2024 @CFL season

[GA Russell]

Danny Maciocia is stepping down as the Eskimos' head coach, and will be the General Manager and Director of Football Operations.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edm...557606-sun.html

[GA Russell]

As expected, Mike Kelly was named head coach of the Bombers today.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4195188

[GA Russell]

I'm shocked. The Lions have let go both Jason Clermont and Charles Roberts.

Maybe BClug will give us his thoughts on this.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

[GA Russell]

The Lions let go of Otis Floyd today.

There may be more shoes to drop, as apparently the decision has been made to dispatch veterans and free up salary cap space.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

[B. Clugston]

I'm shocked. The Lions have let go both Jason Clermont and Charles Roberts.

Maybe BClug will give us his thoughts on this.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

Roberts was not a big surprise, but cutting lose Clermont is unfortunate. A colleague of mine mentioned how Clermont is like a running back in that he can take add a couple of yards to his short yardage receptions by dragging tacklers along with him. Since he's a realtor in Regina in the off-season, he'd be a natural fit for the Riders.

[GA Russell]

The Globe & Mail reports tonight that the Arena league is in danger of folding.

The league has 16 teams. Jim Popp estimates that 3-5 players per team are good enough to play in the CFL.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

[GA Russell]

The Riders have signed Jason Clermont.

Clermont is a real estate agent in Regina. So whatever he left on the table with this deal, he should make it up selling houses.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

[GA Russell]

Remember Turner Gill of the Concordes? He is now the head coach of the Mid-American Conference champion Univ. of Buffalo. He is being considered for the head coaching openings at Auburn and Syracuse.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

[B. Clugston]

The Riders have signed Jason Clermont.

Clermont is a real estate agent in Regina. So whatever he left on the table with this deal, he should make it up selling houses.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

He wasn't signed 24 hours and he was already studying the Riders playbook. He's pretty determined to show that Buono made a boo-boo.

[B. Clugston]

Ben Cahoon is back with the Als. He can run, catch and kick game winning field goals.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=259784&amp...=headlines_main

[GA Russell]

BClug, I have long felt that the football reporters don't appreciate Canadian talent. Cahoon is a case in point. I expect him to be elected to the Hall of Fame the first year he is eligible. Yet not only has he never won the Outstanding Player Award, he has never been his team's nominee for the award!

*****

The Lions cut another veteran today, Tyrone Williams. Williams was an all-star in '06 and '07, but he is 36 years old, so I imagine that he is done.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...ory/GlobeSports

*****

The Arena league has decided to suspend operations for 2009, and resume in 2010 (or so they say), because New Orleans has already folded, and Dallas, Philadelphia, Colorado, Georgia, Chicago and Cleveland decided not to play next year as well.

A year ago Arena league franchises were valued at $30 million, which I never understood. What can be the value of a franchise of a league that suspends operations?

In 1974 I saw an interview with Jake Gaudaur in which he said that 1950 was a particularly good year for the Canadian league, because the All-American Football Conference folded after the '49 season, and there was a large influx of quality American players coming from that league to Canada. If Jim Popp is right when he says that each Arena team has 3-5 players good enough for the CFL, maybe the CFL will benefit from the Arena league folding, particularly if it can sign some guys who won't drop the passes.

http://www.reuters.com/article/mergersNews...=22&sp=true

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

Edited December 15, 2008 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

The Eskimos named Richie Hall their new head coach today.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edm...7780981-cp.html

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

*****

Joe Krol has died. He won six Grey Cups!

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...7778636-cp.html

*****

Khari Jones will be the Ticats' quarterback coach this year.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Fries...778021-sun.html

[GA Russell]

Darian Durant was scheduled to become a free agent in February. He has re-signed with the Riders because they promised him a fair shot at becoming the starter.

With Michael Bishop let go, the Riders don't have a bona fide starter on their roster. Maybe this will be Durant's year.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

[GA Russell]

David Naylor lists his top ten players likely to try the NFL next year, including Cam Wake, Sandro DeAngelis and Nick Setta:

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

*****

Remember back in '96 when everyone was laughing at the CFL because the teams were losing money? Since then, the Buffalo and Ottawa NHL teams have gone bankrupt, and the Phoenix NHL team is in big trouble:

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...ortsHockey/home

[GA Russell]

Here's a good, but very brief, review of the league's year.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...860556-sun.html

[GA Russell]

Here's Dan Ralph's 2008 CFL Year in Review.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...7883796-cp.html

[GA Russell]

I haven't found a list of free agents, but here is the best article about it that I have found:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...7950666-cp.html

*****

The Argos have cut Kenny Wheaton, who has been an Eastern all-star the past four years.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Tor...7975431-cp.html

*****

Cam Wake is entertaining offers from 12 NFL teams. They're talking about signing bonuses of up to $500,000.

