They did not just do that

In a move that is sure to - in my opinion - doom the Eskimos for the next four years, the Edmonton CFL football club has signed quarterback Ricky Ray to a three-year contract, with an option for a fourth.

Amazingly, the club is keeping Danny Maciocia doing double-duty as head coach and director of football operations.

The people who took the blame for the dismal Eskimos season were the secondary coaching staff.

Hmmm. What are your thoughts on all this? Do you also hate Ricky Ray, he with the soap opera star name? Let me know in the comments.


LUNCH: BLT. Mmmmm, bacon.

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

Eskies don't fold a lead. For a change

Well, fancy that. After dropping first half leads in each of their last three games, the Eskimos managed to play an entire game this week, pounding Montreal and keeping a faint hope of the post season in sight.

Montreal, for their part, were awful. After a solid effort against the B.C. Lions last week - the Alouettes had me wondering if I was watching an NFL game, actually: Brady to Payton, Brady to
Thurman - the Alouettes secondary let Ricky Ray and Jason Tucker eat them alive. They scored on the first play of the game. How can you let that happen?

Ricky Ray, for his part, passed the great Warren Moon for total passing yards for an Edmonton Eskimos quarterback. I hate Ricky Ray.

Jason Maas ended up coming in to relieve Brady, and helped the Als notch a few points, so as not to be completely embarassed. Wonder what Maas thought of being back in Edmonton. He'll probably be on Whyte Avenue tonight.

On a somewhat related note: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are starting Casey Printers against the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg on Saturday. 'Cause Timmy Chang was so masterfully horrible against Toronto last week. Timmy!


LUNCH: PBJ sandwich and some potato chips

While watching the Labour Day Classic, western edition

I just realized why I hate Ricky Ray.

It's because his name is that of an obscure cartoon character from a 1930s animated soft-core porn experiment, not that of a head quarterback, CFL or otherwise.

Ricky Ray. Pfft.

LUNCH: hotdogs, Cheetos Puffs, and a beer