CFL weekend roundup

The Argos beat the floundering Alouettes, the Lions beat the Eskimos (and unless the Eskies win their last two games and the Alouettes lose both of theirs, that's it for the green and gold this season; good analysis over at Twelve Men on the Field), and the Stampeders decided to rest Henry Burris, and lost to the Blue Bombers, establishing that maybe they need Burris to win (and, therefore, that it may have been a good idea to rest him and his shoulder).

Then, in the sole CFL Sunday game, Saskatchewan managed to beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which does nothing to establish whether they can win against a real football team with a healthy quarterback.

And did you hear? Lenny Kravitz is the half-time headliner at this year's Grey Cup game in Toronto. (Check out the nice Kravitz photo over at Rouge For the Win.)

Football round-up

Well, Tom Brady clearly won the battle of the quarterbacks when the Patriots crushed the Cowboys on Sunday. Too bad, Tony Romo.

Tom, don't give up your day job, though, cause an actor you are not, and you proved that in the funny bit about why you are always listed as "probable" on the NFL injury report because of that lingering shoulder injury.

Henry Burris showed why the Stamps need him so bad, and the Eskimos were, for all intents and purposes, officially eliminated from the CFL playoff picture. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Ha!

Finally, over at Twelve Men on the Field, a look at how B.C. Lions president Bob Ackles is trying to save the CFL.


LUNCH: Really average mall Thai food, ginger beef and orange chicken. Mmmm, sweet

Thanksgiving Classic football

All CFL today, with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Montreal to play the Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Calgary to play the Stampeders.

Montreal walked all over the Ticats. Cavillo never missed hitting his receivers, who walked through the Ticat defense like they were standing still.

I haven't been quiet about what I think about Casey Printers, and while my attitude hasn't changed, it has softened. I saw Printers laser the football and watched him scramble and run, so I understand that he has some measure of talent. More important, though, he has been humbled by his experience so far. His new-found humility gets him a few points in my book.

Just a few. I still hate the guy.

But the Alouettes, who exploded in the first half and looked to blow out the Ticats, fizzled in the second. Even so, the Ticats only ended up with one touchdown. The rest of their 19 points came from field goals. Printers ended his day 15 for 39, with two interceptions.
In Calgary, the Stampeders are clearly missing Henry Burris, as they dropped their third in a row.

Akili Smith started the game for the Stamps, and couldn't generate any offense at all. Ben Sankey came in in the third quarter and at least got some points on the board, including a great last-minute drive (which was pointless because the Riders were too far ahead).

Burris claims that he'll be ready to return for next week's game against the Blue Bombers, but that's an awfully quick return from a dislocated shoulder. Tough call for a coach to make, but I'd give him another week, unless my playoff chances were in jeopardy.

Come to think of it, they might be.


LUNCH: Well, yesterday was turkey day at my house, so today was - wait for it - turkey sandwiches!

CFL, NFL, a little golf

On Friday night, the Toronto Argonauts took another step toward securing a playoff berth, and the Eskimos came another step closer to elimination.

Bad news for the Eskimos, too, as Ricky Ray left the game with a separated shoulder. Now I may hate Ricky Ray, but I don't wish injuries on anyone. Except maybe Rex Grossman.

More on him later.

What does it mean that quarterbacks in the CFL are dropping like flies? Burris? Out. Ray? Out. Printers? Out.

Not to mention the Lions, but they always seem to have depth in the quarterback position, and Jarious Jackson is playing like a starter.

Note to Hamilton: Need a quarterback? Talk to Wally Buono.

The Lions crushed the Stamps on Saturday, solidifying their hold on the West. The Riders helped the Bombers and the Argos by taking a game from the Als. Next week's Thanksgiving games will likely set the playoff picture.

In the NFL today, I'll be watching the Bears against the Lions, more to see if Brian Griese can put the final nail in the coffin of Rex Grossman. Today, everyone is a Bears fan.

And I can't be the only one excited about what Favre is doing in Green Bay. After last year I thought he should just retire, but he seemed to know that another season would give him a chance to leave on a high note. This season, everyone is a Packers fan.

Finally, as I settle in for a day of watching football and golf (so glad that the weather stinks so bad today), I can only say this: Go, Mike, go!


LUNCH: probably pizza

What a game!

Lots happened in Hamilton last night, where the Calgary Stampeders took on the Tiger-Cats.

The game starts with the Stampeders hitting Casey Printers and forcing a fumble. The Stamps convert the turnover into a touchdown, and on the kickoff Sandro DeAngelis attempts an onside kick.

And it works!

And Casey Printers, who thinks he's so great, is absolutely sucking. Even with Jesse Lumsden - who is a great running back, by the way - Printers was 9 for 16 and 73 yards when he left the game because of a "hamstring injury."

Isn't that what some players say they've got when really they just want out of a game in which they are sucking?

The Ticats decide to throw Richie Williams to the Stamps, instead of Timmy Chang.

That's when things started to go wrong for the Stamps.

Williams actually gets the Ticats rolling. And Joffrey Reynolds fumbles twice. And suddenly the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are actually in the lead.

The, as Burris leads the Stamps on a late drive to win back the game, he gets hammered, and leaves the game with a shoulder injury.

Watching the replay, it looked like it might be separated. We'll see. The point is that his shoulder injury actually happened. Unlike some vague, unconfirmable muscle strain suffered by some other quarterback earlier in the game.

So the Stamps drop the win, the Ticats pick up some pride, and Printers? This is what Printers has to say: "I'm happy for these guy. 'Boy, I was out there cheering and I'm kind of hoarse right now. But this is a great team win.''

A team win, for sure. But a team that doesn't include Casey Printers. What a knob.

Move over, Ricky Ray. Make some space in the "I hate you" box for your new best friend, Casey Printers.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, Jason Maas might get to start against his old team, the Edmonton Eskimos, who are in town for a game today. Play nice, boys.


BREAKFAST: oatmeal

Stamps are rolling, Ticats are sucking

Burris and the Stamps just may muster together a season after all. Over at Twelve Men on the Field, a great rundown of the crushing defeat they laid on the lapsing Roughriders.

But the best story in the CFL this weekend is how badly the Hamilton Tiger-Cats stank in their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. They barely managed to find 4 points. Tom Canada, Bombers defensive end, personally sacked Printers four times.

Ha, ha ha! How's that, Printers? What do you think of your sleazy agent now?

Given his arrogance in the press conferenes last week, when he puffed up his chest about coming in to "lead" the Ticats, I'm pleased as punch that Printers' pride was bruised.

You can't just step back into the CFL and expect that because you spent a few months in the NFL, people are going to sit back and revel in your glory. Remember, you were ignored while in Kansas City, Printers. Maybe now we know why.

Still hoping the Leos can heal themselves up before we get too far into the second half of the season. Even though they stomped all over the Argos this weekend, as it stands now, the Stamps look to be chasing first place in the West.


LUNCH: hot dogs

Separated at birth?

Just saw the TSN "This is my Sportscentre" promo with Henry Burris, from the Calgary Stampeders.

Is it me, or does he look and sound suspiciously like Tiger Woods? What's up with that?

I have to say that I'm very impressed with how Burris led the Stamps back from halftime deficits, to clobber the Eskimos twice last week. Twice.

I still don't think the Stampeders have enough to make it out of the West, but at least Burris has his game going.