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/bonus+aw...7902/story.html

*****

Nick Setta has decided to sign with the Ticats rather than see what he could do in the NFL.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Ham...7945216-cp.html

[GA Russell]

Brendan Taman has quit the Bombers. He's a pretty high profile guy, so I expect that he'll land on his feet. If not, he can park himself as a tv analyst for a year or two until the next job opening comes up.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Win...008576-sun.html

*****

He didn't get the head coaching job he wanted, so Greg Marshall has signed with the Ticats as their new assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

[GA Russell]

The Argos today chose as their new head coach former NFL Europe head coach Bart Andrus. Andrus was the Amsterdam coach for seven years. He is known as an offensive genius. He has no Canadian football experience. Apparently the Argos are hoping he will be another Marc Trestman - an offensive guy with no Canadian football experience.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Tor...044831-sun.html

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Tor...044826-sun.html

[B. Clugston]

The Argos today chose as their new head coach former NFL Europe head coach Bart Andrus. Andrus was the Amsterdam coach for seven years. He is known as an offensive genius. He has no Canadian football experience. Apparently the Argos are hoping he will be another Marc Trestman - an offensive guy with no Canadian football experience.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Tor...044831-sun.html

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Tor...044826-sun.html

It will take a genius to figure out the power structure of the Argos.

[GA Russell]

BClug, you're making me laugh!

Cam Wake has signed a four-year contract with the Dolphins, with $1 million in guaranteed money.

The Dolphins will play him at linebacker.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/BC/...8074936-cp.html

[GA Russell]

I read an article that said that Cam Wake's four-year contract with the Dolphins is for $4 million, with just under $1 million guaranteed.

*****

Otis Floyd has signed with the Ticats. This will be his tenth year in the league, so I don't expect that he has too much gas left in his tank. But I think he'll be able to teach some of the young guys how to win.

http://tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=263988&lid...os=topStory_cfl

*****

The Eskimos traded backup QB Stephan LeFors to the Bombers for the eleventh pick in the draft.

*****

The Bombers have replaced Brandan Taman with a guy named John Murphy. Murphy has extensive NFL contacts and has been in the scoutinig business for years.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Win...8151226-cp.html

*****

The Bombers signed Tyrone Williams, speaking of guys without much gas left in the tank, and also re-signed Gavin Walls.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

[GA Russell]

Augie Barrenechea has rejoined the Ticats, a day after he was cut by the Eskimos.

Ron Estay's cancer is in remission. He has retired from CFL coaching, and has returned home to south Louisiana where he has found a job.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

[GA Russell]

The league announced its 2009 schedule today.

http://sports.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/...tsFootball/home

TORONTO — The Canadian Football League's 2009 schedule as announced Tuesday by the league (all times ET): Pre-season

WEEK 1

Wednesday, June 17

• Montreal at Toronto, 7 p.m.
  
• Hamilton at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
  
• Saskatchewan at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
  
• B.C at Calgary, 9 p.m.
  

WEEK 2

Tuesday, June 23

• Winnipeg at Montreal, 7 p.m.
  
• Toronto at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
  
• Calgary at Saskatchewan, 9 p.m.
  
• Edmonton at B.C., 10 p.m.
  

———

Regular Season

WEEK 1

Wednesday, July 1

• Toronto at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
  
• Montreal at Calgary, 10 p.m.
  

Thursday, July 2

• Winnipeg at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
  

Friday, July 3

• B.C. at Saskatchewan, 9 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 2

Thursday, July 9

• Edmonton at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
  

Friday, July 10

• Calgary at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.
  
• Hamilton at B.C., 10:30 p.m.
  

Saturday, July 11

• Saskatchewan at Toronto, 1 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 3

Thursday, July 16

• B.C. at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
  

Friday, July 17

• Toronto at Calgary, 9 p.m.
  

Saturday, July 18

• Montreal at Saskatchewan, 3 p.m.
  
• Winnipeg at Hamilton, 6 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 4

Thursday, July 23

• Hamilton at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
  

Friday, July 24

• Toronto at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.
  
• Calgary at B.C., 10:30 p.m.
  

Saturday, July 25

• Edmonton at Saskatchewan, 4 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 5

Thursday, July 30

• Winnipeg at Toronto, 6:30 p.m.
  
