From the Pressbox

The biggest lesson I’ve learned this year as CFL on CBC host is the players know exactly who we pick to win the games. And they aren’t afraid to tell us.

For the Division semifinals, we were based in Calgary. Khari Jones was the only panelist to pick the Stampeders. While we sat and watched the Winnipeg-Toronto game, team president Ted Hellard walked over and made a point of thanking Khari for the pick. After Calgary’s loss, I was listening to Henry Burris’ post-game comments. He saw me and said, “Unfortunately, we made those guys look good.”

Last week, I was the only panelist to pick Montreal. (I think I somehow sold my soul to the devil. I’m 4-0 in the playoffs. I couldn’t pick a game right in the regular season even if I waited until the final whistle.) At Wednesday’s practice, three Alouettes came up to me about it. One of them, centre Bryan Chiu, a great guy, asked me who I was choosing this week.

I said, “Bryan, you can’t pick against them,” meaning B.C.

Instead of separating my various body parts, Chiu understood. “I think you have to make that choice,” he said. “But remember this: In 2000, people said we were going to kill B.C. They were 8-10 and we were the overwhelming favourites. They kicked our asses. Don’t forget that.”

Hey, for the sake of the broadcast, I hope he’s right. But my pick is still B.C. (More on Saturday.)

Meanwhile, one of the great things about Grey Cup week is how the players show up in public settings. It just doesn’t happen anywhere else.

Last night at the Walby’s Warriors IX taping were Geroy Simon, Brent Johnson, Rob Murphy, Milt Stegall, Doug Brown, Charles Roberts and former Blue Bombers Kenny Ploen, Miles Gorrell, Paul Bennett, Willard Reaves, David Black and Tyrone Jones. I remember being blown away by Damon Allen showing up at the Spirit of Edmonton last year, not even two hours after being named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.

There are two reasons these mixes work well here. First, players in this league tend to be a lot less spoiled than most others. But, more importantly, the fans handle things brilliantly. A couple of years ago, Kelly Hrudey and I were out to dinner in Toronto during the NHL playoffs. Two guys came to our table and sat there for about 30 minutes. They wouldn’t leave, just asking question after question. (I would like to state – for the record – that they were much more interested in hearing from Kelly than from me.)

Now, most people aren’t like this. They chat for a few moments, then move on. But all it takes is one or two yahoos to ruin everything. I was so impressed last night by the way some real hard-core CFL fans handled the players’ presence. They walked over, asked for an autograph or a photograph, said thanks and went back to their friends. The players clearly appreciated it, as there was no secluded or roped-off area to hide.

It was especially amazing considering how much alcohol was involved. I think some of the fans had no room for blood in their arteries.

A few notes:

• Eric Tillman and Danny Barrett are getting ready to meet and decide the Roughriders’ coaching future. Barrett should walk away. We’ve seen enough examples of general managers inheriting a head coach to know it just doesn’t work. (Think Brian Burke/Mike Keenan, J.P. Ricciardi/Buck Martinez, John Ferguson/Pat Quinn.) Barrett’s been there seven years. That’s long enough. People around the league are crediting him for the playoff win in Calgary and the professional way he handled Tillman’s arrival. There will be other coaching options for him, especially as offensive co-ordinator in Edmonton, should he want it. Or, with his son entering his final year in high school, Barrett could take a season off and do some TV work because he doesn’t want to uproot his family.
• Don’t be surprised if Dave Ritchie becomes Saskatchewan’s next head coach, with Kent Austin as offensive co-ordinator. Both are tight with Tillman.
• People in Hamilton are convinced Charlie Taaffe will be the Tiger-Cats next coach.

One NHL comment: Watching Vancouver blow a 2-0 lead to Calgary last Saturday, I couldn’t help but wonder about the Canucks’ attack. There is concern about Luongo’s goaltending, defensive health and overall grit. Long-term, the team doesn’t have to worry about Luongo and the defence will be fine. (How about Alexander Edler? Very impressed with his calmness and maturity for being tossed into an emergency situation.)

But there may not be an NHL team with less scoring ability up front. The Sedins are terrific and Markus Naslund is a special player, but what’s after that? Jan Bulis and Brendan Morrison occupy the penthouse of Alain Vigneault’s doghouse and how many of Vancouver’s others forwards really scare you? Management must be praying this is the real Taylor Pyatt; that a change of scenery makes this much of a difference.

Okay, responding to some of your comments:

On CFL expansion: I’m not in favour of going back to Ottawa. Seriously, how many times can a team fold in one city? Holding back until 2008 is a bright move, but I’m skeptical that this will work.

I love the idea of Quebec City and/or Halifax, but where would they play? Before that question is answered, there is no chance of expanding to either place. Build a stadium and I am there. These are two of Canada’s best cities.

On the quarterbacks that were mentioned: Marcus Brady and Nealon Greene have had their chances. I don’t know of anyone who considers either of them a legit number one option. Buck Pierce is certainly going to get his chance. He’s young (Thursday is his 25th birthday) and he’s talented. Right now, everyone likes Buck.

Rocky Butler is an interesting case. He only threw 73 passes, but was impressive enough to snare a 97.6 rating, bettered only by Pierce and Dave Dickenson. Of course, most of those were thrown in a back-to-back beating of Hamilton, a team that did not resemble a professional football team at the time.

Butler suffered a concussion late in the year, and in the playoffs, was dropped to third on the depth chart behind Kerry Joseph and Marcus Crandell. If Barrett was to yank Joseph, Crandell – not Butler – was the guy. I’d like to see Butler get a shot, but I honestly don’t know how good he is.

It amazes me that Crouch is still an Argonaut. Years ago, people in the organization – people who are still here – said he didn’t have strong enough an arm to be a CFL quarterback. Now, after saving a huge victory in Regina following Spergon Wynn’s near-decapitation (remember him being loaded onto a stretcher while the cheerleaders danced around him?), some of those same people say Crouch has a chance.

He is only 28, but do you know how many pro pass attempts he has since winning the 2001 Heisman Trophy? Thirteen, all this year. He has more tackles, getting 23 as a safety with NFL Europe’s Hamburg Sea Devils in 2005.

That’s a lot of time for a quarterback to lose.

As for my NHL records note: I did check about the overtime loss point before posting, but I’ll see if I misread it when I get back home next week. I can assure you all this is no pro-Maple Leaf bias. My situation is worse: I grew up a Blackhawk fan.

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