2025 @CFL hot stove league

[GA Russell]

The Als have signed both Nik Lewis and Dan LeFevour.

IMO, Lewis should have retired. He hasn't been the same since he was injured.

Lefevour had the league's third best quarterback rating last year (behind Bo Levi Mitchell and Ricky Ray), but it's not a sure thing that he will be able to come back from his injury either.

http://www.tsn.ca/alouettes-sign-qb-lefevour-1.215830

http://cfl.ca/article/fa15-lefevour-catches-on-with-alouettes

http://www.tsn.ca/longtime-stamps-sb-lewis-signs-with-alouettes-1.215986

http://cfl.ca/article/fa15-end-of-an-era-lewis-heads-east-to-als

*****

I don't usually post about players remaining with their teams, but rather concentrate on player movement. However, it's noteworthy that the Ticats have signed both CJ Gable and Nic Grigsby. That tandem might produce an offense hard to stop.

http://www.tsn.ca/ticats-lock-up-rbs-gable-grigsby-1.214528

http://cfl.ca/article/fa15-ticats-add-another-rb-with-grigsby-signing

http://cfl.ca/article/staying-in-tigertown-gable-signs-extension-with-cats

Edited February 26, 2015 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

The league made public today the names of the college players who have been invited to attend this year's combines.

http://cfl.ca/article/combine-season-2015-combine-lists-revealed

[GA Russell]

ESPN's Adam Caplan is reporting that Detroit will sign former Bomber Philip Hunt.

http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions

*****

Here's Six Degrees of Bacon, CFL-style.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cfl-55-yard-line/six-degrees-of-canadian-bacon--tracing-cfl-history-and-the-league-s-connections-to-movie-stars-000705323.html

Edited February 27, 2015 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

Here is the latest regarding the free agents:

http://www.tsn.ca/2015-cfl-free-agent-tracker-1.155639

As you can see, the Als had a huge number, but so far only one has signed elsewhere.

There are quite a number of names still available, but many of these guys are long in the tooth. Maybe the general managers are looking to go toward youth. Maybe the teams will wait until after the draft to sign these guys...

JR LaRose

Jordan Matechuk

Quincy Butler

Hugh Charles

Luca Congi

Rennie Curran

Marcellus Bowman

Bakari Grant

Dahrran Diedrick

Josh Bartel

Diamond Ferri

Jason Barnes

Maurice Mann

Romby Bryant

Glenn January

Looking at that list, I have to think that the careers of a lot of those guys might be over. I won't take the time to see how many are over 30, but I'm guessing it's quite a few.

*****

In 2013, the Edmonton nominee for the CFL Awards for both Rookie of the Year and Special Teams was Eric Samuels. The Eskimos released him today.

http://esks.com/article/eskimos-release-db-eric-samuels

*****

Joey Moss, the Edmonton Locker Room Attendant since 1984, was named to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame today. He was born with Down Syndrome, and has proven to be an excellent employee.

http://cfl.ca/article/joey-moss-named-to-alberta-sports-hall-of-fame

Edited February 28, 2015 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

The Toronto Star is reporting today that Angelo Mosca was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2015/02/27/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-copes-with-alzheimers.html

Edited February 28, 2015 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

Here's a video of Rider lineman Dan Clark catching a touchdown pass.

[GA Russell]

Here's an interesting website I learned about over the weekend. It's called CFLdb, which stand for CFL database. Lots of interesting items to see.

https://cfldb.ca/

*****

Shomari Williams was the first overall pick in 2010. The Riders released him today.

http://cfl.ca/article/former-first-overall-pick-shomari-williams-released-by-riders

*****

The Lions today released Stefan Logan and Eric Taylor.

http://cfl.ca/article/lions-release-logan-taylor-and-add-a-pair

Edited March 3, 2015 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

Take a look at these comments from Joe Theismann.

http://blog.redskins.com/2015/02/24/joe-theismanns-letter-to-younger-self/

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/joe-theismann-letter-to-my-younger-self/

[GA Russell]

So now we learn that the Bombers' new ballpark (at $200,000,000?) is a mess, with leaks and insufficient insulation. The stadium's owner has sued the stadium's architect and builder.

http://www.tsn.ca/bombers-stadium-owners-suing-architect-builder-1.222064

*****

Here is one man's opinion of how each team has done in the free agent market thus far.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl-free-agency-report-cards-1.222157

[GA Russell]

The Als and the Redblacks will play their June 13 exhibition game in Quebec City.

http://cfl.ca/article/redblacks-and-als-set-to-play-in-quebec-city

*****

Here's a Yahoo article about the colleges the players are coming from.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cfl-55-yard-line/where-do-cfl-players-come-from--breaking-down-the-cfl-by-nationality--school--division-and-more-040003792.html

*****

I think that Bo Levi Mitchell is smart. He has signed a contract which will keep him in Calgary through 2018. If he has a good career, he can retire at that young age, and make a fortune in business in Calgary.

