEAR!!! Sure it was a Grey Cup but we aren't going to give him everything he wants based on one season are we? The fans will cry murder if they don't sign him, but seriously people he is only here until the next great offer comes south of the border.
I have said it for a while now, I would like to see Dave Dickenson running the show here next year. He could do wonders for this offense and Darian in particular. It has been said over and over that he has no interest in living in Regina. I wish people would stop making crap up. If he didn't want the job why would he come for an interview last week, and based on what Taman and O'Day said on the Sportscage on Friday, be more than willing to set up shop in our provincial capital and coach the team that embodies everything the CFL is about.
If it isn't Dickenson, I would like to see Mike O'Shea get a serious look. He is young, full of energy, and even though a defensive guy, innovative which is something we have been lacking in the past few seasons.
According to Rod Pederson's blog a decision will be made on the new coach before the second week of January so I guess time will tell.