• Montreal at Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.
  

Friday, July 31

• B.C. at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
  

Saturday, Aug. 1

• Saskatchewan at Calgary, 9 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 6

Friday, Aug. 7

• Toronto at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
  
• Saskatchewan at B.C., 10:30 p.m.
  

Saturday, Aug. 8

• Edmonton at Hamilton, 6:30 p.m.
  
• Winnipeg at Calgary, 9:30 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 7

Thursday, Aug. 13

• Calgary at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
  

Friday, Aug. 14

• B.C. at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
  

Saturday, Aug. 15

• Montreal at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
  

Sunday, Aug. 16

• Hamilton at Saskatchewan, 7 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 8

Byes: Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, Toronto

Friday, Aug. 21

• Saskatchewan at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
  
• Winnipeg at B.C., 10:30 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 9

Byes: B.C., Montreal, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg

Thursday, Aug. 27

• Hamilton at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
  

Friday, Aug. 28

• Calgary at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 10

Friday, Sept. 4

• Montreal at B.C., 10:30 p.m.
  

Sunday, Sept. 6

• Winnipeg at Saskatchewan, 7:30 p.m.
  

Monday, Sept. 7

• Toronto at Hamilton, 4 p.m.
  
• Edmonton at Calgary, 7:30 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 11

Friday, Sept. 11

• Hamilton at Toronto 7 p.m.
  
• Calgary at Edmonton 10 p.m.
  

Sunday, Sept. 13

• B.C. at Montreal, 1 p.m.
  
• Saskatchewan at Winnipeg, 4 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 12

Friday, Sept. 18

• Calgary at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
  

Saturday, Sept. 19

• Toronto at B.C., 10 p.m.
  

Sunday, Sept. 20

• Winnipeg at Montreal, 1 p.m.
  
• Edmonton at Saskatchewan, 4 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 13

Friday, Sept. 25

• Montreal at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
  
• B.C. at Calgary, 10 p.m.
  

Saturday, Sept. 26

• Saskatchewan at Edmonton, 6 p.m.
  
• Toronto at Winnipeg, 9 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 14

Friday, Oct. 2

• Edmonton at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.
  
• Saskatchewan at B.C., 10:30 p.m.
  

Saturday, Oct. 3

• Montreal at Toronto, 1 p.m.
  
• Hamilton at Calgary, 7 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 15

Friday, Oct. 9

• B.C. at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
  

Saturday, Oct. 10

• Toronto at Saskatchewan, 9 p.m.
  

Monday, Oct. 12

• Calgary at Montreal, 1 p.m.
  
• Winnipeg at Hamilton, 4:30 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 16

Friday, Oct. 16

• Edmonton at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
  

Saturday, Oct. 17

• Saskatchewan at Calgary, 3:30 p.m.
  

Sunday, Oct. 18

• Hamilton at Montreal, 2 p.m.
  
• B.C. at Winnipeg, 5 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 17

Friday, Oct. 23

• Hamilton at Toronto, 7 p.m.
  
• Edmonton at Calgary, 10 p.m.
  

Saturday, Oct. 24

• Montreal at Winnipeg, 2:30 p.m.
  
• B.C. at Saskatchewan, 5:30 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 18

Friday, Oct. 30

• Toronto at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
  

Saturday, Oct. 31

• Saskatchewan at Hamilton, 2 p.m.
  
• Calgary at B.C., 10 p.m.
  

Sunday, Nov. 1

• Winnipeg at Montreal, 1 p.m.
  

———

WEEK 19

Friday, Nov. 6

• Edmonton at B.C., 10:30 p.m.
  

Saturday, Nov. 7

• Montreal at Toronto, 1 p.m.
  
• Calgary at Saskatchewan, 7 p.m.
  

Sunday, Nov. 8

• Hamilton at Winnipeg, 1 p.m.
  

End of Regular Season

———

Playoffs

Sunday, Nov. 15

Division Semifinals

• East - Third at Second Places, TBA
  
• West - Third at Second Places, TBA
  

———

Sunday, Nov. 22

Division Finals

• East - Semifinal Winner at First Place, TBA
  
• West - Semifinal Winner at First Place, TBA
  

———

Sunday, Nov. 29

97th Grey Cup Championship At Calgary

• East vs. West Champions, 6:30 p.m.
  

[GA Russell]

Dominique Dorsey has signed with the Redskins. He was the only star the Argos had last year.

The article mentions three other Argos who have signed with the NFL.

http://sports.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/...tsFootball/home