http://cfl.ca/article/mitchell-inks-longterm-extension-with-stampeders

http://www.tsn.ca/stamps-qb-mitchell-signs-contract-extension-1.221094

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=805803

*****

The league's website (I'm sure to keep the hot stove league conversations flowing) has ranked the top ten free agent signings thus far.

http://cfl.ca/article/fa15-top-10-free-agents-getting-new-beginnings

[GA Russell]

Peter Dalla Riva and Granville Liggins have had memory lapses, so after reading about Angelo Mosca's problems, they've decided to be checked by the doctor too.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2015/03/05/angelo-moscas-alzheimers-diagnosis-has-other-players-seeking-help.html

[GA Russell]

Kory Sheets tweets that he will not be back with Oakland this year.

*****

Former Bomber Josh Francis has signed with Green Bay.

http://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/green-bay-packers-sign-indoor-football-lb-josh-francis-030515

*****

Released Monday by BC, Eric Taylor has signed with Calgary.

http://www.tsn.ca/recently-cut-by-lions-taylor-signs-with-stampeders-1.224314

http://cfl.ca/article/veteran-defensive-tackle-taylor-joins-stampeders

[danasgoodstuff]

That's why the CFL season isn't any longer!

[GA Russell]

The Als have signed Stefan Logan.

http://cfl.ca/article/heading-east-als-sign-versatile-back-logan

http://www.tsn.ca/alouettes-sign-rb-logan-to-one-year-deal-1.226299

*****

Here's an interesting look at how the teams prepare for the combine.

http://cfl.ca/article/dunk-an-inside-look-at-how-cfl-teams-prep-for-combine

[GA Russell]

The Stampeders have signed Shomari Williams. He's 29 now, and I have to wonder if this will be his last stop.

http://www.tsn.ca/stampeders-sign-free-agent-lb-williams-1.227206

http://cfl.ca/article/shomari-to-the-stamps-calgary-inks-former-first-overall-pick

*****

For the past three days, the internet has been abuzz about Kory Sheets. Will his injury last year with Oakland prevent him from ever being the same again? Corey Chamblin said in an interview that there were "character issues" when he left the Riders. Would that insult prevent him from returning to Regina?

http://www.tsn.ca/sheets-takes-issue-with-chamblin-s-remarks-1.226750

http://cfl.ca/video/index/id/108763

*****

Here's a look at eleven free agents who decided to re-sign with their teams.

http://cfl.ca/article/steady-signings-11-free-agents-that-stayed-put

*****

New Orleans has offered Brandon Browner $5 million per year, but no word yet on how many years.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-sports/2015/03/saints_offer_5_million_per_yea.html

*****

Al McCann has died. I think, but I'm not sure, that I met him at the 1978 Grey Cup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_McCann_%28broadcaster%29

Edited March 12, 2015 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

Scott Mitchell reports that Calgary will build a new ballpark for the Stampeders soon, along with a new arena for the Flames.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/03/12/calgary-stampeders-may-ride-flames-coattails-to-new-stadium

*****

The union's website has recent interviews with Eric Fraser, Marc-Olivier Brouillette, James Yurichuk and Shea Emry.

https://cflpa.com/category/news/

*****

Keon Raymond has tweeted that he would like Prime Minister Harper to invite the Grey Cup champions to a reception. I think it's refreshing to see a player want to do this, because in the US for the past forty years it has seemed to be more like a photo op for the president's benefit rather than the players'.

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/football/cfl/calgary-stampeders/keon-raymond-wants-harper-to-host-a-grey-cup-reception

*****

Jim Barker has written a letter to the Argos fans.

http://www.argonauts.ca/article/letter-to-argos-fans-from-gm-jim-barker

[GA Russell]

Variety reports today that the Canadian federal government announced new rules for television broadcasters regarding Canadian content.

I don't know how this will affect the league. Perhaps it will make the league more desirable to the television people.

http://variety.com/2015/tv/global/canadian-tv-regulators-shake-up-system-with-new-content-rules-1201451597/

[GA Russell]

Now the word is that Brandon Browner has signed a three-year contract with New Orleans.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/cb-brandon-browner-signs-three-year-deal-with-saints/ar-AA9HuNv?ocid=ansFOXsports11

[GA Russell]

I've come across an interesting article about Canada in World War II that you might like.

http://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/2015/03/04/bizarre-but-true-facts-canada-in-wwii/

*****

This reminds me of a story I was told in 1979 by Lynn Patrick, who was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame the following year.

I can tell you that at that time, all American sports fans were familiar with the fact that most of the good baseball players were drafted in World War II, and that the quality of play during the war wasn't very good. It was also known that Maurice Richard had his famous 50 goals in 50 games season during the war; and American sports fans assumed that because it was during the war, the quality of play in the NHL, like in baseball, wasn't very good.

Patrick told me that that was not the case. He said that what happened was that the Canadian government drafted the best players, and then "temporarily" assigned them to play for the Montreal Canadiens. The purpose was to boost national morale by ensuring that a Canadian team would win the Stanley Cup by fielding an all-star team!

So that's why Richard was able to score 50 goals in 50 games.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_Patrick

*****

One final point, speaking of the Canadiens. All the American hockey fans I know pronounce that word as if it were "Canadians," and think that that's what it means. Actually, "les Canadiens" were the French Quebeckers. The English Quebeckers were called "les Anglais."

The Canadiens were Montreal's French team. Montreal's English team was called the Montreal Maroons. They stopped playing in 1938, due to the Depression.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Maroons

[GA Russell]

I have mentioned elsewhere that I use Microsoft's Bing search engine, and that MS gives me a $5.00 Amazon gift card each month for doing so. If you wish to sign up for that deal, my thread on that is in the "misc. - no politics" forum like this thread is.

Bing offers an aggregation service like Drudge. About 30 news items per day. Maybe 35% serious news, and 65% Hollywood.

So imagine my surprise today, when who do I see featured on Bing's aggregation but Brandon Browner!

https://www.bing.com/search?q=Brandon+Browner&filters=tnTID%3a%226687CB30-7D6F-4960-88C1-19B849F3A6AC%22+tnVersion%3a%22803964%22+segment%3a%22popularnow.carousel%22+tnCol%3a%221%22+tnOrder%3a%22761083c7-d576-4412-821e-95d8ba167929%22&FORM=HPNN01

Edited March 13, 2015 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

BC has published a nice article about Bob Ackles, whom I met with Don Mathews at the 1985 Grey Cup.

http://bclions.com/article/bob-ackles-a-football-life

*****

The league has started today what appears to be a weekly round-up of team activities, called Checking Down.

http://cfl.ca/article/checking-down-notes-from-around-the-cfl

*****

Terry Jones has written a nice article about Al McCann.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/03/13/classy-al-mccann-was-ctvs-go-to-sportscaster?token=f599838e49af3e26ec998583e31ad296

[GA Russell]

The Ticats have put up a nice collage to celebrate Pi Day!

https://twitter.com/Ticats/status/576740849595224064/photo/1

*****

Here's an interesting article from yesterday's National Post about the Argos.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/13/why-the-toronto-argos-are-left-feeling-unloved-thanks-to-the-split-interests-of-mlse/

*****

Here's an interesting marketing idea of the Bombers to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

http://www.thesnap.ca/bombers-ask-cfl-fans-to-turn-their-green-into-gold/

*****

I remember the first CFL game I saw on TV. It was the 1962 Grey Cup (aka the Fog Bowl), which was on ABC Wide World of Sports, as I recall on a same-day-tape-delay basis. I remember the announcer being Jim McKay, and him struggling to pick out Joe Zuger in the fog. Thirty years later, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Joe Zuger by Joe Galat! Anyway, here's a nice article about Zuger in today's Toronto Star.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2015/03/14/tiger-cats-great-joe-zuger-handles-shrine-snub-artfully.html

*****

With Shomari Williams signing with the Stamps, they now have had a total of 17 first-overall draft picks on their roster over the years.

http://cfl.ca/article/williams-the-latest-former-first-rounder-to-join-stamps-roster

[GA Russell]

Beware the Ides of March!

Jim Barker will be fielding questions on Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) this Wednesday March 18, at 1:00 pm eastern.

https://twitter.com/TorontoArgos/status/577228020014002177/photo/1

Edited March 16, 2015 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

The league announced its new Commissioner today - Jeffrey Orridge. Orridge was at one time an executive with the CBC.

His appointment surprises me very much because he was born and raised in New York. I remember that during the last search for a Commissioner, the idea that he might be an American was a non-starter.

http://cfl.ca/article/jeffrey-l-orridge-appointed-cfl-commisioner

http://www.tsn.ca/orridge-named-new-cfl-commissioner-1.233018

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=810094

*****

Yesterday the Argos announced their coaching staff. I think that the most notable change is that Jim Daley will not be back.

http://cfl.ca/article/milanovich-argos-announce-2015-coaching-staff

[GA Russell]

Here's the complete transcript of today's Jim Barker reddit AMA interview.

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2zhk9v/im_jim_barker_general_manager_of_the_toronto/?sort=old

*****

Chris McKenzie last played in 2012. Today he made it official and retired.

http://www.cfl.ca/article/former-db-chris-mckenzie-retires-a-rider

*****

The union has posted a page listing the upcoming events the players will attend.

https://cflpa.com/category/community-events/

*****

The Toronto Sun's Frank Zicarelli opines that the Argos need a new owner!

http://m.torontosun.com/2015/03/17/cfls-new-commissioner-must-find-a-way-to-get-david-braley-out-as-argos-owner

*****

Here is the video of yesterday's press conference introducing Jeffrey Orridge as the new commissioner.

http://www.cfl.ca/video/index/id/108819